Inside No.9: Dead Line. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, Stephanie Cole.

When the joke is on the viewer, then anarchy is to be praised, the realm of the perpetual joker is considered greener, for if you can fool an audience into believing a certain path is being undertaken and then leaving them exasperated at the television station’s apparent lack of care for what was billed as the big Halloween spectacle, a piece of television that was to be delivered in the toughest arena of all, the live performance.

Inside No.9: Dead Line. Television Review. full post

(333 words, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Doctor Who: Arachnids In The U.K. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill, Tanya Fear, Sharon D. Clarke, Ravin J. Ganatra, Shobna Gulati, William Meredith, Chris Noth, Bhavnisha Parmar.

If you are going to give your audience a fright then one sure fire way is to relate to their most basic fears, the ordinary phobia made terrifying, by ramping up the size and the possibility of the dread, the audience understands that whilst the science behind it may seem a bit of a non-starter, at least it grabs your attention enough to be memorable.

Doctor Who: Arachnids In The U.K. Television Review. full post

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

The Burying Party. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Matthew Staite, Joyce Branagh, Sid Phoenix, Will Burren, Mike Barrowman, Andrew Caley, Tom Coliandris, Howard Corlett, Christian Faber, Ian Horseman, Mark Kitto, Benjamin Longthorne, Carl Mountfield, Will Mytum, Harry Owens, Sally Paffett, Ruth Rundle, Christopher Wollaton.

The truth of words is never valued until the poet dies, only then does the nation mourn and revere the simplicity, the timing, the passion of that composer of fruit-laden images, whether in war or peace, the poet is there to capture the reflection of their country’s right and wrongs but also to search deep inside for the truth of their existence. If a poet cannot write without unburdening their soul, then how do we expect politicians and generals to be legitimate in their actions and held to account for their own rights and wrongs as they order The Burying Party to stand guard and await the dead they have killed.

The Burying Party. Film Review. full post

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

Rock Of Ages, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Danielle Hope, Luke Walsh, Kevin Kennedy, Lucas Rush, Zoe Birkett, Sam Ferriday, Rhiannon Chesterman, Andrew Carthy, Vas Constanti, Erin Bell, Alexander Day, Joshua Dever, Sinead Kenny, Adam Strong, Bobby Windebank, Saran Webb, Paris Green, Ryan-Lee Seager.

Rock Of Ages, Theatre Review. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(512 words, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)

Full Stop.

 

It does not mean the end,

there is, after all,

more to life than

suddenly being quiet, reflect

on your thoughts if you must

but don’t let that full stop

dictate to you

the point of closer detail,

of thinking,

sweet consideration,

and then talk, shout, scream,

such vile words, such tempting

phrases and ponder a while

my friend, upon the point of

the end of the sentence,

don’t let a full stop

be the place where you

reside for the rest

Full Stop. full post

(139 words, estimated 33 secs reading time)

Simon Todd, Half Empty/Half Full. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Life is one of perspective, what we might see as an opportunity, another might be concerned of the pitfall laying out of sight, the weary of the supposed haunted house, and the embracing of discovery of hidden rooms filled with secrets, perspective is a Half Empty/Half Full glass which is forgotten by many to mean that it can be refilled to the brim once more; a lesson perfectly illustrated by Simon Todd in his eagerly awaited new album, Half Empty/Half Full.

Simon Todd, Half Empty/Half Full. Album Review. full post

(465 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

Evelyn Laurie, A Little Bit Of Me. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It could be argued that today we share too much of ourselves, that we find ways to harm our souls by shedding our skins in the wrong place, we find solace in being able to be comforted by strangers, that we seek validation from those who do not care for our welfare or for the stories we want to impart.

Evelyn Laurie, A Little Bit Of Me. Album Review. full post

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

Mat Walklate, Sea Of Blues. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Somewhere along the line we have found a way to be believe that polished beyond the point of recognition is to be lauded as the ultimate form of expression, that the deep rumble of an old recording, one with jumps and scratches, of moments of tin driven sound and supposed lack of fireworks, is the only way in which to hear the beat of another person’s mind.

Mat Walklate, Sea Of Blues. Album Review. full post

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

Sue Hedges, I’ll Come For You. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

There is nothing wrong with a wonderfully observed scare, it all depends on the delivery, the resonance of feeling in which it is felt, and should the story be conveyed by the surrounding of a joyful tune, one that without words would take on a completely different meaning, then so much the better.

Sue Hedges, I’ll Come For You. E.P. Review. full post

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

Third Man Phenomenon, Creatures Of Dark Habits. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

We cannot but help to embrace the creatures of bad habits, we cheer secretly on the enigmatic bad guy taunting the hero on the large screen, we take to our hearts the bad boy and girl with the rough name in the neighbourhood, and why, because it adds the glimmer of excitement to our lives. We are involved in the storyline of Frankenstein, not because we are turned on by science and innovations, but because we want to see the creature created by the Doctor’s passion, live.

Third Man Phenomenon, Creatures Of Dark Habits. Album Review. full post

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