American Hustle, Film Review. FACT Cinema, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Louis C.K., Jack Huston, Saïd Taghmaoui, Michael Peña, Shea Whigham, Alessandro Novola, Elisabeth Röhm, Paul Herman, Robert De Niro, Anthony Zerbe.

In the minds of many this side of the great ocean divide that separates the United States of America from the U.K. the glitz and glamour that is seen in various television shows and films centres on the likes of Miami and Las Vegas, further down the list is Atlantic City, a bolt hole for gambling in the upper portion of the great state of New Jersey but one in which too few ballads, poems or dreams are made of.

American Hustle, Film Review. FACT Cinema, Liverpool. full post

(694 words, estimated 2:47 mins reading time)

Paul Carrack, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There can be no doubting the musical aptitude and flair that resides in the body of Paul Carrack. A man whose talent is legendary and which stretches across so many decades and through so many groups and solo albums that if there was any fairness in the world, the iconic musician would have in another realm the moniker ‘National Treasure’ attached to his name after it is mentioned. However Paul Carrack is far too humble for that, you only have to watch him perform on stage around the country that is this a proud man, not frightened to send himself up when the occasion calls for it but who above all you cannot help but feel that no matter what, his family comes first and then his music.

Paul Carrack, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. full post

(454 words, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

Robert Vincent, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. (2014)

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It may seem incredible to some, but to those who truly get Robert Vincent, who have listened to the man and his album Life In Easy Steps and who have watched with awe and a bucket load of wonder at the tremendous talent that resides in the body of a music giant in the making, nothing really should ever come as a surprise. Whether performing at Leaf, The Unity Theatre and Camp and Furnace in Liverpool or out on the road supporting the legendary Paul Carrack for a few months, Rob Vincent is a performer who can make a jaw audibly drop from 30 feet in stunned appreciation.

Robert Vincent, Gig Review. Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. (2014) full post

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

Sons Of Mowgli, Come What May. E.P. Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

No matter how good you are, how unique you sound, the freshness you bring to the table, trying to stand out in a world that has seven billion people all trying to carve themselves a little notch of history and to be remembered for the spirit and talent they possess can be a daunting and sometimes discouraging prospect in a world that even now, is essentially a jungle.

Sons Of Mowgli, Come What May. E.P. Review. full post

(419 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

House Of Trees, Where’s The Butcher, Where’s The Baker? Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The mixed emotions, the taste of an intoxicating, anything goes atmosphere; the piercing and stimulating feel of a time which you can only ever imagine having lived, inhabited and immersed yourself into as you wander around Upper Manhattan in search of the next big star and cool smooth voice. These are the qualities the listener will find on the stunning album by House of Trees, the superb Where’s The Butcher, Where’s the Baker?

House Of Trees, Where’s The Butcher, Where’s The Baker? Album Review. full post

(413 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

House Of Trees, Gig Review. Parr Jazz, Parr Street.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The small candle holders that flicker and move like a frustrated Siren caught in a winter draft and cast an almost loving shadow over the tablecloths offers the crowd that has assembled for Parr Jazz on Parr Street the chance to relish in the thought of what is to come as the fantastic Scandinavian Jazz/Folk band House Of Trees make their way to the heart of U.K. music, Liverpool.

House Of Trees, Gig Review. Parr Jazz, Parr Street. full post

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

Bruce Springsteen, High Hopes. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

It doesn’t matter how late in life you come to some musicians or artists, they will wait for you to catch up to them. They will continue to perform and make music knowing full well that at some point even the most ardent non-believer will find that they have been wrong all the time, come along with flat hat tightly wound around their fists and apologising for taking so long for getting on board with their best laid plans.

Bruce Springsteen, High Hopes. Album Review. full post

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

Tiki Black, Out Of The Black. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

It may not happen often, but sometimes you come across an album that once you have heard it you realise what an honour, a rare privilege, it was to have taken the C.D. out of the plastic cage and set it free to sing and flourish.

Out of the Black by the sensational Tiki Black may have been released in 2013 but when you find an album of such pure quality which contains a voice which seems to get more beautiful the more you let the C.D. play along its merry way and the haunting performance of the collection of musicians that contribute to such a stirring debut.

Tiki Black, Out Of The Black. Album Review. full post

(437 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

The Bletchley Circle, Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Anna Maxwell Martin, Rachael Stirling, Julie Graham, Sophie Rundle, Hattie Morahan, Mark Dexter, Faye Marsey, Paul McGann, Tim Piggott-Smith, Simon Chandler, Richard Hun, Paul Ritter, Simon Darwen, Mabel Watson, Freddie Anness-Lorenz, Nick Blood, Joanne Adams, Victoria Alcock, James Weaver.

The Bletchley Circle, Television Review. full post

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

David Serby & The Latest Scam. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Not only does David Serby have an affinity, a sort of undisputed empathy with the emotions of humanity; the desire to get deep down and dirty in the psychology of what drives us all, but his way of getting that affinity across is almost pure and full. He has that great skill of being able to hear without speaking, for listening with full attention and giving a song of great humour and emotion in return in the album David Serby & The Great Scam.

David Serby & The Latest Scam. Album Review. full post

(460 words, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)