David Youngs, In Between Silence. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

A world without a voice, where the only sound is that of indifference coupled with rusty neglect, silence in the eating of all that may have been, the quiet for the disregarded, deserted and yet it is a world that the hero in the shape of a guitar can with subtlety and passion be crowned King. The rust never really gains ground in the presence of such ingenuity, of such clever allusion and it is always the more remarkable when you consider the process that takes place between brain and fingers, the tense practice that defines the difference between deathly cool and utter genuine greatness.

David Youngs, In Between Silence. Album Review. full post

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

Eddie And Luc, Tirade. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

You might not think that you are where you want to be but you are always it seems where you need to be, that moment in life, the chance meeting which leads to something extraordinary, the silent reproach, the argument in the storm or the sound of bagpipes playing out the Time on stage, the herald always understands and blows the Tirade in honour.

Eddie And Luc, Tirade. Album Review. full post

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

Another Life.

They say

there is no discernable proof

in reincarnation,

that the soul cannot have lived before

and yet in some Ministerial department

during World War One,

in between the Minister

for Coal and poor

Mr. Asquith dying on his feet

the pen pushers and the also-rans

would have you believe

you can send a boy to war

and see him return

as Government apology

in the form of a letter

or hastily dispatched

telegram.

 

Ian D. Hall 2016

Another Life. full post

(81 words, estimated 19 secs reading time)

Joe Brown, Gig Review. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

You can find yourself at a Joe Brown gig for any given reason but you will stay for the unrelenting pleasure received from his undaunted smile, his absolute joy at sharing music with you and simply because he is an entertainer, a gentleman of the times who has never been left behind and to whom music is best served naturally and with openness. You may find yourself in the grip of bad times but Joe Brown cannot help but put a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

Joe Brown, Gig Review. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. full post

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

Alexx Calise, Breathe, Single Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Take stock and Breathe, perhaps now more than ever the world simply has to breathe and not be fooled into believing everything has a quick fix, this is not a sink hole in Japan, it is real life, astonishing, beautiful and at times a whole lot scary but still life.

It is a life that has carried the music of Alexx Calise across the Atlantic Ocean and back, has made her a much sought after name to listen to in her native homeland, in all the guises and musical hats that she has been part of and throughout it all she has breathed and kept her heart open and as she releases her latest single, Breathe, she once more offers the sense of the dramatic within the hands of the sensational.

Alexx Calise, Breathe, Single Review. full post

(369 words, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

The Stranger.

The Stranger

came into the house

and poked their nose

into everything,

leaving no part of my life

unexplored

or free from criticism.

“You have too many books,

just think what you could do

with all the space”,

he said, the sneer in his voice

speaking volumes.

I looked around the library,

to him probably still a room

you should be eating

fancy food and entertaining people in,

and then replied,

You say too many books,

I find your acceptance and need of space

The Stranger. full post

(93 words, estimated 22 secs reading time)

David Essex, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Some people should know better, the rush of excitement though becomes too much and whilst not done in malice, it could see such moments of venues tolerating the rush to the front to see the sex symbols, the musical icons and the true stars of longevity, disappear into the night quicker than a reality television star’s career. No harm done of course as the interloper to David Essex’s stage was dealt with in the same off hand manner that accompanied the likes of Rugby pitch invader Erica Rowe, but it did for a moment detract from what was the power of a man to whom there never has been any doubt, his place in the annals of British music.

David Essex, Gig Review. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. full post

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

John Wesley, A Way You’ll Never Be. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

It must come to us all eventually, no matter the job we fall into or the desire we pursue, at some point we must look upon the world, gaze into its eyes with passion or damnation and exclaim loudly, “This is the very best, this is mine and nothing will arguably ever beat this moment, it is my magnum opus and it is out of this world.”

John Wesley, A Way You’ll Never Be. Album Review. full post

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

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

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7.5/10

Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Michael Stuhlbarg, Forest Whitaker, Tzi Ma.

Life boils down to communication, the willingness to talk about even the most inconsequential moments as well as the static, the shouts of indifference and the moans of love, terror and laughter; without being able to communicate in any form, without breaking the barriers that naturally occur between us in language or in our attitudes, we do not deserve to be considered reasonable, adept or functioning members of the planet.

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

(488 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

A Street Cat Named Bob, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Luke Treadaway, Ruta Gedmintas, Joanna Froggatt, Anthony Head, Beth Goddard, Darren Evans, Caroline Goodall, Ruth Sheen, Nina Wadia, Franc Ashman, Lorraine Ashbourne, Mark Behan, Daniel Fearn, Adam Riches, Nadine Marshall, John Henshaw.

It is a quirk that makes the British film industry such a magnificent beast at times, for every stunning spectacular that crowds the screen with its location, its effortless pandemonium like glee in producing stunt after stunt and the facility to host the filming of the big box office smash, that occasionally comes a film in which typifies the true spirit of film making, one that does not go down the route enjoyed by the likes of the insipid and distasteful, but is instead a story, a piece of living memory that could happen to any of us.

A Street Cat Named Bob, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T, Liverpool. full post

(516 words, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)