Jago And Litefoot, The Necropolis Express. Series Two, Big Finish Audio Play.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Christopher Benjamin, Trevor Baxter, Lisa Bowerman, Vernon Dobtchef, David Collings, Alex Mallinson.

One of the most powerful images of pre-20th Century medical advancement is that of the body-snatcher, the ghoulish purveyors of the recently deceased and comfortable in their new home six feet underground to the medical profession, especially those of impoverished students for research purposes has never been looked at favourably or with rose tinted eyes. What it has done though has given cinema and audio drama the great lease of life in which to scare audience’s silly.

Jago And Litefoot, The Necropolis Express. Series Two, Big Finish Audio Play. full post

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

Sorrows Path, The Rough Path of Nihilism. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

When things are bad, the sensible thing is to turn to art and especially music to remind you of the beauty that once strode hand in hand with you. When a nation suffers as the Greeks have for the last few years, their world turning upside down as bail out after bail out by those with perhaps less altruistic agendas, then you would be forgiven to think that the mood of the people, let alone the young, can turn their ideas to being creative. Don’t mention that in front of Sorrows Path as they reflect on the 2010 release The Rough Path of Nihilism ahead of a new album this year.

Sorrows Path, The Rough Path of Nihilism. Album Review. full post

(398 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

The Duckworth Lewis Method, Sticky Wickets. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * *

Neil Hannon divides popular opinion as if having to choose between two certain brands of cola or picking out a holiday destination in two rival but equally well thought of islands. There are those that love what he does, the clever intonation, lyrics that play with the English language in such a way that he has become a master of the baroque and ornate. However all is not that plain sailing the polarising view is that he too intellectual, not that this is a bad thing, just some for whatever reason find it irritating.

The Duckworth Lewis Method, Sticky Wickets. Album Review. full post

(416 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

Sirenia, Perils Of The Deep Blue. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Stakes are raised and battle lines drawn as Sirenia release their new album Perils of the Deep Blue. What the Scandinavians do, the continentals especially in the newly emerging metal markets of Italy, France and further abroad try to outmatch and Britain’s Black Sabbath, still very much one of the Gods, tops with rightful fervor. It is the release of Perils of the Deep Blue that propels the Norwegian band into the realms that Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi have claimed that makes the album so intense and laden with open promise.

Sirenia, Perils Of The Deep Blue. Album Review. full post

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

Deap Vally, Sistrionix. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Some things are meant to be, a meeting of minds born out of frustration, the chance encounter which goes on to greater challenges and pursuits, such is life and the way of the world. For the two women who make up Deap Vally, Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards chance meeting and a shared disaffection with getting their music being played has led to the formation of the group and an interesting and attention grabbing debut album, Sistrionix.

Deap Vally, Sistrionix. Album Review. full post

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

Simon Townshend, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Just a little over a 24 hours since he went on stage as part of a phenomenal line up at the Echo Arena, Simon Townshend graced the Liverpool o2 Academy with a set that burned with excellence and unequivocal energy.

As part of The Who alongside Roger Daltrey and  Pete Townshend, Simon had rocked and stormed the large arena in town and given those present one of the loudest concerts they are likely to hear all year. When stepping onto the stage at The Academy though, he was more sedate and laid back but funnily enough just as intense and creatively thunderous, it was almost as if the spirits that had guided him as part of the much loved British band were still hanging around and urging him to continue the good work.

Simon Townshend, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool. full post

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

The Who, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 10/10

Towards the end of The Who’s impressive, even epic set, there was a small message that blinked into existence for just the briefest of seconds which uttered the instruction, “Keep rocking, Liverpool’, in truth this is a city that doesn’t need telling twice but as instructions go it was up there with the best of them.

The Who, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(544 words, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)

Jago And Litefoot, Litefoot And Sanders. Series Two, Big Finish Audio Play.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Christopher Benjamin, Trevor Baxter, David Collings, Conrad Asquith, Chloe Howman, Lisa Bowerman, Alex Mallinson.

Jago and Litefoot are as inseparable as fish and chips, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding…the Doctor and his companion…As Series Two starts with the eminent professor forming a new working relationship with his equal Gabriel Sanders, it seems that the dynamic duo, the investigators of all incidents infernal have gone their separate ways and the cold reality of their friendship hits Henry Gordon Jago hard.

Jago And Litefoot, Litefoot And Sanders. Series Two, Big Finish Audio Play. full post

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

Bouncers, Theatre Review. St. Helens Theatre Royal.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Simon O’Brien, Neville Cann, Benjamin Engelen, John F. Doull.

There are many sides to a city or town but the main difference is between its day time appearance, perhaps full of shoppers, workers and casual visitors and then its late time manifestation, its night life where the rules of the day go out the window and out comes the darker side of drink, drugs and wild abandonment in which we all try to forget the menace of the day.  Voiced by some of the inhabitants of the night, John Godber’s Bouncers is not only a knock out look at some of the funnier aspects of this time of day but perhaps the best kind of social comment that gets too often neglected.

Bouncers, Theatre Review. St. Helens Theatre Royal. full post

(372 words, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

Judy & Liza, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Lucy Williamson, Emma Dears.

Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, perhaps two of the biggest names in American show business ever and surely impossible to ever replicate on stage what they have each achieved and the adoration in which they are still held to this day. Whilst Judy Garland’s life was heartbreakingly cut short due to near obscene levels of pressure, Ms Minnelli has been a born survivor despite the huge ruby slippers she had to fill and yet in Judy & Liza it was if the two women had come back together just one more time.

Judy & Liza, Theatre Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(390 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)