This Island, Into Stars. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The tentative dip into the ethereal can become all consuming, it tempts you in to its misty-like waters, and then before you realise the commitment you have made, it sweeps over your emotions, it pulls you under the waves and then as the beat kicks it, it gives you the signal that you can breathe in the atmosphere created.

A tentative dip is all an artist can hope for, but in some circumstances that dip soon takes on the fullness of a tide in which to ride the scree and immerse yourself between its soft tone and hard edge. The point where the sea meets the sky can only be broken by the island in between.

This Island, Into Stars. E.P. Review. full post

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

Feedback. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Eddie Marsan, Paul Anderson, Ivana Baquero, Richard Brake, Oliver Coopersmith, Alexis Rodney, Anthony Head, Alana Boden, Nacho Aldeguer, Stephen Hughes, Lis Torron, Garrett Wall.

When you are the king or queen of your own little bubble, when you can say exactly what is on your mind and damn the consequences, that is the moment when you should arguably take note of your surroundings more and keep careful watch for the haters and the accusers, the Feedback is one that is important, because it might stop you from being placed in a situation that you cannot win. 

Feedback. Film Review. full post

(436 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

The Scouse Snow White, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Samantha Arends, Emma Bispham, Jamie Clarke, Michael Fletcher, Stephen Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Hayley Sheen, Andrew Schofield, Keddy Sutton.

Musicians: Howard Gray, Ben Gladwin, Mike Woodbine, Greg Joy.

Anarchy in the hands of the theatrical and the artistic arguably achieves more than a demonstration and the gnashing of teeth; the power of laughter bringing the pompous to their knees, the smallest prick of hilarity bursting the bubble of the forever vain and the insincere pretentious. Anarchy rules, and its rules are simple, make them laugh and you will have a show that is beautiful to the core and one with a polished sheen attached to it.

The Scouse Snow White, Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(458 words, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

Weave, Theatre Review. Royal Court Studio, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Sam Alton.

We are arguably incapable of dealing with the benefit of the internet without descending to the point of the rabble rousing crowd and the actions of the school yard bully; no matter the virtue that can be found in social media, there is an open wound in which we cannot but help pick at, keep scratching at till it bleeds, and in the end we end up looking for friendship in all the wrong places.

Weave, Theatre Review. Royal Court Studio, Liverpool. full post

(440 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado, Come On In. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The invitation is clear, Come On In, pull up a chair, revel in the sound and the ambience and then stay awhile, reflect upon what the invitation meant and how pleasing the result is.

Invitations are sent with glad tidings, the recipient is aware of how much may be at stake, the source filled with trepidation and pride at what they wish to bestow upon the visitor as soon as they enter the domain of the intended gift. It is in that music present that Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado stand at the door of expectancy and hover by the light switch of illumination, ready to parade the exhibit; under the glare of scrutiny and absolute conviction stands Come On In and it is one that surely the fan and the inquisitive will find easy to submit to.

Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado, Come On In. Album Review. full post

(405 words, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Knives Out. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Christopher Plummer, Katherine Langford, Haeden Martell, Riki Lindhome, Edi Patterson, Frank Oz, K Callan, Noah Segan, M Emmet Walsh, Marlene Forte, Raul Castillo, Shyrley Rodriguez, Kerry Frances, Gary Tanguay, Octavia Chavez-Richmond, Paul Bellafeuille, Ben Bunnag, Michael Burnell, Frankie Francois.

There is always room for the whodunnit genre to bring forth a new detective to the public’s attention; and in a world that salutes the genius of Agatha Christie’s creations and the drama brought forward in the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Benoit Blanc might just be the next detective in which to place faith in.

Knives Out. Film Review. full post

(494 words, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

The War Of The Worlds. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 0

Cast: Rafe Spall, Eleanor Tomlinson, Rupert Graves, Nicholas Le Provost, Harry Melling, Jonathan Aris, Robert Carlyle, Charlie De’Ath, Joey Batey, Freya Allan, Daniel Cerqueira, Aisling Jarrett-Gavin, Woody Norman, Reid Anderson, Susan Woolridge, Taliyah Blair, Philip Gascoyne, Sam Benjamin, Christopher Hatherall, Daniel Cerqueira, Bradley Cottrell, Kieron Bimpson, Cokey Falkow, Milo Twomey, Michele Donockley, Joanne James, Craig Thomas Lambert, Keith Lomas, Juliet Roar, Georgie-May Tearle.

The War Of The Worlds. Television Review. full post

(629 words, estimated 2:31 mins reading time)

Riot Girls. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating *

Cast: Madison Iseman, Paloma Kwiatkowski, Jenny Raven, Munro Chambers, Atticus Mitchell, Ajay Friese, Carson MacCormac, Evan Marsh, Jordana Blake, Jake Sim, Callan Potter, Keanu Lee Nunes, Darren Eisnor, Stafani Kimber, Alexandre Bourgeois, Vinson Tran, Chris Mark, Robyn Alomar, Nicolas Aqui, Mason Moon Moorhouse, Joseph Curto.

Missed opportunities within storytelling are ones lost to the ether, perhaps forever, and certainly to the shame of the writer.

Riot Girls. Film Review. full post

(435 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Matthew Robb, Dead Men Have No Dreams. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

If Dead Men Have No Dreams then the living have their work cut out in attempting to fulfil their ancestors’ visions.

To honour the visions, the imaginings and the ideas of those that went before you, you must at first make sure you understand the message that they sent you during the dreaming and whilst they may be gone, turned to bones and dust, their memories still live on, through us, through the songs we sing and the instruction to the future to bear witness at the folly or the greatness we have inspired. 

Matthew Robb, Dead Men Have No Dreams. Album Review. full post

(367 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

Sleeping Beauty, Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Danny Burns, Stephanie Hockley, Adam Keast, Gracie Lai, Greg Last, Holly Mallett, Jamie Noar, Matthew Quinn, Anna Soden, Stanton Wright.

Tis the season to be jolly…even in dreams, for sleep maybe be restful, but it is to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto that the pulse is raised, the glitterball comes out of hiding and the lights sparkle, all of which only can mean that music, theatre and the uplifting seasonal fantasy is back; that there is no time to nap, for Sleeping Beauty will keep you feeling alive and ready to party.

Sleeping Beauty, Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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