Quench
Remember, remember.. Features · Fashion & Beauty · Travel · LGBT+ Culture · Music · Film · Food & Drink
Issue 128 · November 12th 2012
Contents.
issue 128 · 12th November 2012
5 22 26
Features
5 · LONG DIVISION: CAN YOU GO THE DISTANCE? Jasmine Freeman asks if absence really does make the heart grow fonder. 7 · THE VALLEYS
Nia Phillips gives her take on the provocative new reality series.
Columnist 18 · ARE YOU NOT
14 Fashion & Beauty
11 · FASHION ROYALTY Steal Pippa Middleton’s style. 12 · DISNEY TO DESIGNER An exclusive insight into Harrods’ new Disney Princess Collection of dresses. 13 · BOND, JAMES BOND
ENTERTAINED? Rachel Maloney delves into the ostentatious world of fame and fortune.
LGBT+
Interviews
FESTIVAL Get the low-down on Cardiff’s very own
Rosey Brown catches up with Lazy Habits after their gig at The Moon Club. 10 · SEX, DRUGS & SAUSAGE ROLLS Frankie and the Heartstrings open up about pasties, fake turds, and going on tour with The Cribs.
Travel
14 · THE IRIS PRIZE FILM
9 · LAZY HABITS
16 · ACCOMMODATION The student-friendly guide to hotels,
19
18
ON THE BACK 18 · AMSTERDAM
Photography by Maya Acharya accompanies Siobhan Carroll her stay in the Dutch captial.
21 · LIVE I Like Trains and Lazy Habits gig reviews, plus a preview of Soundtrack
22 · ALBUMS/SINGLES New releases from Kendrick Lamar, Foals and more.
Film
The Culture Review
23 · FROM THE PAGE TO THE
19 · THE REVIEW CORNER
Including book reviews of The Girl in White and The Perks of Being a , plus comments on the New Theatre’s adaptation of Julius Caeser, and American Idiot the musical at Wales Millenium Centre. 19 · SLADE COLUMN OF ART Luke Slade looks at the Turner prize.
PICTURES Leanne Dixon looks at Hollywood’s obsession with creating
24 · REVIEWS
Skyfall. Rust & Bone, and For a Good Time, Call. 25 · TRAILER TRASH: Iron Man. 25 · FIVE FILMS FOR... A NOSTALGIC NIGHT IN
Music
Food & Drink
CLASSICAL MUSIC Amelie Taylor argues that the genre should not be reserved to the concert hall/ opera house.
& DRINK FESTIVAL A review of the weekend, plus interview with top Welsh pâtisserie Rob Hindle.
20 · DON’T BE AFRAID OF
26 · COWBRIDGE FOOD
quench@gairrhydd.com · @quenchmag
Q three
Editorial
Quench Editors: Laura Evans & Jo Southerd Creative Director: Luke Slade Features: Helen Cameron, Johannes Laubmeier, Rebecca Newby & Charlotte Wace Columnist: Rachel Moloney Fashion & Beauty: Sophie Chamberlain, Vicky Gadsden, Jacqueline Kilikita & Olivia Reidy Travel: Heather Arnold & Helena Lins
Photo: Ariana Moschopoulou
a word from
Laura
One of the perks of being a Humanities student, much to the annoyance of other departments, is that we get a Reading Week. where any reading was actually done. I know, I know, bad English Literature student. In hindsight, maybe I should have buried myself beneath the likes of Austen, Shakespeare and critical theories of feminism in previous years, so when people ask me: “Oh you study English? Have you read…?” then I’d be able to answer: “Well yes actually, I have”. But instead, my only response seems to be: “No… although I’ve seen the
LGBT+: Thomas Leeming & Erin Ekins Culture: Jess Rayner Music: Rosey Brown, Kit Denison & Stephen Springate Film: Becky Johnson, Amy Pay & Becky Wilson Food & Drink:
Proof-reading: Emilia Ignaciuk
So after a burst of literary enthusiasm, you’d think I’d hit the ASSL for days of book worming. Nah, not a chance. Instead, like we students do, I took advantage of a lift with my mum and headed back home Oh, and a little bit of reading, of course. enough to have our photographers take some blummin’ awesome snaps of the display in Cardiff’s, Bute Park (see front cover). I must admit, I’m gutted I missed them because frankly, the ones back in the Midlands were shit. Not even the ‘JLS Adventure’ tribute band performing at the time could improve them. If you want to see more of our photographers’ images, then take a look on our website: http://www.cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/quench. For some of you, Reading Week may have been the perfect opportunity to visit a boyfriend or girlfriend living back home or at another university. This issue, Features tackle the topic of long distance relationships and question whether students really can go the distance. to hostels, while Food reviews the Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival. will be collaborating to cover ‘Soundtrack’, an international music pages 22,24 and 25 to read a preview of what’s on offer. As always, if you fancy being involved in any aspects of Cardiff of the Students’ Union or come along to our weekly meetings every Monday at 5pm. Venues change week by week and information on this can be found on the Quench website. That’s all from me.
Enjoy. four Q quench@gairrhydd.com · @QuenchEditor
Cover Photo: Fireworks in Bute Park, Cardiff by George Fielding Backpage Photo: Amsterdam by Maya Acharya
This week we learnt: Domino’s Two for Tuesdays still counts despite it technically being 4am on a Wednesday morning. Soundtrack: Earth, Wind & Fire - September Tame Impala - Elephant Rudimental - Not Giving In
Long Division Can You Go The Distance?
ME FROM: OU TO: Y
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sides of the story. is it to us that we stay together? There are undoubt-
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young to get this serious about someone? -
decision
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features@gairrhydd.com 路 @qfeatures
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of gair rhydd
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unwanted distraction? understand this too. -
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when there are so many forms of modern communication
Photos: Joram Huyben, Kathryn Taylor, Tom Hodgkinson
Q features@gairrhydd.com 路 @qfeatures
The Valleys
-
Jersey Shore
RUN CARDIFF RUN has got so much more to offer than what is going to
“Since I was, like, a kid, I wanted a boob job, because even if I grew big boobs, I wanted them to be fake.”
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(Jenna)
who broadcast
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cence.
“There is only one thing I wanna shoot tonight and that is my load on Jenna’s tits.”
The . -
(Chidgey)
“When people see me, they think I’m Beyonce. I’m glamourous, I’m sexy, I’m the best looking thing in Wales dot com.” (Lateysha)
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“I don’t really have a type when it comes to girls. I don’t care as long as they’re symmetrical”
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aged to raise awareness about serious and current issues. There is
(Leroy) Big Brother and Geordie Shore is idi-
“Sorry Chidge, the only thing I’m gonna give head tonight is my pillow.”
charity. of with your grandmother. But that is not what it was created for. -
(Carley)
“Mum, you can’t shag a personality, like.”
-
(Chidgey) -
features@gairrhydd.com · @qfeatures
Q
Columnist
Are you not entertained? by Rachel Moloney
S
hops up and down the country like to prepare us (often prematurely) for the next big event of the year. We’ve
beautiful colours and it’s the perfect way to show off. Which is what celebrities do best. Keen to be included in this bright and sparkling collection is The Sapphires- released on November 7th. Telling the
Night, and now there’s nothing else to get ready for except Christmas. So start shopping. It’s a season that’s immersed in shiny things- essential to cheer up those dark and chilly nights. And nothing does the job better than a bit of bling. Making the most of one of the most irritating and catchy tunes around, Brilliance.com has created its very own Gangnam-style jewellery. That’s right, you heard me. The poor designers had to watch countless videos to get PSY’s look just right and as well as consisting of 636 diamonds, the item also has black diamonds for sunglasses
follows the girls once they are discovered by cheeky Irish chap Dave (played by IT Crowd’s Chris O’Dowd) and as they ten-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival and
look like it’s dancing madly like its human counterpart, yet with a price-tag of $59,975, the only person who’s likely to be buying it is PSY himself. His worldwide success and subsequent celebrity lifestyle all seems a bit ironic now, seeing as though the song pokes fun at the Gangnam district: the Beverly Hills of Korea. I mean he’ll probably be living there soon. However these chic areas are incredibly easy to sneer at, as the people who live there are just so silly. A photo of Jack Osbourne’s daughter, and therefore Ozzy and Sharon’s grandchild, has recently been shared all over Twitter as the girl clings onto an enormous emerald ring. The adorable (yet also slightly irritating) photo of the aptly named Pearl was accompanied by the caption ‘don’t be fooled by the months old. When I was that age my mother was parading me around in a buggy, not preparing me for a ball. In future Mr and Mrs Osbourne, please don’t mess with J.Lo when your youngster is raiding the jewellery box. But what was Pearl supposed to do? She is named after a gemstone after all. In fact she’s just one of many in the entertainment world who, when grouped together, form their own little treasure trove of jewels. Rihanna wants us to shine bright like a diamond, Jade Ellis unwillingly left The X Factor, Ruby Sparks. So why is the entertainment industry constantly showering us with allusions to bling? Well, because it instantly makes everything seem so much more exciting, expensive and shiny. We love to dream of the unattainable, our eyes widen at the
eight Q
A famehungry woman after Kanye’s cash? So that’s why he’s dating Kim Kardashian
demonstrating that song, the Sixties and shimmering blue dresses are a killer combination. It’s kind of like Dreamgirls without Beyoncé. Singing his heart out alongside Queen Bee was Jamie Foxx, who has since widened his musical repertoire with turns in Ray and Kanye West’s Gold-Digger. The actor/ singer played a pivotal role in the hit single, opening the song with the high-pitched and instantly recognisable, ‘you take my money when I’m in need.’ A fame-hungry woman after Kanye’s cash? So that’s why he’s dating Kim Kardashian. In fact, both seem obsessed with gold, money and fame full-stop, as Kim somehow makes millions for just being a Kardashian and Kanye is rarely pictured in anything less than designer. It’s these antics (in particular his cringe-worthy intrusion of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech) that prompted Barack Obama to label Kanye a ‘jackass.’ Quite a put-down from the American president, but I can see where he’s coming from. You’ve just won a VMA and then some idiot talks all over your speech about how much he loves Beyoncé. Get off the stage. Kanye will be pleased to know that Obama has since revised his original quotation from just a plain jackass to a ‘talented jackass.’ But with Kanye taking a spot on Forbes’ Most Powerful List, that’s probably just Obama’s way of getting down with the kids. In the end, Kanye, Kim and the rest of them will always have more money than sense and the gold that surrounds them continues to lie beyond our reach. Which is why it’s so rubies, sapphires and gold. These are things I don’t have. So unless someone goes all out on my Christmas present, I’ll just have to make do with whatever bling comes my way- whether it’s on the TV screen, cinema or radio.
Interviews
People were coming up to me afterwards saying, “I was worried the floor would cave in!”
Lazy Habits are an eight-piece ensemble from London who combine elements of jazz, hip busy year for the group, despite what their name may suggest. Rosey Brown talks to MC Lazy Habits, frontman and founder of the group. So you’ve been touring since the start of October. Has it been manic? Yeah, I mean, it’s really good fun. There’s always a lot of travelling but it’s always worth it. Your line-up says you’ve played Amsterdam and Ireland... We were gonna be supporting De La Soul, but he had to cancel. We’re gonna be going out in March now, and do all these shows in the Alps as part of the snowboarding season, and then we’ll be going to Berlin and Amsterdam and back to Ireland as well. We were in the Cork Jazz festival last week, which was amazing. Our hotel was the one of the main venues for the jazz festival, so we got back from our gig at two in the morning and there was a queue all around our hotel! There were more than a thousand people in the hotel. It was like having a nightclub outside your room.
So how was playing Cardiff in comparison? It’s really funny actually, as we’ve played Cardiff a few times before, it’s always good fun, we know some cool people there, Captain [Accident], and some of the rappers from Associated Minds. We’ve slowly been upping the venues, we played The Moon this time and it was amazing. It was a Thursday night, and we didn’t really know what to expect but the place was rammed out and the audience was one of the best ones all tour.
with the timescale that we wanted to put the album out on. We just weren’t going
so we decided to put it out ourselves. It’s a bit more personal this way. You’ve played with some massive names before... Bonobo, Mos Def...
of the band has always remained the same. So when people come on board, they need to understand the ethos of what we do, and what we sound like, and once people are on board with that, everything else becomes natural. What are your plans for the future? a new album yet? of weeks, and it’s been great. We’ve been playing a couple of new songs out on the tour, just to see how they go down, see how people react to them. We’ve already started morphing those songs as we go along, making them better, tightening them up.
I’ve been to gigs there before where
do you prefer the smaller venues? The whole idea is to always keep ramping it up. We love doing this, but we’re close
Yeah that’s what we had, people coming up to me afterwards saying “I was worried the
So you’d hope to show some sort of rise. The shows are getting bigger, audiences
good thing! So your debut album is out later this month... but originally it was meant to come out in April?
been the biggest year for us. We’ve just got ourselves a European agent, we intend on spending a lot of time in Europe next year. Everything’s getting better and better, we’re very happy.
the set. We were in Newcastle last night, we’ve never played there before, and it was an amazing show. New listeners are really good at judging new stuff and we seem to be getting a really good reaction. We’ve got a few months downtime after
album. We’ve put EPs out before but never really been happy with the sound. It’s taken
There’s eight of you in the band, what’s your creative process? How
country just to do some writing and get all
and made sure we did it properly. We were ready to put it out in April, we were on tour, and we were giving out promos to fans on tour, and then had a few record companies get in touch. So we pulled the release, and had a meeting with them. But the labels
Well... there’s a hierarchy! The original idea of the sound and the band is mine. I started this crew on my own, and over the years we’ve had a few different line up changes, different drummers or whatever, but the song writing nucleus and the ideal
a new EP or an album, and we’ve got some collaboration work too.
Q nine
Interviews
SEX, DRUGS & SAUSAGE ROLLS Words: Jo Southerd
It’s Saturday morning, out in the smoking area of Clwb Ifor Bach. Last night Frankie and the Heartstrings played port slot with The Cribs. Drummer Dave
about Wales, pasties, and the brothers Jarman. Hi Dave. How’s Cardiff treating you? It’s rubbish. Nah, we’ve played here before, Clwb Ifor Bach. It’s great, it’s always rained a lot. Our manager’s from Cardiff. I’ve got a thing about the Welsh accent anyway, so I’m a little bit in heaven when I come down here. You’re about to go on tour with The Cribs. Looking forward to it? They’re an odd bunch. They’re lovely. They’re the right side of peculiar. There’s nothing worse than dull people who wear shades and think they’re popstars and they’re not like that, they’re the real deal. I like them. They’ve got a
ten Q
lovely dumbness that is beautiful. I like those some poppers in. What was the best thing about 2012? We got another Greggs in Sunderland town centre, so in Sunderland you’re never more than eleven seconds away from a Greggs in the town centre, it’s true, and it’s the only city where you can see a Greggs from another Greggs, which is wicked, so that’s a pretty proud moment. Greggs, it had like security on it and stuff. That’s true. There was pasty raids going on. And what’s on the cards for 2013? Getting some more Greggs? And our second album’s gonna come out… so probably our plans Is there a new band that you’re championing right now? There’s a band called One Digits who are based
in the north-east, a really krautrock thing, they’re amazing. Any silly stories from previous tours? We’ve got a fake turd that we take around with us, and we like to hide it on stage somewhere. So if someone goes to change an effects pedal like to call him. Delightful. So tell me more about the new album. Yeah it’s nearly done. It’s gonna be coming out early next year... At this point Frankie Francis appears and asks Dave for his autograph. Dave then places the poster over Frank’s crotch, and signs it with a biro in his mouth. Chaos ensues. Any last words? Yeah, just rubber up.
FASHION ROYALTY PIPPA MIDDLETON Words: Jade Attwood
It all started with that Alexander McQueen dress. And ever since the wedding of big sis, Kate, into the royal family, Pippa Middleton has been the symbol of regal style: an icon in her own right.
‘E
ffortlessly put together’, ‘chic’, and ‘sophisticated’ are phrases often used to describe Pippa’s style, earning her a place in the fashion A-list and arguably overshadowing her sister. As a style icon, Pippa has been subject to scrutiny from Karl Lagerfeld who suggests she is not worthy of such status. Despite this, Pippa (unlike her sister, who Lagerfeld has taken more of a liking to) often takes risks in her choice of clothing and embraces the latest trends. Splashed across magazines, the Internet and television, Pippa rarely escapes the public eye and keeps up her appearance to be noticed. However, not all of us have a royal budget to spend. With Pippa’s favourite designers including the likes of Temperley, Sarah Burton (Alexander McQueen) and Stella McCartney, her style does not come cheap. However, the high street makes her style affordable, even on a student budget. Pippa has become notorious for wearing coloured skinny jeans, often pairing block coloured jeans, in tral wedges or boots. Pippa was able to put her own sophisticated stamp on the trend, keeping it minimal. Coloured skinny jeans have since become a major trend on the high street, being featured in most stores with a Pippa fan. Voted the best budget coloured jeans were Primark’s offerings; from only £11 for the supersoft denim, in seasonally changing shades. These
dream and stretch slightly, making them versatile with either boots in the day or heels for a night out. Another signature piece of Pippa’s style is the zip up ankle boot. Her “off duty uniform” of oversized sunglasses, a chic shift dress, tights and of course those ankle boots, make them essential to anyone trying to emulate her classic chicness. High street shoe superstore Deichmann offers a great alternative to the versatile staple; an absolute bargain at less than £20. The rise of Baroque also owes its popularity to our favourite Middleton sister. Reminiscent of 17th-century opulence and glamour, the bold style was made for the queen of sophisticated fashion. Stepping out in a Temperley number to their recent show, the modthat Pippa was the centre of attention. Replicas of the dress have since been emulated by almost all of the trend conscious high street stores. A particularly daring number styled similarly and bearing the baroque trend comes from Topshop, for £58. Always perfectly presented, Pippa is famous for pairing kohl-rimmed eyes also naturally styled, in elegant layers and blow-dried to add extra volume: all covetable yet simple looks to be easily recreated with just an eyeliner pencil and a hair brush. From day to night, Pippa never fails to impress in the fashion stakes and continues to maintain her well-deserved crown as Queen of royal style.
STEAL HER STYLE
Box bag: £49.95, nelly.com Skinnies: £34.50, squareonelondon.com Baroque dress: £58, Topshop Ankle boots: £19.99, Deichmann
fashion@gairrhydd.com · @quenchfashion
Q eleven
Fashion&Beauty
TO DESIGNER From Versace to Cavalli, Harrods have employed all Collection to display just in time for Christmas. Before they are unveiled, Alice Hart gives an insight into the selection of designers and dresses.
O
Cinderella - Versace
n November 1st, Harrods will unveil a brand new collection of haute couture dresses designed by the crème de la crème of the fashion world, based on the nation’s favourite displayed in the department store’s windows just in time for the Christmas season. I’m sure that they are hoping that these beauties will inspire the thousands of shoppers passing through to be a little more frivolous this Christmas and indulge in something pretty. The dramatic window display will be accompanied by a 7,000 square-foot pop up
one glittering gold shoe. The brains behind Marchesa, Georgina Chapman which ‘Vogue’, who was given a preview of the collection, describes as: “a chic and elegant deep crafted to combine luxurious draped fabrics, which perfectly embody modern feminine style – under-the-sea spirit.” Rapunzel gives a lavender
most famous department store. Whilst the dress creators have included all the ten, there are a few modern additions, with gowns also having been designed for Mulan, Tiana from , and Rapunzel from Tangled.
collar detailing. Harrods themselves have described it grey, adorned with incredible beading that should never be
image with a bold, feathered asymmetrical number, accessorized with feather-trimmed cuffs, jangly bangles and prints inspired by dream-catchers. Versace have created a golden meringue style
twelve Q
fashion@gairrhydd.com
Ariel - Marchesa
Pocahontas - Robert Cavalli
Rapunzel - Jenny Packham
tiara and even a belt that upholds the Versace logo
ever fallen out of fashion in the past, the best designers the world has to offer are about to bring
Aurora - Ellie Saab
One thing for certain is that
Fashion&Beauty
Best Buy:
BOND, JAMES BOND British secret agent that
have delivered yet again with this gorgeous piece. Whilst,
of villains, whilst sporting a succession of stunning Bond girls on his arm. The actors who have portrayed
on for lectures or lounging around at home. The shimmer detailing around the sleeves and collar adds that extra bit
years are notorious for winter months! If you’re a fan of clashing prints, team the jumper
Friends fans will recall the episode where Chandler plans to wear 007’s ‘cool tux’ to his wedding. It’s no surprise that guys aspire
pair of Chelsea boots.
But is this just in relation to formal wear? When it comes to everyday fashion, Bond is not an
Vicki Blackler
Salon Spy: Triniti
of guy, so it may prove to relate to him in terms of his style. There’s no harm in trying though, surely? Natasha Smith
Churchill Way, Cardiff usually depending on my trusty salon from home, I decided specialist, Triniti, located on Churchill Way, just up from
too), we were pleasantly greeted by three wonderfully smiley ladies. clean treatment rooms, where I answered the therapists questions and was left to ‘get ready’.
minimal – bonus! Then came the Brazilian. Whilst never a particularly enjoyable experience, this Brazilian wax was on another and then left it to harden. It was then ripped off all in one GET THE LOOK. Sunglasses: Ray-Ban, £153. Blue Chelsea Shirt: River Island, £20. Navy Polo: Label Lab at House of Fraser sale, £21. Jeans: Levi’s 511, £90. Cardigan: River Island, £35. Tie: River Island £10. Grey Slim Fit Trousers: Watch: Next, £45.
discomfort lasted for the following three days. nitely be done at home! Emma Browne
fashion@gairrhydd.com · @quenchfashion
Q thirteen
LGBT+
The Iris Prize Film Festival Hector Roddan examines the best of the Iris Prize Film Festival: Now entering its sixth year, the Iris Prize Film Festival remains one of the existent baby.
Pride, East
year’s extravaganza, jointly hosted here
of Eden making in the world.
Bast. , the Erin Ekins
Tree festival winner, Polaroid Girl, meditates
–
a series of what-if scenarios made all the more chilling by their basis in fact. Alongside the shorts, the festival also
and reactions after his older brother
Molly’s Girl
and imagined elements in order to
Yossi). Thomas Leeming,
In a more overtly comedic vein, examines the
there really is something for everyone.
of Angels. , bottom right, directed
Iris Prize Film Festival
however, was The Arrival, a farcical
Diary of Iris
the Iris Prize, they are all available on www.blinkbox.com – under Gay and Lesbian – Iris Prize 2012. effects’ of the time. I did not have high
attending the Iris Prize Film Festival – an international celebration of LGBT+
to see the actor from Yossi walking winner of last year’s festival for Want To Go Back Alone) and a few
Andy Love
and the other aliens sent to Earth fare on their mission to “get their heart broken by an Earthling.”
, with writer Matthew Mishory.
the jokes start to end by the half way
was Little Man international short, which receives
were offered some after a talk with one of the actresses, the brilliant Jackie
Yossi, left, at Cineworld. Yossi, the main character,
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The event was very enjoyable, and, -
into his life and slowly changing his
fourteen Q
lgbt@gairrhydd.com
to try and attend the next Iris Prize Film Festival many different LGBT+ lives, and to
LGBT+
And The Winners Are...
Thomas Leeming and Erin Ekins
Best Feature: Sex of Angels -
to be together as a threesome, before to stay. The story ends with the three -
the two men inevitably gets revealed, loves Carla and exclaims that he will end it and his new romance with Rai is a joy to watch and highlights the clares that he can carry on seeing Rai.
ferent ways. It’s no wonder it won the Thomas Leeming
Best Short: The Wilding The Wilding deserves its win-
There are some incredibly affecting moments, as
Best UK Short: A Stable for Disabled Horses
and relevance, The Wilding is a brilliant testament to Erin Ekins
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in warming even the darkest of nights. Erin Ekins
lgbt@gairrhydd.com
Q
Travel
ACCOMMODATION task: if you get it wrong you could be spending the rest of your trip with itchy bed-bug bites and bad room mates. But get it right and you can make lifelong friends and rest well at night after a day full of exploring. In this issue Travel explores just some of your bed time options.
COUCHSURFING
The next time you’re planning a trip, whether it’s a weekend in London or exploring Monument Valley, try becoming a member
thing you’ll need to pack is an open-mind and plenty of energy for spontaneous new experiences. The principle is that instead of paying for a bed you ‘surf’ (sleep on someone's sofa or spare room) with a ‘host’ (a volunteer who lived locally) for free. This symbiotic practice, money saving, local food, a personal tour guide and new friends. The activity is supported by a social networking site called and interact between one another their desire to surf or host er than people think… we value real-life experiences with strangers and believe people who are different than us can be trustworthy and inspiring’. Here are a few tips to getting set up and practis-
the Myspace days. Firstly, photos are key for building up trust so upload an album of you in various interesting settings looking as open and friendly as possible. Secondly you’ll need to develop a universally appealing persona in the ‘about me’ section, not many people are going to relate to how much you love At the Drive-In or playing with your Danbo. This may seem fake but think of it as PR for yourself, marketing yourself in the best possible light. A key component of your experience with your couchhost is going to be conversation so need convey to them what you’re going to your vast knowledge of western pop culture knowledge? Here’s a
H O T E L S
We all dream of lavish holidays, exotic travels and romantic breaks, and centred in these blissful ideals is ever, is the luxury really worth the amount of money that you’re going to spend? Just on somewhere to rest you’re
but chilled’, ‘hedonistic’, ‘enjoy being independent and spending ready, it’s time to get networking! Add current friends who have visiting, and begin sending couch requests. When you apply your search terms you can specify safety options such as people who
‘’Hey, I’m looking for someone to stay with in …, arriving evening of the …, and leaving morning of the … (but I could way to your place at a time of your convenience, and of course I can keep myself busy in the day if you're working. I'd be de-
everything that applies to student house sharing- don’t steal other people’s food, be clean, don’t break anything that’s not yours etc. I’d highly recommend the experience, even if you Rachel Victoria Lewis
sixteen Q
travel@gairrhydd.com · @quench_travel
clean bed and bathrooms, a few free samples of shampoo and an overpriced restaurant, however in the past present a world of new experiences and indulgences. From suites laced with pure gold to whole rooms made from block ice, and dining 10 feet under the Indian Ocean to being smothered in chocolate in the world you could imagine. Long gone are the days in which a hotel was just a place to sleep. Five star hotels have a huge range of activities available to guest, often themed around the hotel. For example there are golf hotels, theme park hotels, and water sports hotels, all of which have so much to do you wouldn’t need to leave the hotel gates.
hotel in London is owned by famous foul mouthed chef Gordon Ramsey, who from time to time pops into the kitchens to prepare sumptuous meals for the guests. In ler for your every need. For instance Sandals sorts provide a butler which will unpack your luggage, serve you lunch on the beach and even shine your shoes. At the end of the day all of this over indulgence does London can cost up to £900 and a night at the Burj Al Arab,
er great way to save money is to book your hotel last minute, websites like laterooms.co.uk offer incredible last minute believe that we all deserve a treat some times and a break
stomach is sure to be rumbling, however do not despair -
Kathryn Lewis
Travel
C A M P I N G
'Camping' is probably the word in the English language most fore people pour forth a stream of complaints and horror stories. Perhaps because the image conjured up is one of wet weekends in the Lake District, cold communal showers and long days disadvantages, but good old fashioned sleeping beneath canvas can actually be a good cheap alternative to hotels and hotels. As students, we all like to spend as little money as possible and the cost of travelling can add up. The cost of one adult in a tent can be as little as £7 a night, with even cheap hotels are up to ten times that. The most expensive thing about about camping is the equipment - after all, in order to camp you need a tent. However there are ways to get hold of this
HO S T EL S
For any student traveller who is too broke for hotels and too
towns as well. If you’re unsure of where to begin, Hostelworld. com is an excellent place to start searching and booking. As well as advertising hostels in 180 countries it has the bonus of guest reviews, so choosing a high quality or stylish hostel is no longer such a big gamble. The style of hostels varies as much as the style of hotels, from big chains all the way down to a few spare rooms in someone’s house. An important choice when booking a hostel is whether you want to be in a private room or a dormitory. If you’re travelling as a group then shelling out an extra few quid for a private room is well worth the money as you can be guaranteed privacy and security. Also, if you’re sharing a room with friends then although you are still at the mercy of their weird sleeping habits, you feel more able to shout at them for snor-
stuff for less or sometimes nothing at all. Argos sells tents for under £20 and people are often more than happy to lend things out provided you promise to bring it back in one piece.
just roll up and set up, and if there is no room, so what? There will be another camp-site around the corner. This means that
day. Another time we followed a map to a camp-site they signposted which in fact had not been built yet and had to spend a further three hours driving round in the gathering dusk. The biggest problem with it though is that you are entirely at the mercy of the weather. When it's sunny, it's great. When it rains, it's just awful. We all know what happens – it rains, you coat drips everywhere and your wellies cake everything in mud
When I was young my parents used to pile us kids into the car and drive around France, Germany or Spain stopping where we thought looked interesting. This approach to holidays yielded some hit and miss results. Once we chanced upon a beautiful
damp, cold and bored. Or you could be as unlucky as a friend of mine who woke up in the middle of the night to discover a
bikes and stayed for a week, going swimming in the sea every
Alexandra Warren
ing, sleeptalking or loudly having sex in the bunk above you. Staying in a private room in a hostel is essentially the same as staying in a hotel, albeit super cheap and more basic. Staying in the more traditional dormitory is a whole other experience.
downside is the noise at night; hostels are sometimes not the best places for a good kip. The things you hear in the night can range from annoying but acceptable snoring and partying to the more disturbing overheard sex and, for a friend in Melbourne, the confusing sound of a woman’s prosthetic leg falling the bunk
friends when you’re travelling, as the communal atmosphere encourages you to share not only your space, but also your time and your stories with other travellers, who can be from all ages and all over the world. It’s a great time to pick up other travel-
is a nice thing to do, but can be taken to extremes. For example, one of her fellow hostellers thought it acceptable to share her belongings. Security is a big worry with hosteling so it’s good to be extra-conscious of keeping an eye on your valuables. Another
guests are crucial to the success of any hostelling trip. The hostel itself (location, quality, even cleanliness) is completely second in importance to the other guests. Terrible dorm-mates can ruin a ful hostel. Obviously, you can’t pre-book your roomies, but if way to travel. The random nature of it is all part of the adventure, and even the worst hostels at least make for great stories! Becca Eustis
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Q seventeen
Travel
A m s t e r d a m Words: Siobhan Carroll Photos: Maya Acharya Standing at the boarding gate, I received a text message from a friend who had already arrived. It read: and lizards are guarding the doors.” He had arrived in Amsterdam at 9am, rushed to a “smart shop” to purchase magic mushrooms, consumed them, and now was unable to leave the hotel even boarded the plane. Two hours later, our plane passed over dozens of neat, regider a dazzling blue sky. We hopped on a train from beneath the arrivals plaza (free of charge thanks to our good “travel karma”) and found ourselves at Amsterdam Centraal. The city is known for its iconic tall, slender terraced buildings, but Centraal Station is a beautiful, wide and decorative red-brick building. More than 250,000 people pass through its doors each day. Just outside the station are several tram stops, probably the best way to get around as a tourist. For € 2.60, you can purchase an electronic OV Card from any driver, and with this you can traverse the city for up to an hour. If you prefer to get around on your own steam, the city has excellent bicycle routes separate from the roads, and of course, walking is an ever-popular mode of transport. We arrived at the Hotel Prins Hendrik after narrowly avoiding death-by-bicycle. The building was typical of Amsterdam, with the iconic roof shape, and the receptionist was very friendly, with a striking resemblance to Kevin Spacey. Our rooms were cosy, quaint, and fairly cheap, with great views of Centraal Station. After unpacking and dragging our heavily drugged friend out of bed we ventured into the narrow and winding streets of the inner city. Along these streets are an abundance of small
eighteen Q
buy “space cakes” and smoke, small bars, and a fast food chain where you buy burgers and fries from vending machines. There are also plenty of restaurants, but the prices represent Amsterwith a mellow liveliness. At night, the city wakes up, although it never seems over-loud or over-crowded. We travelled to Leidseplein, a vibrant area at the south of the canal rings. In the darkness, the bars are often lit up with neon signs and brimming with the music of a live band. Amsterdam seems to prefer the more intimate, relaxed atmosphere of a bar to the raucous nature of nightclubs, although these do exist, but you must be “on the list”. In the renowned Grasshopper bar and restaurant, we watched the lights of the city
museums. As well as the historic Anne Frank, Van Gogh and Stedelijk museums, there are museums of houseboats, spectacles, funerals, sex, diamonds, cheese and even a Museum of Bags and Purses. We chose the Rijksmuseum, a huge and impressive paintings by Rembrandt. The surrounding area was, for me, the most beautiful in Amsterdam.
ironically situated in the area near the Oude Kerk, or Old Church.
gorgeous waterways. We passed under arched bridges, chugged
their pockets as women with lovely hair and tiny clothes paraded themselves behind windows in the rosy light. One beckoned to
streets and wide grass-banked ones, with weeping willows leaning to touch the water. I recommend a canal ride to any visitors. That evening, we sampled some magic mushrooms and spent 4 hours rolling around a hotel room, chatting to a Native American Chieftain who lived inside the fabric of a red chair, and seeing snakes in the carpet. Finally, the next morning, we said goodbye to the city. But I look forward to saying “hallo” to it again one day.
for anything.” When the sun was up again, so were we, ready for some culture. We found a street market, full of cheeses, pastries, handbags and clothes, and bursting with life. One thing that became clear to us is that Amsterdam loves
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The Culture Review
Culture
- ArtLiteratureDanceTheatre -
The Review Corner
SLADE COLUMN OFART
By Stephen Chbosky (Simon & Schuster) You may be planning on
The Girl In White By Sue Hubbard (Cinnamon Press) Set against the backdrop of the darkness of Germany 1933, The Girl in White begins its narrative with the character of Mathilde, a young woman pregnant by her married Jewish lover. Fleeing to the remote village of Worpswede, previously a commune for artists, she begins the emotional journey of unravelling the life of her mother – the artist Paula ModersohnBecker. Paula Becker is not a wellknown artist, nor was she much admired by many of her contemporaries. Reading this novel I have no doubt you will wish she was. Hubbard, having studied the events of Becker’s life through her paintings and letters, obviously believes this is a story that needs to be told and how right she is. Using knowledge she has gained from her study of Becker,
as well as, admittedly, a little of her imagination Hubbard’s skill here is to literally bring Becker back to life. The depth of the narrative reveals the tortured and lonely soul of Paula as she struggled to gain the revered status she desired. Hubbard’s use of the entirely creates a deeply emotional resonance within Paula’s story as it is slowly revealed in alternating chapters. As the reader delves into Paula’s secrets and thoughts so is her daughter – now just as vulnerable and lonely herself. Paula’s unsettled mind and the Germany that now exists and the uncertain future that awaits Mathilde. What is never called into question though is the strength and courage of the Becker women. This is an incredibly nuanced and intense work and one, which I strongly recommend. Frances Smithson
it probably usually is) and makes everybody in earshot grind their teeth, then check the novel out before you go to see it on the big screen. The novel takes the form of letters written by a teenage Charlie, an unnamed older person, whom Charlie doesn’t know. As you reader you become connected with this recipient, as Charlie explains how he is “writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn’t try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have,” which pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the book. Charlie is sensitive, neurotic, and just loves writing these confessional letters to a stranger.
T Charlie gets to live more of a life. There are also some meditations on family that will probably ring true for a lot of people, e.g. “I am very interested and fascinated by how everyone loves each other, but no one really likes each other.” progresses, it gradually becomes apparent that there may be more to Charlie’s idiosyncrasies than we’d initially suspected. By the end of it, he’s seen identity crisis, violence, heartbreak, and speculated on the ceaseless marching of time and the perception of suffering. It’s all fairly compelling, as Charlie is an earnest and likable narrator. At one point in the book, in his friend’s pickup truck on the way to
The Perks of Being a a read, and see if you can remember a time when you felt Adam Belsford
American Idiot Wales Millennium Centre
Julius Caesar Gregory Doran, New Theatre Gregory Doran’s production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar translates the play effectively from ancient Rome to modern Africa whilst losing none of its power. An all-black cast, traditional music and costumes lends a fresh urgency to the fear of tyranny from a continent that has been home to so many. The exposure of instability and pettiness of politics is also heightened by both Caesar and the conspirators. A sinister shadow is cast over the returning hero in the opening scene by the presence of propaganda-like posters. Jeffrey Kissoon’s Caesar also gives subtle nods to more recent dictators, dressed in an Idi Amin style safari suit and displaying a touch of Stalinesque paranoia in the scene where he debates going to the senate, pacing up and down the stage. Although in most productions portrayed as
adaptation of The Perks of Being a , directed by the book’s author, Stephen Chbosky. If you want to be one of those people who walks out of the cinema saying how the book
It hasn’t been an easy life for Charlie, and friends seem to be a bit thin on the ground. Luckily, he falls in with a group of older kids, and also has a cool English teacher
the noble idealist among jealous and petty politicians, Brutus too him as self-righteous rather than morally superior which leads him to a tactical blunder – his ‘gallant’ sparing of Mark Antony leads to his ultimate downfall. The conspirators as always display a level of pettiness and squabbling of power-grabbing politicians and the often likeable Antony is here arrogant and sly. The famous ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen’ speech is delivered strongly in front of a changeable crowd, almost parodying the Doran’s production has brought the discussion of the ethics of political murder into the foreground by dusting the cobwebs off the play, and giving it a well carried off boost. Alexandra Warren
Providing you don’t arrive expecting to see a rock show, it’s hard not to be impressed by this TONY award winning musical from across the pond. Based on Green Day’s multi-platinum album of the same name, the show combines all of the hits in a fast moving, energetic, slightly hard to follow, 90-minute show. American Idiot (written by Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and director Michael Mayer) is the story of three best friends who, like many of us, are sick of the dull life they lead in their hometown. Unlike many of us, Jonny, Tunny and Will decide to do something about it. Each embarks on an all singing, all dancing escape from normality which inadvertently brings them crashing back down to earth. Johnny and Tunny head out across the unknown that is America, expecting excitement and the real world isn’t quite what they were hoping for. Will on the other hand, having received news that his girlfriend is pregnant, is forced to sit out on the adventure. Slowly
but surely, a mixture of alcohol and weed distract him from his duties leaving all three friends in less than favourable situations. The on-stage band ensure sure that you remember the roots of the show and fans of Green Day will be happy to see that they’re suspiciously similarly clad to Tré, Mike and most obviously Billie Joe. Despite the fact that it was of course, originally a rock band’s seventh release, American Idiot lends itself dramatically (excuse the pun…) well to the stage. Songs like “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Jesus of Suburbia” fall seamlessly into the ‘how-did-this-happen-to-onegroup-of-friends story’ and the people dancing in ways that I’ve only known to be possible after several drinks, somehow seem completely normal. Perhaps it’s because life with a soundtrack is secretly everyone’s dream or maybe, it’s just because Green Day (and everyone else involved) have pulled this whole thing off incredibly well. Charlie Mock
he Turner prize is one that changes quite dramatically each year, not just in terms of artists but also the form the art takes. I think, however, that what makes this prize so wonderful (at least for people who live in the UK) is the fact that it focuses on British art, arguably allowing an unassuming public to interact and connect with it. That said, I fear that my mum would instantly stumble down the path of ‘how is this art?’ if I were to explain some of the works on show this year. But who the hell cares? If we’re not used to such things as animals in formaldehyde and tents with lovers names sewn into them as art then it probably isn’t for you. That said, my favourite winner of the prize is a potter, Grayson Perry. But if you do a tad of research you’ll soon realise that it’s not your run of the mill Clarice Cliff or Wedgwood. I am, however, a fan of the mix of works this year: Paul Noble and his intricate and Elizabeth Price and the performance work of Spartacus Chetwynd. The differences (and yes I am aware hell cares? It is similar to the Man Booker a few weeks ago: all of the nominees are worth a read and all of the pieces are worth a look. works as I have not made it to London to see them, but Chetwynd’s work is quite interesting – if not quite mad. The curators of this year’s show describe Chetwynd’s work as ‘deliberately amateurish’ and Grayson Perry at the Frieze art show this year commented Chetwynd ascribes to her own work. Indeed, in appearance the hanging photocopied wallpaper and the they appear more medieval or pagan than they do amateur. I think it is about Chetwynd’s work as a vehicle for a social narrative and not about the quality of face make-up and costume design. The Turner prize is also known for choosing artists who are pushing their craft and questioning it. This reemergence of performance art can only help the struggling genre out of its murky past. Chetwynd’s performance is like the drawing of a mad child, and a welcome one for an art prize that avoids anything stale – but I cannot imagine her being the next Tracy Emin. Luke Slade
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Q nineteen
Music
DON’T BE AFRAID OF
CLASSICAL MUSIC Words: Amelie Taylor | Photo: Jordan Merrick
Classical music: a genre which remains unknown and sidelined by many. The term itself encapsulates a multitude of different styles, whether choral, orchestral, contemporary or romantic, and most of these remain undiscovered by the average student. Pubs and clubs, venues that play host to most student activity, blast out pop, rock, indie and techno. In contrast, classical music seems reserved only to the concert hall and the opera house. Snippets of famous classical melodies occasionally appear on television. Perhaps most notable is O Fortuna from Carmina Burana, played at the beginning of The X Factor as the judges walk on. The British Airways advert also features the famous Flower Duet from Delibes’ opera Lakme. It is however, the famous Go Compare advert that steals the show with the most slapstick stereotype of the operatic tenor-with full moustache and vibrato to match! Whatever positive and negative connotations Classical music has acquired, it has undoubtedly formed part of our national heritage. Elgar, one of the most prominent notes, as will Benjamin Britten on the 50p coin next year. Barber’s Adagio for Strings, has undergone countless remixes, as has Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. We need look no further than the recent Olympic opening ceremony to see that classical music forms part of our cultural identity, whether we are aware of it or not. Without the study of classical music, the development of popular
twenty Q
music would no doubt have evolved differently. So how can a student, keen to broaden their cultural horizons, broach the massive, and somewhat daunting, genre that is classical music? Perhaps a good introduction music. The music of Hans Zimmer, James Horner and John Williams has touched the masses through cinema. The dramatic and evocative power of music enriches the visual spectacle. If we descend into the multitude of orchestral compositions, here are a few that shouldn’t pass you by… Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5, Borodin’s Symphony No.2 and Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances. All these feature stirring and rhythmic and melodious lines that embed themselves in your memory. When it comes to choral music, the list is endless again. Described as ‘the instrument of the soul’, the voice remains one of the most stirring and powerful musical tools. With Christmas fast approaching, performances of Handel’s Messiah will no doubt dominate classical performances. The celebrated ‘Hallelujah’ chorus is perhaps the most iconic and recognizable part of this piece, Youtube it and there are thousands of different recordings! The Dies Irae from Verdi’s Requiem also needs no introduction; if there is one thing you listen to from this article, let it be this. You will recognise it immediately – powerful, utterly encapsulating and masterfully written. If you’re looking for a more relaxed approach to choral
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music, Eric Whitacre provides the perfect solution. This is, dare I say it, ‘easy listening’ music, perfect for just before bed. The Seal Lullaby, Sleep and Nox Arumque are just a few examples. Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium also provides a calming, lilting antecedent to slumber. Examples of famous operatic numbers should probably feature Beethoven’s Fidelio The Anvil Chorus from Verdi’s Il Trovatore. To many, opera remains a genre that alienates, but listen to these excerpts and see what you think. Although unashamedly biased towards the genre of Music), Cardiff itself provides a wealth of musical opportunities, especially in the Classical genre. Tickets to see BBC National Orchestra Of Wales tickets are £3 for students, and for many orchestras £5. These prices tend to quadruple upon graduation! Dress rehearsals to see Welsh National Opera are also free. I would urge all of you to make the most of these performances: there will never be a cheaper time to experiment and widen your musical tastes! As a music lover of almost all genres, (perhaps apart from heavy metal), I can safely say that whether orchestral, choral, or otherwise, ‘classical music’ offers an alternative, challenging and often thrilling experience to enrich our musical lives. Listen to these examples, experience some concerts, and see for yourself.
Music
L IVE
I LIKE TRAINS | BUFFALO | 24.10.11 Whilst the crowd was fairly small for the Leeds band’s intricate stylings, the band certainly made an impression of the gig, vocalist/guitarist David even made true his promise to shake every single person’s hand after the show. Their beginnings as a noisy and euphoric post-rock band certainly shone through in their live show more than in their latest record The Shallows, although it’s more striking elements were more evident in a live setting. Whilst some of the grander moments were when the band really let loose their energy, this is not to detract from the more subtle quality of their new material. Glistening guitar lines mixed with the kind of rhythmic grooves deployed by Wild Beasts combined with rolling post punk bass lines to create a far more textured sound than some of the bands earlier, rawer material. This was topped off by pitch perfect and eloquently delivered vocals of the same quality as the bands recorded material which helped to contribute to an already solid and tight set. Whilst I am a big fan of post-rock bands such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky, it struck me that the elements of these bands displayed in I Like Trains older material was not entirely absent from pushed back slightly, giving the music space to breathe and develop. Some of the most enchanting moments of the night came from grandiose build ups suddenly giving way to a more subtle and patient sound which expressed (to
use a music-journalism cliché) maturity and a new found depth that really suits the band. I also managed to ask them a few questions after the gig. sound, I detected post-rock and some hints of Guy Banister (guitarist): We’ve moved away from the post-rock sound a little, we’re into stuff like Krautrock; Can and Neu!... Also the guitar tones of Interpol and bands like that. Alistair Bowis (bassist): I like to think of us as a mix of Caribou and Godspeed. I loved the production on the new album, how did GB: Well we had Richard Formby on production, he did the last two Wild Beast albums. We really went for that kind of textured production feel, we cut it down to basics.
The Shallows GB: The artwork on the new one is mainly taken from Bauhaus, we told our graphics guy to do anything based around that and this is what we ended up with. Oli Richards
LAZY HABITS | MOON CLUB | 01.11.12 what every opening act hopes for; the applause they enter with being polite, and that they leave behind being rapturous. Over a honed half-hour set, they stir the crowd into a frenzy, some classic slap-bass building an old-school backing for poignant, socially-aware rap verses and blistering female vocals. Diminutive singer Ruby dominates the crammed attic room with her notes, which deliver in power twofold what they lack in range, and gives generous solo performances on seemingly every track. That this doesn’t seem gratuitous is testament to Neon’s sway over their audience, and they leave the stage with everyone wanting more. We are not left wanting for long. There is no haughty and frustrating delay between support and headline, Lazy Habits know a hungry crowd when they see one, and the seven-piece promptly march onstage to meet them, suited and booted. The tie-clips won’t fool any fans present; they know this is to be a more visceral affair. Sure enough, the sway of the trumpet riff is soon
being strewn with breakneck rhymes and scattered steel drums. The crowd holler themselves hoarse to singles The Road, Even Out, and Starting Fires. At one point, the Ska overtones that have been present all evening erupt into a glorious, immersive cover of The Specials’ A Message to You (Rudy). Throughout we’re aware that this isn’t a rap band that picked up a few jazz records and called versed and rehearsed in the School of Satchmo. They end on a ten-minute improvised slot, bringing up guest MCs Dizraeli and The Small Gods, and seemingly loving it as much as their fans, a select group of clued-in devotees. If you liked Plan B’s second album but fancied something sharper, Lazy Habits have more brass and beats than you’ll know what to do with, and a live show not to be forgotten. Jimmy Dunne
BAFTA CRAFT MASTERCLASS: COMPOSITION WITH DAVID JULYAN Chapter | 14.11.12 | 18:00| Free Event Join acclaimed composer David Julyan on-stage with BAFTA at Soundtrack Film Festival for a special craft masterclass on his career. The BAFTA Craft Masterclass invites BAFTA winners and nominees to share their craft and deliver on-stage session about their creative processes.
POWERPLANT WITH JOBY BURGESS
14TH - 18TH NOVEMBER
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama 15.11.12 | 19:30| £12/10
In a lavish audio-visual feast the worlds of minimalism and electronica collide: explosive drumming, looped xylosynth, found objects, American presidents, traces of Michael Haneke and Franz Schubert culminate in Powerplant’s landmark
BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST Clwb Ifor Bach | 16.11.12 | 19:30| £8 (True Romance, Cop land) goes behind the camera to record the rise, rapture and reunion of this trailblazing group.
music@gairrhydd.com · @quenchmusic
Q twenty-one
REVIEWS
Music Albums
MAIA PEPPER STARS (VANDAL RECORDS) 26.11.12 Ever since Mumford and Sons left open the stable door, the shire horse of faux-folk has been running rampant, and generally exhausting its welcome (the less said of Dry The River the better). But Maia are not a bandwagon band milking another’s cash cow; there’s innovation here. “We invented Pepper Stars initially seems to concur. Opening track Alien contains modern production not amiss on a Bonobo number, told from the lonely perspective of a visitor from space. It is here we are made privy to Tom Clegg’s voice, a charming instrument that’s like a more disciplined Stuart Murdoch, via Bowie. The latter’s obsession with cosmic themes is laced throughout, and Dear Io, dedicated to Jupiter’s smallest moon, is the album’s highlight, It is at once charming and funny; the problem is that scisingle Zuma Aluma for instance, or Jethro Tull, they must soon part, and the last few tracks of Pepper Stars abandon their grand galactic visions and return to trite prison-issue harmonicas. Perhaps Maia
6
not quite there yet. Jimmy Dunne
10
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is Lamar’s debut studio album yet it’s already been hailed as a modern hip hop classic and it’s easy to see why. In a highly cinematic fashion, the album shifts in musical style and form to correspond to Lamar’s narratives, which detail his struggle and crucially, his innocence living in Compton; a city synonymous with gang violence and drug abuse. The title track Good Kid sums this up succinctly: “I feel you just want to kill all my innocence while ignoring my The album is constantly on the move as monologues mould in to neo-soul instrumentals which then become more regular hip hop beats. And here is where the main criticism lies. While the majority of beats on the album feel either fresh or have a purposively vintage aesthetic, several feel generic and lazy; the track Maad City feels particularly tired. However, even the more disappointing tracks on Good Kid and consistently brilliant, albeit frequently dark lyricism which offer new perspectives on that favourite of hip hop themes – gang culture. Kit Denison
8
SINGLES STEALING SHEEP REARRANGE (HEAVENLY) 15.11.12 It all begins with a delightfully unusual chord sequence and winding, chromatic vocal melodies – highly characteristic of the rest of Stealing Sheep’s debut. The song mutates from the kooky verse to a highly memorable chorus, adorned with warm synths and extremely wellblended vocal harmonies. However, at just over 3 minutes, the song isn’t really long enough to let each of the sections of the song fully develop and While I would argue that Rearrange is not the strongest song on the album, it does hint at their brilliance and acts as an intriguing musical morsel for foolish not to investigate further. Kit Denison
twenty-two Q
PLASTIC ROSE CAMERA.SHUTTER.LIFE (DI DI MAU) 22.10.12
KENDRICK LAMAR GOOD KID, M.A.A.D. CITY (POLYDOR) 23.10.12
music@gairrhydd.com · @quenchmusic
7
10
Camera.Shutter.Life is the debut album from Belfast rockers, A Plastic Rose, and follows the critically acclaimed single Boy Racer. Though decidedly alt-rock, the album is sonically Indeed, the band seems to have carved out a comfortable niche in the space between genres. Standout tracks Indian Sheets and Kids Don’t Behave Like This are catchy and lyrically solid, and the album’s production quality is consistently high. Unfortunately, many of the album’s tracks are unremarkable, and there’s a barely audible sense of restraint that emerges every time something interesting might happen. This undermines the passion holding the album together, but even that eventually falters, with the album losing its way a little towards the end. The band sounds disturbingly similar to Biffy Clyro (or at least a Tesco Value brand counterpart), which isn’t bad so much differentiate themselves, A Plastic Rose’s debut sounds more plastic than it does anything else. However, it’s hard to come away from the album without admitting the band’s potential, and with a little more time to grow and meditate on their strengths, A Plastic Rose could establish themselves as something special. Michael O’Connell - Davidson
6
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FOALS INHALER (TRANSGRESSIVE) 05.11.12 First single from Foals’ long awaited third album, Holy Fire, due February 2013, is something quite startling. Opening with a reverb laden guitar loop and syncopated beats from wood blocks, the piece has a groovy, Afrobeat feel. But then comes the build up, rising notes and a pulsing bassline that culminate in an explosive chorus with screeching synths. Frontman Yannis wails, a la Kasabian, that crazy, textbook Muse, heavy guitar riff. Quite a shock after the band’s previously bleak sound. The video features trendy indie kids writhing around in warehouses and skateparks; no
10
with the camera, and the mass appeal of this song suggests mainstream radio. Confusing but catchy. Rosey Brown
6
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Film “BOOKS AND MOVIES ARE LIKE APPLES AND ORANGES. THEY BOTH ARE FRUIT, BUT TASTE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT” - STEPHEN KING
LEANNE DIXON LOOKS AT HOLLYWOOD’S OBSSESSION WITH CREATING FILMS FROM NOVELS. IS IT A NEW WAY OF INTEGRATING TWO FORMS OF ART? OR SIMPLY A WAY TO MAKE MONEY BY USING ONE TO PUBLICISE THE OTHER? Creatives often take pleasure in illuminating the ideas of others, whether in their specialised area or an alternative art form, experts in every craft often take inspiration from each other. Kate Bush paid homage to Emily Brontë with her musical version of Wuthering Heights and the novelGirl with a Pearl Earring Johannes Vermeer’s painting of the same title. This sort of
character development, the catastrophic devastation of
ence, due to the response from the novels. This is a great
sections of the storyline. Often a novel’s cast do not have the opportunity to develop as characters due to the differ-
tion is a way of translating this through different guises
hundreds of pages and reduces it to just under two hours, ing the sanctity of literature or simply strengthening the cinematic plot and adding an unexplored dimension to the narrative? Frank-
great novelists into screen masterpieces? Of course not, as long as they are indeed masterpieces. stirring, spine –tingling renditions that get it oh so right. Films have one superior advantage that rivals any novel’s
enstein and A Christmas Carol Cloud Atlas “music is an extra character that can amplify emotion or can illustrate their very own vision of particular novels A supreme example of this is Cary Fukunaga’s depiction of the classic Charlotte Brontë novel Jane Eyre. About a Boy, high expectations were held for
“WITH SOME LITERATURE, THE NOVEL ITSELF WILL DRAW IN THE SPECIFIC AUDIENCE THAT THE FILM-MAKERS NEED IN ORDER TO STRIKE IT RICH’’
gothic mystery that surrounds the novel and the soaring violin melodies accompany the highs and lows of the lovers’ relationship. The gothic atmosphere of the story
harmoniously accompanies this triumph with his usual if that wasn’t enough, the cinematography and costume The Hunger Games,
Northern Lights. The novel has everything necessary for aspects, cross-generational storytelling, and potential for stunning settings using Pullman’s vivid visual depictions. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. These novels demanded silver screen attention and Peter Jackson whole-heartedly met and exceeded controversial meanings regarding the Catholic Church constructed from an original screenplay, would our reac-
coming release of The Hobbit as these masterpieces. The hugely successful adaptation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest art, which work together in providing a realistic representation of mental illness. The novel provided an intimate
to fear of the effect it will have on your perception of the The Lovely Bones
a patient at the psychiatric hospital in which the story
adaptation, Peter Jackson, handled the novel’s seemingly Although at times an effective celestial visual was prolanguage which makes the novel so magnetically raw.
need in order to strike it rich. The Twilight Saga and Harry Potter
·
Q twenty-three
Film
REVIEWS
FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL DIRECTOR: STARRING: RATING:
For A Good Time, Call Jack McCarthy
SKYFALL DIRECTOR: STARRING: RATING: Quantum of Solace
Skyfall
Skyfall
Skyfall -
Casino Royale Skyfall
-
Skyfall
-
Skyfall
-
Daniel Rosser
RUST & BONE DIRECTOR STARRING RATING: Rust and Bone
The Beat That
My Heart Skipped
A Prophet -
Rust and Bone
Rust and Bone -
Dylan Jenkins
SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS CINEWORLD| 14TH NOV
THE TSUNAMI AND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE| 15TH NOV
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CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE | CINEW
Trailer Trash: Iron MAn 3
Release date: April 2013 Avengers Assemble
Tom Parry-Jones
FIVE FILMS FOR... A NOSTALGIC NIGHT-IN 3. Matilda (1996)
1. Aladdin (1992) 4. American Pie (1999)
2. Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone (2001) 5. The Parent Trap (1998) Harry Potter. Becky Wilson
THE SOUND OF NOISE
CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE | 16TH NOV
CAPE FEAR
CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE | 16TH NOV
SUSPIRIA
CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE| 18TH NOV
WORLD CARDIFF | CARDIFF STUDENTS UNION | CLWB IFOR BACH | NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAMPUS ·
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in the pursuit of quality journalism and delicious eats, the Quench Food team set out for the Cowbridge Food & Drink Festival. Already in its eighth year, the festival, although relatively small in size, boasts quite an impressive number of exhibitors and guests. Cowbridge itself is the perfect location – this quaint town, located just a half hour drive from Cardiff, provides the ideal setting for this kind of event with its relaxed atmosphere and charming high street. There were numerous activities to take part in, such as talks, workshops and cooking demonstrations, as well as family entertainment and arts and crafts but obviously, what was at the centre of the event was the bustling main festival marquee, where it was possible to sample and purchase food from numerous, mostly Welsh suppliers. After trying some of it for ourselves, it was easy to see why it drew such interest – there was an extraordinary variety of foods on offer, ranging from the familiar to the almost experimental. We had the chance
create a welcoming atmosphere. also featured a separate marquee with food truck-style dishes, which had something for everyone, from classic comfort food (with the pies worth a special mention) to Indian cuisine. However, a greater variety of stalls would be quite welcome. It’s quite rare to have the opportunity to have such a tasty meal in a casual atmosphere – and more importantly, the length of some of the queues proved to be quite discouraging. As unlikely as that sounds, maybe the organisers weren’t quite prepared for that level of interest. Though the food was nice, the “drink” part turned out to be a bit of a letdown. Personally, I was quite excited to try some local specialities – but the selection of beers and ciders wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary, and what we tried was a bit underwhelming. After that, we were quite eager to investigate the champagne marquee as consolation. Apparently it wasn’t just us, as the volume of crowds inside it put us off this idea quite quickly. The festival spans a whole weekend, but it is safe to say that considering its size, one day was enough to sample everything it had to offer – however, I should point out that it also next year, and even if you’re not a sworn foodie and just want to experience a bit more of Wales, I would recommend you pay a visit to Cowbridge as well. Emilia Ignaciuk
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food@gairrhydd.com · @quenchfood
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else can you try whiskey cheddar or lavender biscuits? And I can assure you that both of these are delicious. Nevertheless, the more familiar fare wasn’t something to scoff at either – especially the sheer variety of preserves, not to mention some very inviting desserts. Most of the products
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Food&Drink
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Spotted at the Cowbridge Food Festival was Rob Hindle Julia Wu the best Welsh pâtisserie
“All roads lead to cake”
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a Crème is a Welsh pâtisserie specializing in goodies like Cowin Lush Cheesecakes and Frangipane mince pies alongside traditional cakes and desserts. Located in Port Talbot, it is run by the Hindle family, lead by Sian Hindle. The 2007 British Bakery Awards named Sian Hindle as one of their top three pâtissiers in the UK, making her arguably the best pâtissier in Wales. Management and Accounting at Cardiff and luckily works for La Crème. Cradoc’s Savoury Biscuits
What’s it like growing up as the son of a pâtissier? Did you eat cake all the time? Cakes were great, but it was a lot of hard work. I have been working since I was 10 years old. I started just with doing a bit of sweeping for ski money. Last year, I had to bake thousands of bread puddings by hand in 10kg batches. How did your mum become the best pâtissier in Wales? Well, she just entered a contest [British Baking Industry Awards] really. Going in, we weren’t expecting anything because the competition was really tough. All of us ended up being pleasantly surprised. She did something she quite liked and it worked out well. Do you get to go to a lot of food festivals? We only go to the big festivals and local ones like Cowbridge just so people don’t think we are a corporate company or anything. We focus on catering and supplying places like the Millennium Centre and the Welsh Assembly. We went to The Great British Cheese Festival and I know we are
A selection of wines from Cwn Deri Vineyard
Royal Welsh Show next year. What are the most popular desserts at La Crème? Well, everything is popular. I have to say our French pâtisseries really stand out. We were at a food faire around a year ago and brought our small cheesecakes and individual cakes. Have you noticed that places like M&S Simply Food and Tesco’s have been selling these small desserts? I think we were one of their inspirations. Desserts are really trending towards small, delicate, eat-at-teatime things: pâtisseries, macaroons. Did you come to uni for Management and Accounting because you want to run La Crème someday? I really want to make my own mark on the world. La Crème is my parents’ business. They have no expectation for me to come back and take over the business, but I will always be around to help them out. Everything I learned from them like independence, a work ethic, and baking skills will translate in the future. Is it hard to balance school and work My parents have always allowed me to prioritize my education because they know that will impact my future. I really only work when the pâtisserie needs my help. December is a busy month of us-- we already have 30,000 pie orders. If you had to choose one dessert, what would it be? There are so many! Give me some time… Toffee pudding, warmed up a bit with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. No, chocolate fudge cake. Words and photography: Julia Wu
the Cardiff International Food Festival and the
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Photos: Julia Wu
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Illustration: Katarzyna Lewandowska
food@gairrhydd.com · @quenchfood
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