Author Archives: admin

C.J. Sansom, Dominion. Book Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

C. J. Sansom’s literary prowess is quite undiminished as he steps away from his famous creation of the lawyer Shardlake and the court of King Henry VIII and instead turns his thoughts to what the world and Britain would have been like had a moment in history fallen on the shoulders of Lord Halifax instead of Winston Churchill. Dominion is that toss of a coin moment in history in which Churchill doesn’t take the pivotal decisive step and take the office of Prime Minister and instead a new history is made and the whole of Europe, 12 years after the fateful Norway occupation, is under the jackboot of Nazism and Britain is suffering for her appeasement.

C.J. Sansom, Dominion. Book Review. full post

(529 words, 1 image, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

Fanny And Faggot, Theatre Review. University Of Liverpool.

Jessica Beare and Abi Carter in Fanny and Faggot. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jessica Beare, Abi Carter, Heather Madden, Harry Parker, Alex Webber-Date.

As director of the production, Rio Matchett should receive a lot of commendation for having the incredible fortitude and sheer will in putting herself and the superb cast through their paces for the play Fanny and Faggot. Not only is Jack Thorne’s play a minefield of emotions that the theatre goer may feel in parts uncomfortable with, it also forces that same theatre goer to understand the social depravity that Mary Bell was put through and what perhaps turned her head and her reasoning into one of unremitting violence.

Fanny And Faggot, Theatre Review. University Of Liverpool. full post

(450 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Trillium, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool.

Amanda Somerville of Trillium. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It’s a long way from Flushing in Michigan to the delights of one of Liverpool’s major music venues but there is something that the two areas have in common and that is the adoration Amanda Somerville is able to command as part of the Symphonic/Progressive metal group Trillium.

To open for the premier Midlands Rock band Magnum is a huge honour and one that is not given easily but Amanda Somerville and her creatively intelligent band have more than earned that right and proceeded to prove the point over and over again during the early part of the evening.

Trillium, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(390 words, 1 image, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

Magnum, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool.

Tony Clarkin of Magnum. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

No matter how times Magnum come to Liverpool, the five members that make up the premier Midlands rock band give a show worthy of their incredible pedigree and vivid and descriptive music.

The o2 Academy in Liverpool has played host to Bob Catley, Tony Clarkin, Mark Stanway, Al Barrow and Harry James on several occasions and each time the five men step out on stage the reception they receive is akin to any of the local bands that make Liverpool the burgeoning powerhouse of 21^st century music. On the back of the band’s latest release, the critically acclaimed On The Thirteenth Day, Magnum were once again lauded by their fans of the North-West.

Magnum, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(389 words, 1 image, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Citizen Fish, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It can be completely absurd sometimes to see a band so geometrically at odds with the ethos of the main act that a casual observer may question the ethics of putting two such disparate groups together on the same bill. With the fantastic Citizen Fish supporting The Levellers at the o2 Academy, Liverpool on an impassioned night, there were no such worries at all.

Citizen Fish are sublime, a welcome antidote to pop greed that stutters and skulks its way through mainstream television and subverts the national conscious. In this there couldn’t have been a finer band to perform their anti-corporation music than the Bath group.

Citizen Fish, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(359 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

Levellers, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool.

Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

A darkened o2 Academy is a place of wonder, the expectation can come filtering through the shadows and the tension is almost palatable and worth bottling for sale. A band can, in the time that it takes to walk from the downstairs dressing rooms to the exposed stage in front of a capacity crowd, become kings for the night or drown in their sorrows after the evening has ended. One such group that always plays at the very highest of their ability and performs incredibly well live is the men that make up The Levellers.

Levellers, Gig Review. 02 Academy, Liverpool. full post

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

Science Of The Lamps, E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is something unerringly beautiful about the music of Science of the Lamps. Almost mythical in its presentation, stunning in its creation and just that pinch of Nordic noir/folk fairytale that filters through and gives the eponymous E.P. the type of storytelling and poetic mixture that craves attention.

Science Of The Lamps, E.P. Review. full post

(363 words, 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Mike Peters, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Mike Peters at the o2 Academy, Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

It has to be said that Mike Peters really is the epitome of musicians who never know how to sit still and take in their place in society, nor can he ever be accused of giving anything less than 100 percent when he is on stage. Whether as part of one of the finest bands to come out of Wales, The Alarm, his occasional forays into the world of Big Country of which he has done a splendid job fronting or when it is just him, a guitar and a harmonica; he never ever gives less than the crowd deserves.

Mike Peters, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

(511 words, 1 image, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)

A Government Inspector, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse.

Photograph by Nobby Clarke.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Howard Chadwick, Andrew Price, Clara Darcy, Andy Cresswell, Anthony Hunt, Susie Emmett, Jill Cardo, Kraig Thornber, Andy Cryer, Richard Colvin, Jon Trenchard, Tim Frances.

Whenever Northern Broadsides comes to the Liverpool Playhouse or its fantastic times up at the Everyman Theatre, the city’s audiences fall over themselves in their droves to make sure they are one of the fortunate ones to witness a night of exceptional theatre. In the latest classic that gets a welcome Northern representation, the brilliant ensemble; under the excellent tutelage of the director and composer Conrad Nelson, wrapped themselves in the cosy and biting satirical humour of Gogol’s inspired comedy A Government Inspector. This guidance extended to the actors doubling up and performing as a bass band during the performance. An exceptional feat to include into a show!

A Government Inspector, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse. full post

(497 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

KingBathmat, Truth Button. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The world of Progressive Rock has perhaps never been in a more healthy and thought-provoking state. The days of being labelled as dinosaurs and past it are long over, the new breed that fly the standard high, proud and youthful vigour such as Touchstone and The Reasoning sit alongside the giants of the genre and the old master who still show any aspiring musician just what is so cool about being able to thread together lengthy and intricate musical movements with a good lyric.

KingBathmat, Truth Button. Album Review. full post

(418 words, 1 image, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)