White Little Lies, Gig Review. Music Rooms, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision rating 9/10

White Little Lies at the Music Room in Liverpool. December 2018. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Some meetings appear pre-destined, it is just a wonder that strikes us all who find such things fascinating, on what kept the magic from happening earlier. It is a magic that is young in its infancy and yet one that seems boldly to go beyond its formative binding with fans, an enchanting experience that Daniel Saleh and Vanessa Murray have both grabbed with eager thought and spirit and found in a world hell bent on the big fib and the posturing falsehood, that the best avenue in which to reside is in the truth of White Little Lies.

White Little Lies, Gig Review. Music Rooms, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

(443 words, 1 image, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Ina Forsman, Been Meaning To Tell You. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Kipling may be seen to be an anathema in terms of experience in today’s opinionated world, his work under a certain type of microscope has garnered criticism, censure and in some quarters, out and out hate, he has become a poison to many, exhibiting traits that are unacceptable in a modern world. However, for whatever you may think of Rudyard Kipling, his assertion of twin imposters holds true, to treat triumph and disaster as one entity, the giving and taking away by fate and decree, then you will grow in strength, in both mind and spirit, you will find what everyone’s Been Meaning To Tell You, that life is a curve ball, not to be swerved, but to be met head on and dealt with, for in that movement stands victory.

Ina Forsman, Been Meaning To Tell You. Album Review. full post

(473 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

Nicola Hardman, Forever (And Ever). Single Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Nothing lasts forever, nothing can withstand time and tide, and all too often we ignore those who suggest that it might be the moment in which to step back, evaluate and reflect upon the mystery of what we have achieved; however of nothing lasts forever, how then do we gauge just what time means to us, in what we see and hear, and in what we appreciate.

Nicola Hardman, Forever (And Ever). Single Review. full post

(388 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Rob Clarke And The Wooltones, Bring Me Wooltones This Year. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Stock up nuts, make sure the spirit is overflowing and perhaps pull a cracker or two, the time of year in which inhibitions go out the window, emotions are high and we all hope for that special something, some wish for peace on Earth, some the prospect of just a day to themselves and the quiet abandon afforded with solitude, for some the vision of Santa Claus dangling with his legs akimbo in thin air as he comes down the chimney is enough to put a smile on their red rose faces and chocolate spread delighted lips.

Rob Clarke And The Wooltones, Bring Me Wooltones This Year. E.P. Review. full post

(403 words, 1 image, estimated 1:37 mins reading time)

Creed II. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Dolph Lundgren, Florian Munteanu, Phylicia Rashad, Russell Hornsby, Wood Harris, Milo Ventimiglia, Andre Ward, Brigitte Nielsen.

Stories are rarely neat, sequels are never planned that far in advance and yet somehow the Rocky/Creed franchise manages to stitch together a series of films that by rights have no business being thought of in the same bed, let alone sharing a ring together.

Creed II. Film Review. full post

(469 words, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)

Doctor Who: It Takes You Away. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill, Eleanor Wallwork, Kevin Eldon, Christian Rubeck, Lisa Stokke, Sharon D. Clarke.

Myths and legends are constantly interwoven with the fabric of life, it is in the race memory of us all which sees nursery rhymes as a constant source of bonding between parent and child, stories which captivate the memory with stringer force than anything we might read as adults. It is the fear of something other than perceived reality, of the existence of trolls and dark forests, of monsters and brave souls which we seek assurance from; it is the trepidation and the resolution of such stories which pave the way for all other stories to exist and take shape, the concern of what lies beyond the mirror’s reflection.

Doctor Who: It Takes You Away. Television Review. full post

(491 words, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)

Black Peaks Announce February Headline Shows And Support To Enter Shikari In A Month Of Live Dates.

Following on from the release of their new album All That Divides, Black Peaks have now announced a short headline run of dates through February 2019, with support on all dates from Phoxjaw. These shows will follow on directly from their month-long support tour with the brilliant Enter Shikari. The tour with Enter Shaikari, which starts on Friday 11th January at Nottingham’s Rock City, will come to Liverpool’s 02 Academy on Wednesday 16th January, before culminating in Lincoln on February 15th with support from Phoxjaw.

Black Peaks Announce February Headline Shows And Support To Enter Shikari In A Month Of Live Dates. full post

(447 words, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

Beauty And The Beast, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Stephen Collins, Edward Day, Simone Lewis, Rose-Marie Christian.

Within us all there is the propensity to harbour both good and evil, to be kind-hearted and to allow the nature of maliciousness to shine through; there is though a realm of mischievousness which can enter both states of mind, not born out of a dark soul, but in the way that you are treated by others, one can only take so much abuse from someone before they start to kick back, when people are excluded and talked about spitefully behind their back, they become harsh, callous perhaps, they become unkind.

Beauty And The Beast, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(427 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Disobedience. Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola, Anton Lesser, Allan Corduner, Nicholas Woodeson, David Fleeshman, Steve Furst, Trevor Allan Davies, Sophia Brown, Clara Francis, Lisa Cohen, Cara Horgan, Liza Sadovy, Bernice Stegers.

Sexuality and faith have never been reliable bed-fellows, the angst that exists between the two states of human need and suffering is only countered by dogma and the words of interpretation; to be different, to love against doctrine and the word of theological study, is to face, in some quarters, questions, if not exile.

Disobedience. Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool. full post

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

Thea Gilmore, Gig Review. Music Rooms, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Christmas can either be an anathema to the soul, or if you are fortunate it can turn the winter period into one of joyous celebration, the message of spirituality, of throwing your life open to new experiences, of understanding that there is more to this time of year than materialism and personal gain, there is empathy, the freedom to sing, or to be silent, to listen at least to the sound of internal delight taking shape and the welcome poise of surrender to a heavenly guide.

Thea Gilmore, Gig Review. Music Rooms, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

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