GSM
E. 6 V. 3
GSM
E. 6 V. 3
Editorial
Covers aim to grab your attention, announce the theme, and provoke you. We want you discussing the image and by extension the ideas associated with each edition. Afterall isn’t the point of student press to encourage free (even controversial) thinking? Our “exposure” cover achieves these criteria. Images of exposed flesh draw us in subconsciously and once we’re looking our eyes naturally follow the lines of convergence (the snail trail and the fold of the jeans) down the page. We’re all naturally wired to be voyeurs and we’ve deliberately tried to take advantage of this.
Thanks to: Aldy, Divya, Dina, Rehana, Asten, Adrian, D’Arcy, & Ali. Drs Kayt Davies, Stuart Medley, Hanadi Haddad, & Quentin Beresford. Everyone who provided illustrations. Also, Wenjie, Manuel, Liam, Jason, Jacky, Grace, & Camden. The people who wrote, reviewed and proof-read for us. Also, Madi, Aron, Jess “Ninja”, Jessica P, Paige, Chris, Zoe, Rachel, Alvin, James, and Ashley. My fellow student editors Josh, Phoebe, and Hayley. Italians Restaurant. ECU Library. & the folks who tolerate our drivel in their stores, on their campus and online.
The skin was discoloured to deemphasise the sexualness of the image. There’s no warm fleshy colours, just cool, cold flesh and hair. I honestly didn’t think much about having the pubes included so i’ve been interested by the level of surprise that their presence (and natural condition) has provoked. I think this is a nice little insight into the cultural-sexual milieu. Depending on the strength of your preferences you might also find their presence contributes to de-sexualising the image. We dedicate our final edition to the visual arts. It gives our writers a nice break and sets GSM apart from all the other student rags. The theme of “exposure” was chosen because it suggests showing off new and unacknowledged works. It’s also a deliberate forewarning of our other end of year tradition; asking our writers to strip down and submit a profile about themselves. Irreverence is our virtue. Publishing a naked photo is another way of saying ‘we’re not taking ourselves too seriously, and we’re having fun with what we do.’ By the way, happy second birthday GSM! Back in 2010 there was no “student” mag. GSM begun as an ambitious project to create a quality student publication at ECU. I’ve tried to be consistent in promoting both this concept, and putting the idea into practice. Along the way I’ve had to sometimes defend including students, and the editorial independence of GSM. As painful as it was at times, I’m glad I did and I’m thankful for the support from our contributors, the staff, students and the Guild. There is one thing I want to briefly mention. I was pretty hurt earlier this year when a couple of students told me I didn’t ‘deserve’ to be the editor because I’m not a student. I don’t believe I’ve ever pretended that I am (unless it’s for a free sausage in a bun, in which case all’s fair in love and mystery meats). Editing GSM is one of several roles I perform as the Guild’s Communications Officer and although I’ve relished the role, I’ve always been upfront that my ultimate goal is to have a paid editor’s position created for a student. I’d like to be able to mentor a student over 2013 and help get that position established with funding from the SSAF. If that’s the sort of thing you might be interested in, then get involved! Your constructive feedback is always welcome. You never know who has a good idea, and it helps keep our finger on the ‘pulse’ of campus life and gauge what kind of magazine students want to read. I hope you enjoy our final edition and thank you so much for supporting this project over the past two years. X - Tom Reynolds
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Editor & Design: Tom Reynolds editor.gsm@gmail.com Advertising & Distribution: Tom Reynolds communications@ecuguild.org.au Cover: photo: Adrian Zhang, supervision: Ali Alatas, model: Josh Chiat, editing: Tom Reynolds Images: Tom Reynolds (pg 5 &7), Ali Alatas (top middle & cover image pg 5) Editing Team: Rehana Badat, Madi McKenzie, Asten Nunn, & Aldy Hendradjaja. Want to review stuff for us? Arts: Aldy Hendradjaja arts.editor.gsm@gmail.com Books: Rehana Badat books.editor.gsm@gmail.com Film: Dina Waluyo film.editor.gsm@gmail.com Games: Asten Nunn games.editor.gsm@gmail.com Music: Asten Nunn music.editor.gsm@gmail.com Photography: Ali Alatas photography.gsm@gmail.com The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor, ECU Student Guild or the Advertisers. GSM is editorially independent. The Editor reserves the right to make changes to material as required. GSM reserves the right to republish material. Contributors retain all other rights for resale and republication.
2012 Album
GSM
reviews politics culture stories
FREE E. 1 V. 3
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G-News
Uni Games Results
ECU’s 85-strong team headed to Adelaide last week to compete in the 20th annual Australian University games. Led by team captains Kobi Evans (School of Education & School of Exercise and Health Science) and David Turner (School of Exercise and Health Science) the team competed against universities across Australia in the week-long competition. ECU’s team has more than doubled since the last time they competed in Adelaide in 2006, with teams across a great range of sports including long jump, high jump, netball, volleyball and AFL.
Congratulations to our women’s beach volleyball and taekwondo teams who both took out the bronze medals in their respective competitions. “Congratulations to all students who competed in the 2012 Australian University games,” said team Coordinator Vivien Massie. “The passion and dedication showed by all students was great to see and we look forward to competing again next year at the Gold Coast.” For more information on the games, and to view the full results visit the Australian University Games website.
Free RPM and Fitball classes (Date and time) 6.05am Tuesday & Thursday for November (Location) ECU Sports Centre Bldg 22 – 270 Joondalup Drive Joondalup With the sun up early why not come and enjoy Fitball or RPM (indoor cycling) classes for Free. Places are limited and valid for all fitness levels. To claim your voucher or find out more email ecusports@ecu.edu.au or call 6304 5778. Drop in’s will not be able to get access, only valid with voucher.
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G-News
Thanks for supporting your Guild! 2012 was an important year for the Guild with the introduction of the Services and Amenities Fee. This fee contributes towards funding on-campus support services like the Guild. With your contribution the ECU Student Guild has been placed in a stronger position to expand the services and benefits we can provide students in 2013. Don’t forget to renew your FREE Guild membership in semester one. In the meantime you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks.
join for free In 2013 there are NO membership fees. To get your full benefits select “yes” to join on SIMO and check your fee status with Student Central. www.askus.ecu.edu.au
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Name: Tom Reynolds My contribution to GSM: editing, designing, illustrating, distributing, promoting, running writers’ nights, and booking advertising... also, being sassy. My favourite cover this year was: I love all my children equally. I’ve been told GSM stands for: Guild Sponsored Masturbators. My greatest loves after GSM are: sleeping, dancing, tumblr, watching Show Girls. My favourite moments of GSM’12: illustrations, deliveries, writers’ nights, befriending the new writers, and meeting up with the other WA student editors. My patronus must be: secretly Jewish. Oy! Editing GSM has taught me: Generally the more aggressive the criticism, the more clueless the critic. Also I look like a naked baby.
Name: Asten Nunn My contribution to GSM: Music and Games editor When I’m not writing for GSM I am moonlighting as an airport worker, grain sampler, music festival worker, wedding caterer and writing content for websites. Sub-editing for GSM has taught me that people literally do not know what literally means. Next year you’ll find me… doing much of the same stuff, but hopefully I’ll have a puppy. I’m kept up at night by my thoughts of how much I need to do. When I grow up… I can’t help but feel that I have already ‘grown up’. The 5 most recent things I’ve googled are the life expectancy of Australian women (84). An online calculator, Regina Spektor tour dates, how to do Burlesque hair and makeup, and Kristen Wiig comedy sketches.
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Name: Rehana Badat My contribution to GSM: Books Editor/illustrator
GSM stands for: Got Some Milk? I hope to be remembered for: at least a few minutes after I leave :( Next year you’ll find me: smuggling myself over the US border My GSM crush is: the magazine contents page…mmhmm, lookit that table action When I’m not writing for GSM I am: brooding on the roof of the library, awaiting a signal in the sky I love the Editor because: he will give me back my passport if I say I do
Name: Aldy Hendradjaja My contribution to GSM: Arts Editor GSM stands for Gods Shit on Me. My biggest secret is that, once, I might’ve accidentally eaten a rat. My patronus must be Dora the Explorer. (Nooooooo!) Sub-editing for GSM has taught me to check and re-check and re-recheck most things the writers say, including people’s names, book titles and quotes. Writing for GSM has taught me that I still have a lot to learn. When I grow up I want to sue Justin Bieber for being alive.
Name: Dina Waluyo My contribution to GSM: Giving out movie passes and stuffs GSM stands for Guiltless Sadomasochism. My favourite moment(s) of GSM ’12 are getting free spinach, lettuce and broccoli seedlings on Joondalup O-Day, the little get-togethers after Writers’ Nights and when Tom pointed out my Walmart shirt-dress :P When I’m not writing for GSM I am conspiring to take over the world. Or baking and cooking. My patronus must be so awesome your patronus has to suck it! I hope I will remembered for pointing out that there are two too similar questions on this list: “I hope to be remembered for” and “I hope I will be remembered for” ;) My biggest secret is I think six questions are too many! Seriously, Tom?
Name: Ali Alatas My contribution to GSM: Chief Photographer When I’m not writing for GSM I am sipping my coffee and playing my guitar. My biggest secret is I’m a Superman. Bazinga. Next year you’ll find me one year younger. My greatest loves after GSM are running and indoor soccer. I love the Editor because he gives away sweets for the contributor.
Name: D’Arcy Ellis My contribution to GSM: Illustraor/ Reviewer GSM stands for more ways to procrastinate from assignments My patronus must be an eggplant My GSM crush is Aldy Sub-editing for GSM has taught me that nobody can appropriately use commas I’m kept up at night by sweaty night terrors that I will never finish my GSM illustration My favourite cover this year was Edith Cowan telling me to “get it in ya”
Name: Madi McKenzie My contribution to GSM: articles bitching about One Direction and awesome book reviews! My patronus must be awesome, what else would it be?! Sub-editing for GSM has taught me commas may be the death of me one day! Next year you’ll find me… asleep somewhere. My greatest loves after GSM are nacho jokes, Russian history and all things musical. I love the books section editor because she is impossible not to love … and she has mastered the awkward hug! I hope I won’t be remembered for my fear of the Toy Story franchise.
Name: Aron Shick My contribution to GSM: writer/reviewer
Name: Rachel Knight My contribution to GSM: Writer/reviewer
My biggest secret is... I’ve never written for a magazine before (don’t tell anyone, they’ll fire me!) I love the Editor because... Are you kidding? have you seen that guy? Who wouldn’t? When I grow up... Reeeally boring - hence, petulant man-child 4evs After GSM I will be... FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I hope I will be remembered for... My eccentric, whimsical style and being a unique conversationalist I hope I won’t be remembered for... My egocentric, wanky style and being a deranged hobo parade
GSM stands for Groovy Socks Mondays My biggest secret is I only go to GSM meetings for the free pizza. (Jokes) Writing for GSM has taught me extracurricula activities are quite fun! Next year you’ll find me soaking up the privileges of being a uni student for the last year. I’m kept up at night by the horrifying grammatical imperfections of society. One day they’ll get ‘your’ and ‘you’re’ right. My favourite cover this year was ‘NOIR’ featuring the seductive, yet deadly woman.
Name: Jason Dirstein My contribution to GSM: illustrator/ writer/visual artist GSM stands for: G-Spot Magazine... true story... When I grow up: pfft, I’m Peter Fuckin Pan! Next year you’ll find me: Back at it causing a stir I hope I will be remembered for: My giant cartoon pencil penis ;) I hope I will not be remembered for: My giant cartoon pencil penis :/ Writing/ Illustrating for GSM has taught me: How to jump through hoops and answer stupid questions. Love you TOM! See you next year.
Name: Ashley Swetman My contribution to GSM: writer, reviewer, rad company. When I’m not writing for GSM, I am: obsessively fangirling over my otps. My patronus must be: a wolf, apparently. Next year you’ll find me: taking some time off my studies to re-evaluate my life. Then maybe back at university. 5 most recent things I’ve googled: Toy Story quotes, Dr Gunther von Hagens, Chicken Risotto, Amazing Grace, What’s my patronus? My favourite cover this year was: Noir! But then it might also be this one, I haven’t seen it yet! I love the books editor because: she deals… errr, gives me free books!
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Name: C.G My contribution to GSM: write stuff When I’m not writing for GSM I am making paper, finding spots, rolling jozzas My GSM crush is Divya When I grow up I want to be a nomad of the world. Next year you’ll find me lurking in Perth I’m kept up at night by the lure of the CBD I love the Editor because he publishes my shit. I hope I will be remembered for progressing to that next level.
Name: Divya Jankee My contribution to GSM: Former Books Editor GSM stands for: Gangnam Style Macarism? My favourite moment of GSM ’12: delivering on campus The best thing published in GSM was: Perth in 2050 My GSM crush is: Tom of course I love the Editor because: he gives me cupcakes My favourite cover this year was: ‘Home’ Edition cover
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Name: Adrian Rossetti My Contribution to GSM: Work experience kid there last semester and last minute front cover model for masculinity edition. My greatest loves after GSM are: beach volleyball, gold and travelling the world. Next year you will see me: Learning Italian and running away from the bulls in Spain. Im kept up at night by: being scared of spiders coming from the air vent onto my bed. I hope I will be remembered for: my great editing skills. When I grow up: I hope people stop thinking I am a 15 year old kid when I’m actually 6 years older than that.
Name: Wenjie Zheng My contribution to GSM: Illustrator When I’m not writing for GSM I am a day dreamer! My biggest secret is hmmm... I won’t tell you actually I am a paranoid XD! Illustrating for GSM has taught me that it enlightens my proficiency and passion of drawing illustration without limitation!! The 5 most recent things I’ve googled are the recent japanese dramas, Susan Millar’s horoscope, Coldplay concert in SYD, Sakai Masato, Numerology After GSM I will be a dream maker
Name: Liam Lucas My contribution to GSM: Illustrator, Writer When I’m not illustrating for GSM I am drawing people, eating toast and dancing Irish jigs. My GSM crush is Rehana Badat; she likes comics and looks good in a leather Catwoman suit. GSM stands for Groping Sandwich Monkeys Next year you’ll find me hiding in bushes drawing while giggling, and yes, I’ll be drawing you. When I grow up I don’t want to be colour blind anymore. My favourite cover this year was Alphabet Soup; Get it in ya!
Name: Shaun Cowe My contribution to GSM: Music editor/ underpaid foundation of our social fabric. When I’m not writing for GSM I am: Doing jazz at WAAPA My biggest secret is: I found out too late that girls don’t like jazz. Sub-editing for GSM has taught me: Never trust a writer who thinks they’re Hunter S Thompson. I hope I will be remembered for: My debonaire wit and charm I hope I won’t be remembered for: This photo
GSM
E. 3 V. 3
Masculinity
GSM is looking for new volunteer Section Editors in 2013. If you are passionate about student press, reviewing, & want to work as part of an enthusiastic team - contact us! Candidates should submit a resume & portfolio addressing these criteria: - Outline how you will manage deadlines - Present evidence of any relevant experience DEADLINE - Identify ways to promote inclusivity - Outline your ideas for content in 2013 Midday Nov 26 Responsibilities include: - Attending writers’ nights - Assisting with proof-reading - Providing content by deadline - Lining up reviews & interviews - Managing contacts
GSM
Contact: Tom Reynolds editor.gsm@gmail.com More information available on Facebook
E. 3 V. 3
Masculinity
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Scrapbook
12 - top to bottom “Edition 2 Cover” Ali Alatas “Video Games Saved My Life” Tiarna Pepall “Alien Story” D’Arcy Ellis 13 - clockwise from top left “Edition 2 Cover Alternative” Jason Dirstein “Domestic Violence” Harry Brown “Six Places I Have Called Home” Emma Stevens “Punk” Ali Ghalib Al Ogaily 13
Untitled - Harry Brown 14
“Sunset Eyeball” Kate Prendergast 15
“Celestial Playground” Darren Tynan 16
With the ability to manipulate the environment, our species has come to be the dominant of our world. Innovations in toolmaking over the past few millennia have seen our implements become more productive, safer and more suitable to operate in conjunction with our physical make up. We are moving into a time where our tools (mobile phones and software) are engineered to contain ‘personality’. This helps the product communicate with the consumer and give them something to identify with as their dependence on it grows more and more. Our phones speak to us and try to understand us. We speak to our phones giving them commands. Our automatic checkouts ask us questions and soon they’ll laugh at our jokes. Are we becoming the machines or are they becoming us?
“Woman Machine” Jefrey Rudolf 17
“Old Things” Caroline J. Dale 18
“Font Portrait” Wenjie Zheng 19
Clockwise from top right “Mr Birdman” Zoe Braybrooke “Hip” Grace McKie “Brain” Grace McKie “Ephemeral” Franco Iannantuoni Ephemeral was performed at ECU’s Spectrum Project Space. Credits: Sarah Chaffey (choreographer), Jason Dirstein (visual artist), Michael Terren (musician), (dancers) Evelyn Chen, Liam Green, Danial Ireland and Charity Ng Jen Yi. Photo submitted by Jason Dirstein
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“Book Cover” Wenjie Zhang 21
“Luke” Marianne Folland-Myors 22
“Central Mosque (Kaifeng)” Digby Wren “Xian Tea Time” Digby Wren
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Untitled - Ali Alatas 24
Onslow is a small town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Its population was around 500 at the last count but over the next few months around 5000 gas plant construction workers will be moving into a camp just 20km out of town. Onslow is braced for change and we’ll be tracking it as it happens. A small group of ECU students will be visiting Onslow every six months and making magazine and website to document the evolution. Our first visit was in July 2012. Our first magazine is available at issuu.com/ecujournalismperth/docs/onslow1 And our website is at trackingonslow.com
“Tracking Onslow” - Dr. Kayt Davies 25
Experimenting with drying out small, already deceased animals and playing with ideas of beauty vs grotesque, Rahalie McGuirk creates objects relating specifically to the body that encourage an attraction/repulsion response from the viewer. We are intrigued and smile at the deformities, but are appalled by the horrible and absurd elements. Using a drying out process rather than traditional chemical taxidermy methods, the creatures are all perfectly intact. Most look much as they did when they were alive and animal leather is widely used for many purposes, so what makes them so disturbing? Is it because they are small, cute and their expressions are visible? Is it the knowledge that they are still a whole? The grotesqueness lies only in the thought that the animal was once alive.
Rahalie McGuirk 26
Untitled - Jasmine Clea Danks 27
“Late Submission” D’Arcy Ellis 28
“Nightscape” Ali Alatas
“In response to all those retarded memes about ECU being shit in comparison with UWA. Like the bogan Holden Vs. Ford rivalry. Maybe as a caption 'To respond with our own retarded meme about how shit UWA is' (tonge in cheek).” Jason Dirstein
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“There’s Something Fishy Going On Down Around Here” Marianne Folland-Myors 30
“Sundown in P-Town” Tom Reynolds “A herd of beautiful wild ponies running free across the plains” Tom Reynolds
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32 “Evening Drive” Nicole Broderick
33 “San Francisco” Chris Gow
34 “Tiah Eckhardt” Alisha Bee Untitled - Adrian Zhang
35 “The Milky Way” Duy Tran The Milky Way lights up the night over Jurien Bay Area, WA, far away from city light. Milky Way is a massive collection consisting of 200 - 400 billion stars, planets, nebulae, clusters, dust and gas. To be imaging that our own Sun and its whole solar system is just only 1 dot in that bulks of stars makes us feel so small.
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Arts
Crawbones and Carnivores WAAPA 17 and 19-22 November, 7:30 pm The Aboriginal Theatre students will present you with one of the David Milroy’s tragedies. Love, patriarchy, smoking revenge—all these themes are raised when a family is waiting for a train on the edge of the desert. Shine WAAPA 17 and 19-24 November, 7:30 pm The 2nd and 3rd Year Dance students will showcase the result of their intensive training in the special performance show, Shine. Mixing ballet and contemporary works, this show will satisfy the dreams of every dance lover. David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross The Blue Room Theatre 20 November – 8 December, 7:00 pm Performed completely by women, this show follows four real estate agents who are fighting for their jobs in uncertain economic times. Power, greed, survival, a bit of smoking and coarse language—this show has it all. First Amongst Equals (Part II) PICA 3 November – 30 December Curated by Leigh Robb, this exhibition is the second instalment of the two connected shows (the first was premiered in Melbourne on July). It presents a mixture of Australian and international artists who are interested in film, kinetics, colour, sound and time. Picasso to Warhol Art Gallery of Western Australia 16 June – 3 December An exciting exhibition I’d recommend you to see before it’s too late. The result of partnership between AGWA and MoMA, this exhibition features over 120 artworks, made by fourteen modern masters who helped redefining the idea of art.
The Democratic Set PICA
Yonder PICA
The Democratic Set presents a residency video that examines how a certain community works and behaves. The idea behind the project itself is quite unusual: the artists are given their own rooms, which they can use for their small performances in front of the camera. These performances are then compiled into one video that shows the behaviour of the Perthgoers.
Yonder is an intricate collection of stories that present a common theme of what lies beyond. The exhibition showcases simple sketches, confronting paintings, posted letters, collages, visual screenings, a hand-drawn animation and an interactive SMS pictogram—you name it, this exhibition has it. All of the fourteen artists tell a story of travelling to a world beyond the boundaries of comfort and familiarity. These stories originate from the cities of Adelaide, Berlin, London, Melbourne, New York, Perth and Singapore.
This video showcases various uses of props to communicate an idea. Some of the artists use technology in their performances, such as projectors, while the others prefer traditional props, such as tables, balloons, and even a dog. The result manages to raise some eyebrows and draw some smiles—I just had to laugh when I saw Ironman and Spiderman playing jazz duets! The use of lighting also varies, some of the artists prefer intensive lighting to emphasise their shadows, while some use it sparingly. The constantly moving camera gives an impression that, to me at least, all these scenes are just a passing glance—that these scenes are just small parts of what can be found in the Perth community. Unfortunately, while this video can be quite amusing, I can’t really understand the idea of democracy in this project. I mean, yes, the artists are given equal rights to improvise their rooms—which is, in a way, democratic—but I can’t see the concept of democracy in the performances themselves. How can wearing Ironman and Spiderman costumes be democratic? Well, maybe I just don’t get it, but if you happen to be around Northbridge and want to check out this video—do it. It’s still worth it. 2/5 Review by Aldy Hendradjaja
The anticipation to discover what is on the other side of the world, the fence or even the road is what makes Yonder so intriguing. The title in itself displays the ultimate meaning of freedom, fascination and adventure. Notable exhibits include Erin Coates’s simple hole in the wall, representing a dirt tunnel. The end of the tunnel displays a projection of the interior of a car, driving along a tunnel to the ‘centre of the earth’. One could perhaps stare down into the tunnel for hours, waiting to see where it takes them. Another remarkable exhibit is the God Loves Us All acrylic painting by Tony Garifalakis and Richard Lewer. The painting is set on a discarded classroom map, with a violent black barbed wire fence over Australia. The words “God Loves Us All” is painted in bright, innocent colours over the top. This plays with the idea of pushing boundaries and accepting differences in order to travel to a place of yonder. This exhibition is truly amazing. It takes you on a journey to another realm, without leaving the room. I encourage anyone who has a spare 30 minutes in their day to go experience it. 4.5/5 Review by Rachel Knight
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Arts
The Taming of the Shrew WAAPA
The Warrior and the Princess The Blue Room Theatre
Come hither! Come hither! I admit at first the word ‘opera’ did make me cringe and grab my ears to check if they weren’t bleeding. But how wrong I was! The Taming of the Shrew is an overwhelmingly dramatic parody of the social rituals of wooing and marriage. Based on the original play by William Shakespeare, it features a more contemporary style on the dilemma of dating, whilst keeping to the traditional old-English context.
Written by Shirley van Sanden and directed by Monica Main, The Warrior and The Princess is inspired by the true story of Chiune Sugihara, Japanese consul to Lithuania during World War II, who gave transit to 6,000 Jews and save them from the Nazis. Although highly fictionalised, the show captures the gravity of the risks individuals took to save others during WWII, and the immeasurable effect of those risks.
The term ‘shrew’ is defined as a badtempered or aggressively assertive woman. The play presents Kate as a difficult handbrake in the flow of nature, leaving her father desperately trying to find, not a suitable husband, but any kind of husband for her. Then along comes Petruchio! His initial chauvinistic view of women, compared with his rugged handsomeness makes it a love-hate situation. Yet, he redeems himself by disrupting the wedding he wanted so desperately, also disrupting what a traditional wedding enforces: the inferiority of women. This gives Kate a chance to give her own version of the role of women. The set features two incredible stone buildings with Rapunzel-like windows for the fair ladies to see down upon their onlookers, and the desperate men to gaze above in awe. A big hand to Chuck Hudson, and all who made the play possible. Also, the Faith Court Orchestra was a performance in itself. I would recommend The Taming of the Shrew to anyone interested in opera. 3.5/5 Review by Rachel Knight
The cast deliver commendable performances and handle their varied characters and roles as puppeteers and stage hands seamlessly. Rhoda Lopez and Monica Main were particularly prominent on stage, each developing strong physical distinctions between their numerous characters. The simple approach to lighting balances the use of projections, although its simplicity is rather uninspired and does little to complement the performance. Information displayed using overhead projectors are used to advance the storyline. Initially the faceless puppets were not captivating and I felt more compelled to watch the actors/puppeteers who handled them. However, the consistency with which the puppets are operated means that they become more encompassing of the space as the performance progresses. At times the performance feels rushed, many poignant moments needing more pause. A lot of story has been squeezed into a short time frame. This might not have been the case if some of the back story was more implied. You can see how Shirley van Sanden concentrates on the personal, inner turmoil of individuals, avoids over-dramatisation for theatrical effect, and handles the issues with a quiet sensitivity. Definitely worth your time. 3/5
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Review by Paula Calleja
Tinkertown The Blue Room Theatre Warmly kicking off with a complimentary drink, copious black humour throughout and rounding out with free snacks at the end made Tinkertown a thoroughly enjoyable night at the theatre. Chester (Phil Miolin) finds and abducts his estranged daughter Tammy (Tessa Carmody), and takes her on a wild journey across the hot, flat landscapes of Northern Australia. They meet the cokedup Shelly (Hannah Day) and well-oiled Roger (Jeremy Levi) in a pub, and this meeting adds width to the story. But the real interest is in the relationship between Chester and Tammy. Miolin’s standout performance as the rough-as-guts yet ceaselessly optimistic father is so full of heart that we can fully sympathise with his ridiculous efforts to get to know his tame, Christian daughter. Carmody’s voice was accurate to the age of the character but lacked some ground. I would have loved a bit more complexity as she adjusted to her environment. The bluesy, ethereal music from guitarist Felicity Groom was a smart choice. The live music was perfectly synced to enhance the emotion and added to the beautiful rawness. Mark Storen’s imprint was greatly appreciated. The lighting, by Joe Lui, was largely symbolic but lovely to help realise moments, and the setting, designed by Lea Klein, cleverly represented the cluttered ruins of Chester’s mind. Tinkertown is full of strong hearts and wise adages, leaving us wondering if we too, are helplessly products of our environments. 4/5 Review by Georgia Foulkes-Taylor
Books
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Books
Gaysia Benjamin Law
Whisky Charlie Foxtrot Annabel Smith
Hello. My name is Benjamin Law. You might know me from my writings in “Frankie”, a magazine dedicated to being whimsical and discussing interior decorating options for fun indie ladies. I also published a book last year called “The Family Law”. Gaysia is my latest book in which I attempt to investigate the various gay scenes of Asia. Don’t worry about it being “too gay”. I spend most of my travels being bemused or annoyed by all the campy fags I run into. Oh, and ladyboys are hot!
I was first intrigued by the contents page, which designated a chapter to every letter of the two-way alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, etc.) It lured me to turn the page, and I entered the world of Charlie, who is one half of a set of identical twin brothers. The other half is William, AKA Whisky, who seems to excel at life and have everything handed to him on a silver platter… until he is hit by a car and ends up in a coma. Charlie is forced to confront his deep-seated issues towards his brother and make amends, but is it too late?
I’m upfront from the beginning that this is a descriptive book written with (very) broad generalisations. In each country I look at a single scene or theme. In China I discuss sham-marriages, in Indonesia I talk to prostitutes, in Japan I interview TV drag queen celebrities. There’s no definitive conclusion to my travels, I just rock up and decide what to investigate when I’m there. As an attempt to round off the book I go to my first pride parade (in Mumbai) and realise that they’re not as tacky as I thought. I think you might like my writing if you’re into intelligent narrative that is like… casual, and conversational, you know? I didn’t feel like I needed to use facts or figures in my books, I relied on my feelings to guide my conclusions. Just like Frankie Magazine I love describing what people are wearing, even in the beats and back alleys of Asia. I’m kind of whimsical, you know. If you’re looking for an easy to read travelogue with plenty of visual descriptions and a few human moments (like that time I got diarrhoea), then you should defs buy Gaysia. 3/5 Review by Tom Reynolds
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The book travels in a non-linear fashion as it flashes back to unearth the story behind the brothers’ tumultuous past. It travels forward at the same time as Charlie tries to deal with Whisky’s accident and he has to face the fact that he might never get to speak to his brother again. The emotion-laden writing will have you crying, cringing, laughing, wondering and most of all, hoping. This book is wonderfully written; it is engaging, suspenseful and enjoyable. It is so easy to relate to the characters, or at least get the feeling that they remind you of someone that you know. This is because the characters have depth and seem as real as you and I, warts and all. Annabel Smith seamlessly strings the story together, and she offers the reader a unique take on an unusual situation by providing a distinct voice and a flawless style.
Modern Family: Wit and Wisdom from America’s Favourite Family The writers of Modern Family Have you heard of Modern Family? It’s an American comedy TV series that is filmed in a mockumentary-style, in which the characters talk directly to the camera as if they’re in the middle of an interview. And now Harper Collins has published a book that’s perfect to accompany this series—or so it should’ve been. There’s no actual plot; this book is just stuffed with snapshots and quotes from the series. Each of the main characters is given their own chapter, so it’s still possible to see who actually says the quotes. Each quote also implies, quite successfully, the personality of the characters—for example, the quotes from the teenagers tend to relate to their social life, while those from the adults are more about their family. It’s too bad that the imagery within the book is unbalanced: at first the book is heavily decorated with snapshots, but as you read on it looks plainer and plainer. The last chapter consists of mostly quotes.
4.5/5
I think the biggest failing of this book is that the target audience is too specific: people who have watched the series. If you’ve never watched it, or you’ve only watched it once or twice, you’ll have no idea who these characters are and what they’re talking about. You won’t even know the relationships between the characters, except for those in their immediate families (such as Phil and Claire as husband and wife). For any additional material, this book has failed in advertising Modern Family. So, if you like—no, adore the series, you can add this to your collection; otherwise, don’t bother.
Review by Asten Nunn
1/5
This is the best book that I have read in a long time.
Review by Aldy Hendradjaja
Books
Darth Vader and Son Jeffrey Brown
To the Highlands Jon Doust
Lola Bensky Lily Brett
What if Luke Skywalker wasn’t taken away from his father, the so-called evil Darth Vader? What if Vader had the chance to watch Luke grow up and acted like a real dad?
This novel focuses on Jack Muir, fresh out of high school and working in a bank in Perth. An unexpected offer comes his way and he finds himself on a plane to take up a job on ‘the islands’.
The picture book Darth Vader and Son is a very sweet re-imagination of that possibility. It doesn’t have an actual story; it just explores Vader and Luke’s daily life, with emphasis on the special relationship only father and son can have. From Luke’s ‘I don’t want a sister’ to the classic question ‘Where do babies come from?’, we can see that Vader is about to find out that raising a four-year-old boy is much more difficult than destroying a planet.
It’s the late 60s and perceptions of colonialism, racism and human rights are shifting. Into this comes Muir, somewhat naive and desperate to become a man, with all the trappings of sex and success. Especially sex.
To be honest I was a little on the apprehensive side when I picked up Lily Brett’s latest novel ‘Lola Bensky’. The cover art alone led me to believe that what I was about to read was going to be excruciatingly cliché and mindnumbingly boring. I was wrong (not something I would often admit to).
The style of the book is both sweet and casual. We can imagine these conversations happening between a regular father and son, except in this case the father is wearing a costume all the time, has the title of ‘The Dark Lord of the Sith’ and will someday cut the son’s hand off for siding with the Rebel Alliance. The images are cartoony and seemingly painted using colour pencils, emphasising the sense of childishness that can be found within the story. Vader’s pictures are somewhat stiff, with his hands almost always in the same position, while Luke’s are more energetic. There are also a lot of Star Wars references adopted in domestic situations, including playing baseball with a lightsaber, using the Force to steal cookies and wearing a stormtrooper costume for Halloween. Whether or not you like Star Wars, I say you must buy this book—even if only to see the sweetest picture on the very last page. 4.5/5 Review by Aldy Hendradjaja
The novel is semi-autobiographical, so Jack Muir is really a fictional depiction of author Jon Doust, who shares his struggles with coming of age in a time of socio-political upheaval. Apparently this is a sequel to Jon Doust’sBoy on a Wire, wherein we are introduced to Jack and follow him through his schooling. Perhaps I needed this context to make Jack seem more approachable and to get some understanding of his formative youth. I really struggled to read most of this book and this was definitely in part due to a lack of empathy for Muir’s character, who seemed lazy and opportunistic. The other reason was the structure of the novel. It’s one of those books in which the author has decided to flout traditional use of format and punctuation in favour of lengthy paragraphs and speech without quotation marks. The novel is interesting in terms of painting a picture of rich expat Australians in a secular island culture. A word of warning to those who prefer to not have to decipher which pieces of text are descriptive and which are dialogue: you may find it frustrating and in the end, not worth it.
I was unsure at first but I was drawn in by the insatiable promise of sex, drugs and good ol’ fashioned rock n’ roll. ‘Lola Bensky’ tells the tale of a young woman with the same name, her inquisitive, Nancy-Drew-like intelligence counteracted by her obsession over diet fads at the most inappropriate times. Set in the late 1960s Lola battles with her own irrepressible curiosity and her parents tumultuous past all the while spending her days questioning the motives of music greats such as Jimi Hendrix and lending false eyelashes to Cher. The former best-seller’s journalistic heritage is evident in her style of writing. The fictional elements of her story are like a series of facts in an interview, recorded and composed almost analytically as if to prove a point and get her message across. ‘Lola Bensky’ provides a semibiographical insight into the characteristics of twentieth century popculture. The witty, yet charming, contents of the novel a riveting read oozing potential to be Lily Brett’s next bestseller. 3.5/5 Review by Madeline McKenzie
2.5 / 5 Review by Naoibh Marian
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Film
Celeste and Jesse Forever Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Lawless Director: John Hillcoat
Mental Director: P.J. Hogan
Have you ever fallen in love with a movie? Been seduced by great writing? Ever been sucked in by likeable characters that you root for throughout? Well, if you haven’t yet go see Celeste and Jesse to find out what movie love feels like.
Tommy guns, hard faced trigger-men, heavy accents, pinstripe suits, fedoras and a whole lot of moonshine are what you expect from a prohibition era film and if that’s all you’re here for then take a walk on down to Franklin County, Virginia – it’s going to get bloody.
Rashida Jones as Celeste is incredibly likeable, as is the always entertaining Andy Samberg as Jesse (side note: if you haven’t already seen it, make sure to youtube SNL’s ‘Di*k in a box’ after reading this).The long-time couple are high school sweethearts who decide that they can’t make their marriage work.The two remain best friends despite separating. They are very sweet and supportive as best friends and exes.
We begin this morally grey, based-ona-true-story and delve into the world of bootlegging with the ‘Bondurant Boys’ in 1931. The not entirely believable southern accent of Jack Bondurant (Shia LaBeouf) narrates tales of his older brothers Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard (Jason Clarke). Local legend says they’re nigh un-killable and after declining a ‘generous offer’ from the new Governor (read: cut him in on the profits) things get serious with the freshly appointed New York special deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) offering up violent retribution for the slight.
The Moochmores are just your average Australian family: Mother Moochmore enjoys believing she’s Judy Garland in the backyard of their upper-middle class suburban home. Eldest daughter Coral thinks she’s a sociopath. And as for MichelleMoochmore….well, the voices in her head certainly haven’t said anything nice in a while.
The movie follows them through the aftermath of their break up and as they start to move on to new lives. The depiction of the road to recovery post breakup is expertly told. Like real life, it’s not always puppies and rainbows – there is heartbreak and it is so well written and so well acted that you will feel nauseous and dizzy right along with the characters on screen. There are also many moments of comedy where you are laughing out loud. In addition to the great leads, the supporting cast, particularly Elijah Wood and Emma Roberts, help to make this one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. Rashida Jones and Will McCormack (Skillz) co-wrote the film together. As clichéd as it sounds – you will laugh and you will cry during this movie and it is so worth it. 4.5/5 Review by Julie Khan
The cars, clothes and people all have that homespun, rustic charm you’d expect from a film set in this period. The majority of the interactions between the cast come off as authentic with a few standouts in Pearce’s portrayal of a neurotically and clearly obsessed lawman out of his element “in the filth”, and Hardy’s stoically tough, though strangely awkward, older brother. LaBeouf isn’t too far from his comfort zone playing the downtrodden brother desperately seeking acceptance though, Gary Oldman is severely underutilised, having only a brief cameo as Floyd Banner, an infamous gangster of the time. Occasionally slow in places but worth your time this brutal tale doesn’t shy away from the violence or vulgarity, nor does it hide the terrible acts committed on both sides. 3.5/5 Review by AronShick
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In other words, they’re perfectly normal. Until Shazthe pot smoking, beer swilling, ocker hitchhiker that Barry Moochmore – husband and father to the whole Moochmore mess – picks up on the side of the road steps in. Not by injecting a little bit of sanity into the family, but by revealing the cesspool of sociopathy that lingers beneath the pristine veil of middle-class suburbia. At its core, director P.J. Hogan (of Muriel’s Wedding fame) delivers the very best in Australian comedy. Utilising equal parts humour and deft sensitivity, he explores the stigmas often attached to ideas such as mental illness, suicide, racism and loss in a manner both poignant and uplifting. The characters, for all their unintentional hilarity, are human. Even Shaz, played with reckless glee by the talented Toni Collette, only occasionally falls into absurd reality before being skilfully pulled back by some very human history. And as villainous as Barry Moochmore can beby wilfully ignoring the mental needs of both his wife and daughters, he presents us with a character that reacts in an uncomfortably familiar way to issues such as mental illness; both internally and in his family. All in all though, Mental is definitely a movie you want to go see – if only to feel a little more normal about being dreadfully abnormal. 4.5/5 Review by RehanaBadat
Games
Guild Wars 2 Platform: MMORPG
Borderlands 2 Platform: PC, PS3 and Xbox 360
There was been a lot of MMORPG’s to come out since the World of Warcraft boom in 2004 but none have gained the same notoriety. Everyone wants a piece of the online space with countless knock-offs, spin-offs and rip-offs coming out every year — Can anyone stand up to the lumbering juggernaut of WoW?
I may be a little biased when it comes to the Borderlands series: ever since the release of Gearbox Studios first hybridised FPS/RPG (first person shooter/ role-play game) back in 2009 I have had high hopes that a sequel would provide even greater heights of insane action, over the top humour and loot fuelled, cooperative madness — Borderlands 2 does not disappoint.
Guild Wars 2 could, and does, with style. The plot, revolving around the world wide threat of an ancient evil awakening, provides an excellent thread through which all stories and factions’ motives can be connected, adding an immediate sense of urgency and cooperation to the experience. No one wants to be eaten by an Elder Dragon from beyond the void! You play as one of five races: the tiny and science-loving Asura, the wise and spiritual plant folk of the Sylvari, the lumbering and Vikinglike Norn, the ferocious and warlike cat-people of the Charr and lastly the Humans, who are just how you might expect them to look but not in the position of power they usually hold in most fantasy games – humans are an endangered species. You will, like many role-play games, spend your time questing, looting, crafting, gaining better equipment and levelling your way to the end-game content but it’s the method in which this is done that truly sets Guild Wars 2 apart. Everything you do in the game is rewarded, providing a constant sense of accomplishment and feedback through various in-game systems such as renown that can be spent on unique gear or boost your guilds’ standing. Guild Wars 2 promotes not competitive play, but cooperative play. Help a friend who’s just been downed? Join in on a raid halfway through? Craft some gear for a stranger? Explore an area just because it’s pretty? Power to you! Graphically this game is gorgeous, with sweeping vistas and beautiful locals around every corner and character models that are detailed enough to show off your own style. The natural environments range from the wild frozen north to the blasted, corrupted landscapes of dead cities to rolling hills of green. All portray an excellent sense of place and purpose, nothing feeling tacked on or unnecessary. The gameplay is also incredibly refreshing with tactical movement and real-time combat control providing an excellent blend of action, skill, pacing and challenge — simply being able to dodge an attack is innovative enough to give pause in this genre! The world of Tyria is in peril! Maybe you (and a few hundred thousand friends) should jump in? 4.5 rightful successors out of 5 Review by Aron Shick
From the very moment the game begins, and even before in the intro sequence, you are thrust into a violent cell-shaded world where wielding a rocket launcher in each hand (Salvador, the Gunzerker), psychically crushing robots (Maya, the Siren), digi-structuring automated turrets (Axton, the Commando) and murdering foes Predator style (Zero, the Assassin) are the norm. The plot takes you from the frozen wastes to vast burnt out deserts, caustic caverns, volcanic craters and inside shady corporate controlled facilities. All the while causing carnage, mayhem and hilarity in your quest to rid the world of Pandora of its would-be dictator, Handsome Jack. Touching on many unanswered questions from the first, veteran Vault Hunters will be pleased to find that the same style of gameplay and mass-looting have returned. You will be expected to traipse across the world of Pandora; taking jobs, discovering hidden treasure troves and (quite often) selling 90% of the loot you find to the local vendors so you can make room for the next blood-soaked haul of goodies. Graphically speaking this game isn’t cutting edge by any standard, but the series has never tried to be, opting to be more fun than flash. The over the top cell-shaded style and ridiculous enemies (like shotgun wielding midgets on the backs of multi-armed frost apes) matches perfectly with the game’s sense of style and fast pace. Who has time to think about the moral consequences of mowing down your thousandth bandit, or how the lens-flare from the sun isn’t quite right when a genetically engineered Skag being ridden by a flaming psychopath is bearing down on you? Sound direction, as with the first, is appreciated more in the meaty explosions and guns that the actual musical score but thankfully some attention has been paid to the originals rather sparse selection of tracks, providing a more well-rounded experience. The one potential downside to this new iteration is that the difficulty curve can occasionally get a little skewed, depending heavily on whether you indulge in the multiplayer. Sometimes playing by yourself can be a bit tough! I recommend this game to anyone who wants a solid, 30+ hour cooperative experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously. 4.5 Flaming Bullymongs out of 5 Review by Aron Shick
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Music
Something for Kate Leave Your Soul to Science
ASTRO All We See is Sound
Bat for Lashes The Haunted Man
It has been a long time between drinks but Aussie band Something for Kate have returned with their sixth album Leave Your Soul to Science. We heard front man Paul Dempsey in 2009 with his solo album. Everything Is True and he now re-emerges with band mates Stephanie Ashworth and Clint Hyndman to deliver the follow up to the 2006 album Desert Lights.
An indie band based in WA, who are influenced by The Beatles, have released their debut album, All We See is Sound. The plan for their first CD was simple: to make the tunes catchy and the lyrics easy to understand, as they believe music is “a world within itself with a language we all understand”.
Natasha Khan, AKA Bat for Lashes, has released her third album, The Haunted Man. Based on the spark she got from reading The Enchantment of Art, the English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist was inspired to “climb higher” with her newest album.
I was hooked from the beginning of the very first track ‘Star-Crossed Citizens’. The song gives off a 80s-synth-pop-vibe but it has a powerful chorus with that oh so prominent Paul Dempsey voice. I knew that this would be different from previous albums… but it was still familiar. The next track, ‘Survival Expert’, reminded me of the Something for Kate of previous albums. I was given an introduction to what would be a fresh, exciting and little adventurous assortment of tracks. The album has a great mixture of pop and rock with a little bit of electronica and synth-pop thrown in. The band doesn’t keep you in the same place for too long with great transition between the slower acoustic and pop sounds to the upbeat and rockier styles. The lyrics explore current issues and the album is intense at times, but it feels natural and is easy to listen to. After listening to the tracks ‘Miracle Cure’ and ‘This Economy’ I became hooked and wanted more. It has been worth the wait. Highly recommended. 4.5/5 Review by Clint J
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This album is perfect. It’s full of various beats and feels that are mostly uplifting as well as a variety of basic tunes, melodies and lyrics. Nothing over the top, everything is basic, so it’s very simple for anyone to sing along to, especially with the lyric book that is included inside the album. Brad Gandy did a great job with the vocals. They were clear, easy to hear and understand, and it had a great tone with the song. I’ve had a really difficult time finding the most recommended song in this album because every single one of them had a type of song beat that I love, and the lyrics were so creative yet simple. From the uplifting poppy sounds of ‘I Saw Your Light On’, to the U2 and Coldplay style of ‘Movie Star Name’ (that reminds me of Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’) about a girl who’s making it big in Hollywood, to ‘Gather Your Hands’ which is a song about joining together in a revolution, this is a massively fantastic album. If you’re a fan of any type of pop, then this should definitely be on your wish list.
This album contrasts from her previous two, as Khan upped the contemporary beats, turned up the vocal volume, and experimented with harmonies. Everyone who produced this album did a great job. It’s well produced sound and fantastic vocals from Khan combined to tell the story of any song perfectly. There are a good variety of songs with very creative lyrics. Some include ‘Laura’, a teary-eyed piano ballad about a showgirl at a strip club, co-written by Justin Parker (who also wrote Lana Del Rey’s ‘Video Games’) to the ghostly ‘The Haunted Man’ about women waiting for the soldiers to come home from war. Khan does a great job singing quietly and sweetly to fit the mood of ‘Lilies’ perfectly. The one song that I didn’t enjoy however was ‘Horses under the Sun’. It had little creativity from repeating verse lyrics and the vocals were incredibly low at one point and were forced shouted out harmonies at the other.
5/5
Overall, if you like dream, baroque, synth, and indie-pop, as well as anyone who like the creativity of Khan’s last two albums, you’ll like this.
Review by James Blackburn
4/5 Review by James Blackburn
Music
Deadmau5 >Album Title Goes Here<
Project Mayhem Project Mayhem: Live at Yaya’s
Ball Park Music Museum
>Album Title Goes Here< is the highly anticipated sixth studio album by the Toronto-based electronic music producer Deadmau5. Recorded between 2009 and 2012, the album is a compilation of high profile collaborations including Chris James, American hip-hop group Cypress Hill, and English artist Imogen Heap, along with several previously recorded and unreleased instrumental based singles.
In the days of so much doom and gloom in the world, you can depend on music to put a smile on your face. That can be a smile of satisfaction thinking ‘’how good is this to listen to?” It can also mean “this is so bad to listen to, that it’s funny”. I looked forward to seeing which category this live recording from local act Project Mayhem fitted in to.
Museum is the latest offering from Queensland indie-pop group Ball Park Music and follows hot on the heels of their last album Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs (2011). Unless you live in a musical vacuum you’ve probably already heard of BPM: They were the winners of the Triple J Unearthed competition in 2010 and two of their previous efforts (‘It’s Nice To Be Alive’ and ‘All I Want Is You’) were featured in the Triple J Hottest 100 last year.
Drawing upon his progressive and electro house roots, producer Joel Zimmerman cleverly and masterfully takes the listener on a journey through the modern club scene of here and now. Despite combining a multitude of genres from dance and electronica, to trance and hip hop, Deadmau5’s strong grasp of melodic dynamics deftly turns what in theory should be a technological orgy, into a much more sensual experience. Arguably the most unexpected collaboration is found on the third single from the album, titled ‘Professional Griefers’. Opening with a calculated synth beat that’s as danceable as it is dark, it swells into a bouncy bass groove, shifting seamlessly into a dirty electro rock track that showcases infectious and intimate chorus vocals provided by My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way. While >Album Title Goes Here< still showcases Deadmau5’s famous instrumental skills (‘Superliminal’ and ‘Closer’), the inclusion of well-known vocalists adds a new level of depth and personality into his signature house-trance repertoire. Despite sometimes feeling and sounding overproduced and clichéd, it remains perky, punchy and manages to deliver enough variety to outweigh the moments of mediocrity.
On the surface you sort of know what they are all about. Song titles like ‘Take Control’, ‘Gonzo Rocks’, ‘Last Man Standing’ and ‘Party At Your House’ leave little to the imagination. However, they are far from being a gimmicky band as they have written some quality songs. In my view ‘Annihilation Song’ is a standout track with great high energy and the bass sounding superb, along with ‘No Downtime’ which to me, sounds like The Living End in their early punk days. After listening to this E.P it gave me an insight into Project Mayhem. They seemed to be a band that like to make music for the fun of it. The thing that struck me was the energy that they had and how smooth sounding the live recording was. It was also great to hear the interaction between the fans and the band. It was to be one of their last gigs, as they split up after a decade of being together. It is an E.P that put a smile on my face for good and bad reasons, but the good slightly outweighs the bad. 3/5 Review by Jason Harris
Listening to BPM’s new album is an exhausting experience. It’s an extremely diverse album offering tracks such as the fast paced ‘Bad Taste Blues’, the more melancholy ‘Coming Down’, ‘Surrender’, and ‘Pot of Gold’ sitting somewhere between the extremes. The album lacks any discernible theme, but does fit neatly into the indie-pop genre. Some songs touch on typically youthful subjects such as ‘Coming Down’ — a ditty more at the Coldplay end of the spectrum — ostensibly about coming down from a high, but touches on unrequited love too. ‘Surrender’, currently receiving airplay, is a reassuring ditty: “It’s ok, it’s alright / It’s true terror in the middle of the night / Give in if it makes you feel better / So surrender” and is aimed at a late-teen/ early twenties audience going through life making mistakes as one is wont to do at that age. You’re almost guaranteed to hear more of BPM in the future as they tour around the country performing at most of the large music festivals. You’ll like them if you enjoy The Grates and Little Birdy. 4/5 Review by Warren Argus
3.5/5 Review by Joel Grant
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