Author Archives: admin

Big Country, The Journey. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

They say all the best journeys are filled with good memories, the people we meet, the sights we see and the times we live through whilst going there. Some journeys are unexpected; they come around sweeping us off our feet and taking those caught in its wake along for what could be the most important quest of all. Big Country’s first album for the best part of 14 years is The Journey in name and spirit alike and where one chapter regretfully closed with the sad passing of the band’s former frontman and icon Stuart Adamson in 2001, another door opens wide as the group find belief in their conviction of providing excellent rock music once more and in The Journey they take the first tentative steps in reclaiming that ground again.

Big Country, The Journey. Album Review. full post

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

Joe Brown, The Ukulele Album. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

No matter the music you are into, the genres you find falling into line with during your life time, there is always a surprise or two waiting to catch you out along the way. Even the most ardent heavy metal fan can sometimes for no reason at all find themselves whistling along to a half remembered song from their pre-metal days. The songs of innocence sometimes outweigh the experience the listener builds up in their mental reserve and sometimes something creeps through, takes root and even makes you smile as you imagine the musicians having a blast recording the simple pleasurable notes.

Joe Brown, The Ukulele Album. Album Review. full post

(410 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

O.M.D. English Electric. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

English Electric, the second new album by O.M.D. since their reformation starts with a warning that the anticipated future has been cancelled; possibly prophetic, a wild but reasonable claim and somehow justified by the pairing of Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys in this demure and laidback recording.

In recent years some of their cohorts from the 1980s electronic music bonanza that swept through the decade like a broom demolishing the last vestiges of punk and trying to clear a suitable path against the resurgence of 80s Progressive and Heavy Rock/Metal, have once more released albums that have sounded fresh and interesting. Bands such as Blancmange and Human League have created a stir and O.M.D. has joined in once again.

O.M.D. English Electric. Album Review. full post

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

Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones Part 2. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

If House Of Gold & Bones Part One by Stone Sour was spectacular then what does that make Part Two? It can be argued that there are so few decent sequels that the idea of adding more songs onto an already revered album could be a dangerous move, suggestions would be aired that why not bring the two albums together into one fleshed out being, however when something is as thrilling, as attention grabbing and the second part of House of Gold & Bones then a six month interlude to get the passion stoked and the absolute clarity of the music into the psyche, then what’s the rush? Part One was spectacular, Part Two is awesome.

Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones Part 2. Album Review. full post

(409 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Paramore, Paramore. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision * * * *

Times and band line ups may change but as long as the central component of Paramore remains then the group will continue to be an interesting listen, a smashing diversion from corporate pop and banality. That central piece that makes this, the band’s fourth album and the first one to be self-titled, is the endeavour and honesty in which the band performs and perhaps for the first time the ethos is stamped all the way through the recording.

Paramore, Paramore. Album Review. full post

(361 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Broadchurch, Episode Six. Television Review. I.T.V.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: David Tennant, Olivia Coleman, Andrew Buchan, Jodie Whittaker, Arthur Darvill, Simone McAullay, Peter De Jersey, Tanya Franks, Jonathon Bailey, Vicky McClure, Charlotte Beaumont, Joe Simms, Carolyn Pickles, Pauline Quirke.

The newspapers and media have hounded one man to his death and now they appear to want to find the next scapegoat, that man unfortunately seems to be the detective in charge of the case, Alec Hardy. For the people of Broadchurch, confidence in their police has hit rock bottom and for Alec Hardy his life seems to be spiraling downwards as his health issues are becoming too obvious for him to be an effective investigator.

Broadchurch, Episode Six. Television Review. I.T.V. full post

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

Foyle’s War, Sunflower. Television Review. I.T.V.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, Ellie Haddington, Tazmin Outhwaite, Lars Eidinger, Charles Aitkin, William Armstrong, Radeck Belchnerowski, Andrew Bennett, Paul Benzing, Fiona Button, Alexandra Clatworthy, Emma Colohan, Richard Dilane, Robert Donnelly, Jodie Hay, Daniel Hill, Jeremy Swift, Colin Stinton, Andrew Tieman, Rupert Vansittart.

 

Despite being a policeman of the highest impeccable order there are some things that do irritate and upset Christopher Foyle, having to deal with a high ranking Nazi in the care of MI5 would probably rank near the top of his list, just one below being made to look like an aged dinosaur who doesn’t embrace the new world by being lied to by his superiors.

Foyle’s War, Sunflower. Television Review. I.T.V. full post

(431 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Joe Brown, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The broad smile at the end of the night said it all, Joe Brown, one of the true great British music legends, had enjoyed his time back on stage in Liverpool and judging by the response and adoration that came his way, it’s fair to say that the audience enjoyed the respected musician’s couple of hours just as much as he did.

Joe Brown, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. full post

(521 words, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)

Liverpool Sound And Vision: An Interview With Burjesta Theatre’s Julian Bond And Mikyla Jane Durkan.

Being invited behind the curtain by the directors to watch a full dress rehearsal must be a dream come true for anybody who has an enjoyment of the theatre. To watch from a corner of the room as the actors take in the words they have learned, to witness how comfortable they become as they are taken through their paces and their places, to see the wonder of theatre unfold before your eyes from almost the very start of the process is exhilarating and without doubt an honour.

Liverpool Sound And Vision: An Interview With Burjesta Theatre’s Julian Bond And Mikyla Jane Durkan. full post

(2087 words, estimated 8:21 mins reading time)

Royston Cole, The Spider. Book Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Many famous authors have delved into the art of the short story. The discipline needed can be seen as greater in many ways than sitting and writing a novel, by no means an easy task either. It has its restrictions, the conciseness of the story needs make an impact on the reader’s attention immediately, the characters need to be cared about much quicker as there is no time for them to grow upon the reader, they need to stand out more in order for anyone picking up the book to be grabbed and understood. In Royston Cole’s short story The Spider, all these conditions are met in such a manner that the story flows so well that in no time at all 105 pages are easily digested and enjoyed.

Royston Cole, The Spider. Book Review. full post

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