Midsomer Murders: Death By Magic. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 5/10

Cast: Neil Dudgeon, Gwilym Lee, Fiona Dolman, Tamzin Malleson, Andrew Lee Potts, Jack Shepherd, Joe Absolom, Amanda Burton, Raj Awasti, Fraser Ayres, Pamela Betsy Cooper, Ashley Darwood, Noma Dumezweni, Anthony Farrelly, Deborah Findlay, Merelina Kendall, Stephanie Leonidas, Alan McKenna, John Neville, Justin Salinger.

The art of deception and the sleight of hand, the act of illusion and slight bemusement needs both to succeed; and so too does a good old fashioned Detective/murder programme.

Midsomer Murders: Death By Magic. Television Review. full post

(478 words, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

Over The Garden Fence, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7.5/10

Cast: Hayley Riley, Louise Evans.

Life is so much more than what the gossips, those that peddle the rumour mill around you and the idle talk of the garden fence brigade; however when your life starts to go down a certain path, when the fullness of your own memories start to dissipate into thin air, when the edges of the snapshot start to fade and lose definition, are you no more than the sum of the declining anecdote relied with glee by your neighbours?

Over The Garden Fence, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(340 words, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Failed Intervention

My name is of no importance

as I sit here quietly breathing in dust from the beaten up

old chair you provided me with.

My clothes as crumpled as my un-digestable heart

in this crowded room, where you sit

comfortably and with an air of seething malice wait

for me

to admit that

all you need to know is that I am a poetry addict

and that it has been that way ever thus.

The intervention should be hailed a success

for I have gone at least a couple of hours since I

Failed Intervention full post

(294 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

T’Pau, Pleasure & Pain. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * *

In the spirit of George Harrison, all things must pass, eventually. For some it’s a relief, the death of a dystopian and despotic regime, ground to dust or wiped out by plague is a thought that a cheery liberal would welcome with huge applause and gladdened heart; a new release by a band who filled a lot of teenage hearts with inspired lyrics and power ballad like affection finding themselves at the crossroads of the much missed Mr. Harrison’s almost fatalistic scenario, it can be a daunting proposition.

T’Pau, Pleasure & Pain. Album Review. full post

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

The Haloed Moon

…and Just by chance I looked up at the moon

and saw the false brightly lit orb shrouded by a perfect circle

where clouds had formed separating to make a giant’s eye.

Unblinking, all-knowing, understanding the darkest secrets

of the solitary magpie sheltering in the darkness of the church eaves

and its feathers ruffling, tearing at the bird-like sleep, dozing

dreaming of glittering bauble and fully formed salutes

from passing strangers.

The moon is but a mere child’s pebble thrown, ejected with violence

onto a dusty unused sandpit, the hollow crater surrounded

The Haloed Moon full post

(237 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)

Broadchurch. Series Two, Episode Five. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan, Jodie Whittaker, Charlotte Rampling, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Pauline Quirke, Arthur Darvill, Eve Myles, James D’Arcy, Meera Syal, Carolyn Pickles, Tanya Franks, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, William Andrews, Matthew Gravelle, Shaun Dooley, Joe Sims, Adam Wilson, Simone McAullay.

As is often pointed out in the national press via informed publications that deals with criminal statistics, offences can often be linked together, the perpetrator of one such misdeed is often responsible for others. Why should the town of Broadchurch, tearing itself apart at the seams with claim and counterclaim, be any different?

Broadchurch. Series Two, Episode Five. Television Review. full post

(381 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Doctor Who: Philip Hinchcliffe Presents, The Devil’s Armada. Audio Drama Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, Jamie Newall, Nigel Carrington, Alix Dunsmore, Joe Jameson, Beth Chalmers, Philip Bretherton, Ben Porter, Tim Bentinck.

The world of Doctor Who is seemingly entrenched into two distinct realms of story-telling themes, the historical, whether that comes down to the gothic fancy, the accurate, with the only that those writing about The Doctor can employ a good science-fiction twist too or the warning from the past in which holds a mirror to the present day audience or the category that is so steeped into invention that the monsters come from out of nowhere and place themselves at the very heart of Humanity’s future. Both are equally enthralling, both as enjoyable as its counterpart and yet rarely do the mix well.

Doctor Who: Philip Hinchcliffe Presents, The Devil’s Armada. Audio Drama Review. full post

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

Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell (PS4), Game Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating: 9 out of 10

Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell is a third-person open world action game available from retail stores and for download from the PlayStation Store for the PS4. Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell is a standalone expansion which continues the Saints Row series and is also included in the PS4 release of Saints Row IV: Re-Elected.

Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell (PS4), Game Review. full post

(2818 words, estimated 11:16 mins reading time)

Inge Bremnes, Gig Review. Studio 2, Parr Street, Liverpool (2015).

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Inge Bremnes may not seem to be a colossus, a man emulating the Gods of Norse mythology and whose stature comes with accompanying lightening strikes or with Freya’s beguiling charm but when he steps onto the stage a transformation seems to take place, the immensely likeable musician becomes something new, something exciting, and no matter how many times you have the honour of watching him the transformation from the humble to the riveting is rather thrilling and the music even more impressive.

Inge Bremnes, Gig Review. Studio 2, Parr Street, Liverpool (2015). full post

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

James Wyatt, Gig Review. Studio 2, Parr Street, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

A Sunday night in, the chance to rest, perhaps fall asleep in front of the usual television offering that the last day of the week affords, is a tempting offer. The weekend over, the winding down and wrestling with the thoughts of another seven days firmly implanted into the mind, is perhaps unavoidable and yet somewhere along the line, surely that means missing out on something nice, something tangible and with meaning, a sound that is haunting and beautiful, a set of songs in which the musician opens his heart live on stage and lets the words flow meaningful and with honour.

James Wyatt, Gig Review. Studio 2, Parr Street, Liverpool. full post

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