F.I.F.A. World Cup, 2014: Greece V Ivory Coast, Match Report.

Originally published by Ace Magazine, June 2014.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is only the third time the country that gave democracy to the world has qualified for the final stages. There is though something very pleasing in that in their third tournament they upset the form book and make their way into the last 16 thanks to the man who has been a great servant to Celtic the last few seasons. As Georgios Samaras stepped up to take the penalty that would either send his team marching on or see them trip up in the group stages as they did in 1994 and 2010, what emotions must have been going through his head? What emotions must have been going through the mind of Didier Drogba and the Lion of African football, Yaya Touré?

F.I.F.A. World Cup, 2014: Greece V Ivory Coast, Match Report. full post

(1225 words, estimated 4:54 mins reading time)

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Japan V Columbia, Match Report.

First published by Ace Magazine online. June 2014.

If the world of football, and its many critics, were shocked by events in the match involving Uruguay and Italy in the afternoon then surely there would have been many a smile on the same faces a few minutes before the end of the near one sided game involving arguably the best team from South America so far in this tournament and the men from Japan.

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Japan V Columbia, Match Report. full post

(849 words, estimated 3:24 mins reading time)

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

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr, Amy Sedaris, EmJay Anthony, Russell Peters, Chase Grimm, Will Schutze, Gloria Sandoval, Jose C. Hernandez.

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

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

Dead Dog In A Suitcase And Other Love Songs, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Carly Bawden, Audrey Brisson, Andrew Durand, Rina Fatania, James Gow, Martin Hyder, Giles King, Patrycja Kujawska, Dominic Marsh, Justin Radford, Ian Ross, Sarah Wright.

Dead Dog In A Suitcase And Other Love Songs, Theatre Review. Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(560 words, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Mexico V Croatia, Match Report.

First published online by Ace Magazine online June 2014.

For a few brief minutes there was real hope in every Mexican heart that they would go and get at least a couple of more goals against Croatia and equal amount of dread that Brazil would somehow slice open the Cameroon defense simply at will in equal response. Such were the margins for error that the Gods of expectancy and the false idols of the disappointed held Damocles’ Sword of all four of the squads in this particular group.

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Mexico V Croatia, Match Report. full post

(1045 words, estimated 4:11 mins reading time)

F.I.F.A Wold Cup 2014: Cameroon V Brazil. Match Report.

Forst published by Ace Magazine online June 2014.

The atmosphere for most of the games so far at this World Cup has been as electric as witnessing as a supernova explode with fury or finding yourself at the most sought after party in history where every drink was free and yet nobody got the slight bit inebriated and the conversation flowed like millions of tonnes of water over Niagara Falls. Yet somehow that same supernova was somehow lacking as you watched knowing that as you safely hid behind enough material to keep you safe from the harm, the explosion that would leave countless worlds destroyed was inaudible because your earphones had decided to pack up just before the mass of fury cascaded throughout space.

F.I.F.A Wold Cup 2014: Cameroon V Brazil. Match Report. full post

(1155 words, estimated 4:37 mins reading time)

Rachael Dunn, Placing Stars. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Like the good old 45 R.P.M single, the bastion of pop charts past, there are times when an E.P. can leave you trustingly wanting more.  You love them; they speak to you in the same way that a novella or well-written Ernest Hemmingway short story can grab your attention for a while but you just cannot help knowing that a little more would send you over the edge into some sort of exquisite dream. Like the child only being allowed one small sweet lest the sugar content send them going into a crazy spiral of juvenile energy rush, the listener has to limit themselves to knowing what has been put out is enough, even if it is with a shrug of musical despondency.

Rachael Dunn, Placing Stars. E.P. Review. full post

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

Liverpool Sound And Vision: An Interview With Alastair Clark. (2014)

Alastair Clark never seems to sit still. Even if you have known him for quite a while or five minutes, what impresses you is his constant searching, questioning of the norm and deep down the stark truth that he is an exceptionally funny man. Having graduated from the University of Liverpool, he has become an ambassador on the comedy circuit, highlighting the excellent name of the city he lived in throughout his time doing his degree but also the great county of Lincolnshire from which he hails.

Liverpool Sound And Vision: An Interview With Alastair Clark. (2014) full post

(1738 words, estimated 6:57 mins reading time)

Raelism, Freedom Within The Prison. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Everyone has a prison, a jail cell or gaol of their own making; it is how they deal with the thoughts inside that surrounding wall that set them apart from others. Sometimes your mind and imagination are the only Freedom Within The Prison.

Raelism, Freedom Within The Prison. E.P. Review. full post

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

Locke & Key: Clockworks. Graphic Novel Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Every outstanding Graphic Novel or superhero requires a back story, there is a law somewhere, probably laid down by story teller supremo Stan Lee on a scrap of paper in a rest room and the flourished signature witnessed by Jack Kirby. The paper, possibly now residing on a wall in Marvel offices just below the enormous Captain America drawing that greets visitors to the building in New York, is surely seen by all aspiring writers and artists, none so more as Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez and in the book Clockworks.

Locke & Key: Clockworks. Graphic Novel Review. full post

(568 words, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)