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How The Other Half Loves, Theatre Review. Haymarket Theatre, London.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Nicholas Le Prevost, Jenny Seagrove, Tamzin Outhwaite, Jason Merrells, Gillian Wright, Matthew Cottle.

The perils of the affair, something that Alan Ayckbourn has spent his entire career getting a laugh out of, of making audiences take a look at themselves in the mirror and seeing just how farcical British morals are at times when confronted with a wrongly worded phrase of seduction and the results of a misunderstood feeling; it might never be how you live your life but it is certainly the impression of How The Other Half Loves.

How The Other Half Loves, Theatre Review. Haymarket Theatre, London. full post

(417 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

True London.

Life, love and understanding

in the inviting alleyways that stem

out of every pore of real London,

teeming London, rank

and file, true blessed, authentic

and crowded

and congested

and swarming heartbeat London,

where Underground darkness

bathes in existence and light…

I love your streets and the historic new,

the passion in the frank,

beer crashing, dimpled glasses, London Pride,

that swallows in the smoke

and the grated conversation

over dying trades; reminding

me of New York but poorer but no less sincere.

 

True London. full post

(208 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)

Tom Vamos, Love Sharks. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

To be raw is to revel in a glory that the polished will never quite understand. To be raw, to lay down a law of music that must be appreciated for its frankness and its blunt charm is to gather at the gates of honesty and hang loose, drape your future colours over the past and play with deft cool.

It is a rawness that Tom Vamos brings happily to his debut solo E.P., Love Sharks, an ache of knowing that you are standing upon your own two feet and delivering your own personal message, and whilst there may be good people alongside you, that sense of personality is all yours.

Tom Vamos, Love Sharks. E.P. Review. full post

(352 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

The Diary Of A Hounslow Girl, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound & Vision Rating: * * * *

Cast: Ambreen Razia.

The Diary of A Hounslow Girl is the tale of a 16-year-old British Muslim girl in West London. From traditional Pakistani weddings to fights on the night bus, this play shows the challenges of being brought up as a young woman in a traditional Muslim family alongside the temptations and influences growing up in and around London.

Written and performed by Ambreen Razia the show is currently on tour around the country, with a one night stop at the Unity. This is Razia’s debut play and her performance is flawless, considering it is a monologue that lasts 85 minutes.

The Diary Of A Hounslow Girl, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(322 words, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

My Guardian Angel.

My guardian angel

never wanted the job

in the first place, she not only sighed

and whinged, placed her hoof down

with a firm angelic paw

but she gave God the finger when she

said with strictness in her voice

“Someone has to do

and I am afraid

it is down to you.”

 

The saintly finger risen from its paw

has followed me everywhere

and the guardian has often tied my shoes

together, pushed me down the stairs

and then made sure I landed

My Guardian Angel. full post

(295 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

S T F U, What We Want. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7.5/10

Perhaps one of the toughest lessons we have to learn at any age is, that What We Want sometimes doesn’t matter, that desire can only bring so much to life and overall can often lead us down a path to which our own control of things is abused by our very own cravings.

S T F U, What We Want. Album Review. full post

(384 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Imaginary Friend.

It has to be said for there is no way

to hide it,

you make me feel invisible, imaginary,

that when you close your eyes at night

or look away at the rain in a far off county,

to you I have become the person you once

dreamed of, slowly dissipating into thin

noxious air, gassed and slumped over

for your amusement and only then do

you poke me in the eye via a spiky bark-less

tree limb, poke me in the guts and praise

the gods that I am still; invisible

Imaginary Friend. full post

(180 words, estimated 43 secs reading time)

Elton John, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Life is a distraction filled with the sometimes endless search for acceptance, love and experience; it should never be about fear, about wondering if you are going to go out and come home alone, that the music might suddenly stop in a heartbeat or if the lights will one day turn out because of someone else’s intolerable beliefs.

Elton John, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool. full post

(481 words, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Candle And Wick.

The flame will only ever become a trail

of brief whispered smoke

if you extinguish it yourself, when others

try to put the wick out, all that happens

is after they have gone and busted your balls

for not using the electric light at your command

that the match, red faced but saluting

the moment in readiness as it turns to sulphur,

strikes back against the grain,

and lights the candle once more,

sparks life, albeit closeted and in a world of

writhing shadows upon the green backed walls,

Candle And Wick. full post

(148 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

Derek King, Seasons. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

If Sometimes is an occasion, an instance in Time to celebrate, then to find yourself nestling amongst the Seasons is to consider yourself privileged. It is a privilege that has been waiting and yearning to break free and for Derek King, it is a chance to raise the flag of his work even higher than many would ever dare to dream possible.

Derek King, Seasons. Album Review. full post

(373 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)