Arms And Hearts, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

In a night of music that the was refreshingly made up of a majority of female artists, the early part of the evening at Zanzibar did have one male act that was able by sheer force of will and overflowing talent stand at least on a level par with the acts that bookended them. With the likes of ME and Deboe performing in the venue, the very cool Arms and Hearts couldn’t have had a tougher competition if the superb Norwegian contingent of female artists that have made Liverpool their home had also got up onstage and blended their Nordic magic in a tribute to all things Northern Europe.

Arms And Hearts, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

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

Shannen Bamford, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Shannen Bamford’s E.P., Paper Planes, was one of the surprise wonders of 2013. The intensity in which she put together a cracking set of songs was gently effective and musically comfortable, a real find.

Shannen Bamford, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

(346 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Kate Hazeldine, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is nothing better than a good first impression, especially live as opposed to the world of recorded music. Studio time, whilst being very precious and expensive also affords the slight luxury of being able to go over a slight mistake, a small error in delivery, the pause where there shouldn’t be any and to make sure that the next take is vastly superior. Live and in the raw, the full glare of house lights piercing through otherwise darkness and fixated upon the artist is enough to give anyone the wobbles, however there are no second chances upon the stage. For Kate Hazeldine, the only reason why second chances don’t exist in that environment is because she doesn’t need them.

Kate Hazeldine, Gig Review. Zanzibar Club, Liverpool. full post

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

Tori Amos, Under The Pink. 20th Anniversary Retrospective.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Just 18 months after releasing her debut album Little Earthquakes, Tori Amos stamped her authority on her music direction by releasing the superb Under The Pink.  Gone were the days Y Kant Tori Read forever, this was 100 per cent what the talented musician was all about, trailblazing, confessional, confrontational but with that alluring feminine smile paving the way before slamming the piano with full heart and lyrics that were designed to make you thing as well as enjoy. The musical personification of poets Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton but with even bigger welcoming attitude and an allure that got beneath the skin of the subject she wrote about.

Tori Amos, Under The Pink. 20th Anniversary Retrospective. full post

(966 words, estimated 3:52 mins reading time)

The Judgement Of Hakim, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Nick Birkinshaw.

Supported by Mark Lea, Hannah Plant, Jack Cooper, Warren Tutt, Joe Ball, Thoma Galashan, Jake Barrowcliffe, Michael Coumas, Bethany Sprontson, Jade Thomson, Ewan Pollitt, Jamie Barton, Sam Williams.

If you keep your wits about you, you will not be harmed. If you keep the information that you hold to yourself and don’t give into the piercing stare, the charm and easy smile of the interrogator then you will have avoided The Judgement of Hakim. Find yourself in left wing book shop, too late, he knows and you’re on a list, read right wing literature, he knows and you’re on a list, buy a certain food, on a list, in fact anything you do in life is listed and what you hold as freedom is just purely an illusion but vital to the trade of the interrogator.

The Judgement Of Hakim, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

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

Midsomer Murders, Wild Harvest. Television Review, I.T.V.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast Neil Dudgeon, Gwilym Lee, Fiona Dolman, Tazmin Malleson, Arabella Weir, Sharon Small, Clive Wood, Mark Elliott, Lucinda Dryzek, Tyger Drew-Honey, Hayley Mills, Matt Kennard, Catherine Bailey, Lucy Akhurst, Neil McCaul.

Too many cooks can spoil the broth, or at least, make it inedible due to the nature of the toxic substance found lurking within its fatal ingredients. For the residents of Midsomer Wyvern and especially those who work under dictatorial chef Ruth Cameron at Wyvern House, life is about to get a little hotter in the kitchen.

Midsomer Murders, Wild Harvest. Television Review, I.T.V. full post

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

Blake’s 7: The Liberator Chronicles. Counterfeit. Audio Drama Review. Big Finish.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Gareth Thomas, Paul Darrow.

A story that didn’t involve the commanding tones of Gareth Thomas as the Captain of The Liberator, Rog Blake, would seem to be as surprising as leaving out the main character of the television series for virtually all of its final series. Thankfully the people behind Big Finish audio dramas are the best in the business when it comes to getting old favourites to reprise their renowned and celebrated roles and in the episode Counterfeit, audiences once again get the chance to sample the delights of Gareth Thomas as the determined rogue turned freedom fighter in the final story in the box set of Season One of Blake’s 7: The Liberator Chronicles.

Blake’s 7: The Liberator Chronicles. Counterfeit. Audio Drama Review. Big Finish. full post

(494 words, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Transatlantic, Kaleidoscope. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Following on from the acclaimed album The Whirlwind, the four members of Transatlantic, Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt and Pete Trewavas, have once again got together to produce something that is so compelling, so like the Progressive Rock of old and yet new, exciting and in the case of two of the longer tracks, daring musical storytelling.

Transatlantic, Kaleidoscope. Album Review. full post

(587 words, estimated 2:21 mins reading time)

Indica, Shine. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Far beyond the shores of Norway and passed the Nordic Noir world of crime drama of Sweden is a land that very few people in Britain will ever probably ever set eyes upon, let alone take the chance to delve discretely into the world of its music. Finland’s output whether pop, folk or even its incredible rock/metal scene, it seems there is always a thousand fold of alleged hopefuls who would rather batter a much loved song in the hope of fulfilling a thirty second dream to meet a judge who will cast scorn on their ability than take in the hard work of another nation’s music.

Indica, Shine. Album Review. full post

(395 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Blake’s 7: The Liberator Chronicles. Solitary, Audio Drama Review. Big Finish.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Michael Keating, Anthony Howell.

Even amongst a tight band of renegades and misfits there will always be the one outcast who is different enough from the rest to make him a prime target for an introverted and perhaps self-contained lifestyle, even if that person deep down wants to be part of the group that he is associated with.

Blake’s 7: The Liberator Chronicles. Solitary, Audio Drama Review. Big Finish. full post

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