Half Baked, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre Studio, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Josie Sedgwick-Davies, Emily Woosey, Lucy Harris, Tom Harrington, Nick Crosbie, Jamie Brownson.

Change happens, it might be overnight, it could be over a decade; however, eventually all things must change. The trouble is at times adjustment happens because of outside influences, the world forces transformation at a quickening pace and people get left behind as they struggle to come to terms with the new situation that has come along. For those that are fortunate, transformation happens on their own terms and they are able to carry on kicking against the world with a smile on their face. For the staff of a small family run bakery in Warrington, change is inevitable in Alex Joynes’ new play Half Baked.

Half Baked, Theatre Review. Playhouse Theatre Studio, Liverpool. full post

(540 words, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut. (PS4) Game Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9 out of 10

Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut is a psychological survival horror adventure game available for download from the PlayStation Store for the PS4. The sub-title of the game is rather appropriate as this is an extended version of the cult indie game by Jasper Byrne, which was originally released in Europe on March 27th 2012 and America on April 23rd 2012 for the P.C., Mac and Linux with PS3 and Vita releases following on September 24th 2013.

Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut. (PS4) Game Review. full post

(2425 words, estimated 9:42 mins reading time)

Cottonwoolf, E.P. Review

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It may seem a strange affair to consider, perhaps even rum in some music lover’s eyes, but not every rock/R&B fan likes Led Zeppelin. It seems to be a permanent question that hangs on the mouths of the pop fan like a drip feed tube giving nutrients to a coma patient, you like rock, then you must like Led Zeppelin. Whilst the Midland’s band might not be everybody’s personal liking, there is a young band who has climbed the slippery slope out of Leeds and who tickles the taste buds of musical sincerity with their debut E.P. Cottonwoolf.

Cottonwoolf, E.P. Review full post

(430 words, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Dana Fuchs, Songs From The Road. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Roads are there to be travelled, no matter how long and straight it looks, it will lead somewhere. The road to Hell paved with good intentions, the sunny side of the street or the enclosed, tempting and quiet cul-de-sac in which you may never depart; all have their points of interest and all should contain a reason to be there. For the superbly talented Dana Fuchs the road is one in which Ruf Records have placed her vibrant live set down for all to hear and in Songs From The Road everything sounds sweet, vivacious and only enhances the Florida musician’s reputation.

Dana Fuchs, Songs From The Road. Album Review. full post

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

Eddi Reader, Back The Dogs. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

When Eddi Reader sings, the only logical thing to do is listen. To take that organ of beauty that sometmes rattles round the head and open up to the sense of music ceremony that is on offer.

There are many female musicians and vocalists that sit with some justification on the realm afforded them by the British public, their voices carry nectar that others, including many men, cannot hope to attain. However as Ms. Reader has proved time and time again and latterly with this year’s album release Vagabond, her voice is just divine. The cool sensual velvet touch that resides in the Scottish singer’s throat, that if captured in a painting would have Constable or Turner blushing with pride with the comparisons handed round, sparkles and plays with memory with seduction.

Eddi Reader, Back The Dogs. E.P. Review. full post

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

Under A Banner, Close To The Clouds. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The rumblings of disaffection, of disillusion at the deluded so called Democratic process that runs deeper and with more insidious bite to it than any time in modern history may not come to bite a particular class of the so called ruling elite in time to save the rest of us from allowed tyranny but at least it is being heard outside of the Westminster Empire, even if those inside are seemingly immune to the rising tide anger that is crawling up the Thames in what can only be considered as the next big stink.

Under A Banner, Close To The Clouds. Album Review. full post

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

Rainbow Scars, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Jennifer Steyn, Kertrice Maitisa, Mbulelo Grootboom.

The flowering of democracy leaves many a root of the past upturned and exposed to the sunlight, it catches the rays like a magnifying glass and in its wake can have the same effect on the tips of the root and the soft underbelly of the flower harmed by the burnt offering that new social equality can bring.

Rainbow Scars, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

John Jenkins And That Sure Thing, Intruder. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There are moments, polished, sincere but approachable and with the sly upturned grin of an aged valet who anticipates your every whim and desire; that you have to wonder whether fate, destiny or kismet knows exactly what you need at the exact right time. When listening to John Jenkins and That Sure Thing’s album, Intruders, it could be tempting to take a sneak peak out of the window and check to see if providence is keeping a wary eye on you.

John Jenkins And That Sure Thing, Intruder. Album Review. full post

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

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PS4), Game Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9 out of 10

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is a third-person shooter game available from retail stores and for download from the PlayStation Store for the PS4. Plants vs. Zombies originated as a tower defence game released for Windows on May 5th 2009 before being ported to a range of platforms including PS3 and PS Vita. It must be appreciated that after two successful Plants vs. Zombies games; PopCap have attempted to spin the franchise off in a new direction as a third-person shooter, but is it a risk that has paid off?

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PS4), Game Review. full post

(3351 words, estimated 13:24 mins reading time)

Taylor Swift, 1989. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Every decade, as every year, is important, but some stand out in history more than others purely because of the times and memories associated to them. For 1989, not only was it the beginning of the end in terms of the cold war but it was the end of a decade in which could have seen the world truly destroyed by political stupidity, arrogance and fear. The decade saw strife world-wide, anger, decimation, terror, political brutality…but also the emergence of hope in the unlikeliest of places and driven forward by the most unlikely of men or women.

Taylor Swift, 1989. Album Review. full post

(643 words, estimated 2:34 mins reading time)