Quench - Issue 116

THE LEGENDS ISSUE

TOY MIC TREV//NINJA//BOB DYLAN...?

CONTENTS ISSUE 116

THE LEGENDS ISSUE

TOY MIC TREV//NINJA//BOB DYLAN...?

Ed.Note Do or Die Features Fashion Photos Travel Food & Drink Arts LGBT+ Books Music Film

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Editor's Note The Legends Issue The term ‘legend’ can be interpreted in a variety of ways. It is, on one

original.

characters.

The legends, my friends, have arrived.

Gavin Jewkes (Editor)

quench@gairrhydd.com

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Do or Die

Do or Die Salacious journalism - at death's door?

We at prone to the odd sniping review, or incidents of spirited character assassination. Neverat we are an ethical lot (for the most part). We’re -

basis?

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is something that we regard as a real gameNo, we may not have the technological

operations as a sex-obsessed geek; or maybe, -

-

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tion, so the likelihood of on the wrong side of the law is pretty slim (I nalists operate at all levels of the profession.

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Gavin Jewkes (Editor)

quench@gairrhydd.com

GOSSIP SCANDAL SENSATION

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Features

Gaming: When the world was flat Simon Booth looks at Retro and the Legend of Zelda Once upon a time, before they evolved into huge, monolithic specimens of graphical realism, video

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whole worlds made up of pixels. A pixel is basically a square on a screen, and these squares are assembled to create shapes that we may or may not control. My nostalgic belief is that gaming in the 8- and 16-bit era represented the golden age of gaming and that the art of the pixel suffered an untimely death, usurped by a desire to achieve realism in games. Two-dimensional gaming will always stand as the essence of the retro video game. Let me try and explain why.

The retro game is synonymous with retro itself. As much as there is debate on many a forum as to what constitutes a retro game, there is no doubt as to Pac-Man’s, Donkey Kong’s or a Space Invader’s position alongside retro artefacts such as the Rubik’s Cube, vinyl and the colour brown. to see the hulking, yellow arcade cabinet that hosted Computer Space appear in my local Californian bar or diner. It’s a very simple concept now but Compu-

taste of sex, drugs and writing code – sparked off a technological, cultural and aesthetic revolution.

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Blocky graphics came a long way in the following couple of decades. By the eighties, computer gaming had become a domestic affair as the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) swept the world, starting with Japan (known there as to European shores by 1986. By this time Atari – the company that pretty much started it all – was suffering huge losses and fell victim to the gaming crash of 1983. Nintendo, however, prospered, having the domestic gaming market all to itself. It could safely be argued that one rather eccentric industrial design student from rural Kyoto single-handedly saved the gaming industry with his 1985 platforming masterpiece, Super Mario Bros. and 1986’s The Legend of Zelda.

"2-D gaming didn’t die; there's been a renaissance due to independent companies developing retro games such as the Bit-Trip series and Super Meat Boy" These two games changed everything. Notable games did come before them in their respective genres, but Mario (Brooklyn plumber who spends most days saving his girlfriend from a Japanese mythical turtle) and Link (no he’s not called Zelda) turned it up to eleven. They’d prove to be the foundations that almost every following game would have to acknowledge in some way or other.

Features The reason they stand out for me though is that they were graphical works of art; a testament to what could be created with the pixel.

Super Mario Bros. with its kingdom full of giant mushrooms, castles and a labyrinth of green pipes and Hyrule’s (the home to most of the Zelda adventures) precedent-setting open world where the player could explore sparkling lakes, towering mountains and complex dungeons.

That these 8-bit classics created such attractive worlds was one thing, but (especially in Hyrule’s case) to give such an impressive sense

cent coral reefs in Ecco the Dolphin, braving the blinding snow storms in Donkey Kong Country, or looking down upon the world in Secret of Mana 2, you -

of its squashed space, is a beautiful achievement, and all the more so considering these games are still very much enjoyed by gaming veterans and newcomers alike to this day.

However, a few years and some extra “bits” later, gaming went 16-bit. What these “bits” were, I’m not entirely sure, but I think they were made out of dreams and rainbows. Either way, the 16-bit consoles (Sega Mega Drive, SNES, Neo Geo and the lesser known TurboGrafx-16) were home to what were, for me, the epitomes of visual game design.

create some truly wonderful gaming experiences.

However 2-D gaming didn’t die out altogether, there has been a two-dimensional renaissance due to downloading and independent companies developing modern games in retro style such as the Bit-Trip series and Super Meat Boy. But I still can’t help but miss those early years of my life, passing out from blowing heavily into the bottom of gaming cartridges. For me, the

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"Graphical works of art; a testament to what could be created with the pixel.

Alas, 16-bit visuals were overtaken by numbers double and triple the bits. The beautifully detailed sprite was replaced by the sluggish, heavy polygon.

To be fair, the polygon was in its infancy (though 3-D games had been around since the early eight-

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Features

Cardiff Cult Legends For those of you unlucky enough not be subject to the intricate stylings of South Walian dialect-ics, ‘Legend’ (for proper pronunciation, drop the D or for full authenticity, simply say ‘Ledg’), is a word which sits surprisingly comfortably among other coats that jacket’ or ‘Sir, could you stop pissing in this chip shop’. As with many appropriations of English around these parts, it’s representative of a kind of off-beat oddness, a comfort with ones own eccentricity that is so pleasing about many of the friendly folk who live here. It can come across as a post-modern linguistic tic, similar to people overusing ‘epic’, but it’s a more pleasant praise than that. Cardiff legends feel like they deserve the accolade. As such, we felt it appropriate to nod to those who are part of the fabric of Cardiff but perhaps pass us by in our student bubble. They aren’t unattainable ubiquities or heart-throbbing present in the throb of our city. I guarantee you Cardiff- when you do, treat them for what they are, not entertaining freaks, rather a vital and sturdy part of the city's askew idiosyncracies.

To any of you who have been lucky enough to wander down Queens St. to the sporadic clang of wood on binlid, you will have pleasingly been acquainted with the Cardiff Legend that is Ninjah.

Sporting bleach-blonde dreads and a penchant for bin-drumming, midday reggae and enchanting philosophical monologues, he is a regular part of life in town. Rumours abound about his seemingly non-existent private life (Ninjah Pendragon is apparently on his passport), and to much guffawing, he has regularly proclaimed to be preparing to take over TV with a pirate station as well as releasing an album. The Beeb are holding back for now, but the latter claim was fruitful- his debut came out earlier in the summer. He's an engaging chat (although avoid telling him your subject, I was cornered about Philosophy for 45 mins at Buffalo) and not as egotist or offkilter as you may expect, and more than anything, you will leave chatting or a random reggae tune with the same genuine warmth he puts into it.

"They aren’t unattainable ubiquities, rather, magically realist figures ever present in the throb of our city."

A short research session on the internet reveals much about the nature of urban myths. One page alone suggested there used to be a Dwarf with Tourettes and a man who used to dance and do Ninja shapes in front of moving cars on Newport in a way doesn't matter. Some of the reality preceding these legends simply couldn't be conjoured by any wireless chinese whisper. Take Toy Mic Trev. It's likely many of you haven't heard of him, but whisper the name around town and you'll be

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at the retired street performer. Standing with a kids plastic echo microphone in hand, Trevor was a staple of the retail gap between JJB and Boots, a 10 ft area which he made his own. A true crooner, singing from the rat-pack area of musical history, he would regularly be found seranading early morning commuters to those ambling wide eyed for an afternoon gander through town.

Not that there isn't online buzz around the guy.

A video exists of him singing Please Release Me and he was one of the more pleasing things to ever be seen on Dic and Dom In Da Bungalow (Conjecture? I hope not). Sadly, he retired from public duty recently (Not as, some mythologisers suggested, is dead!) but has been spotted well, according to Facebook, buying Sausage rolls in Lidl. Which, I think, is the way I want to see my legends- happy in retirement, enjoying some well earned pastry.

Features

The First and Biggest legend:

GOD

I became a Christian when I was 11. Like any relationship, I had my ups and downs with God particularly when I had self-image issues during my teens; at this time it suited me to rely on Him excessively. As a result of the great affect He had on my life during this time, I was devoted to Him. When I had got through this rocky patch around the time I turned 17, I decided I’d like to go my own way, and I brushed God out of my life. I’d got what I wanted from him and now, armed with my new stead of trusting that He knew best for me.

Fast-forward a couple of years, and I have once again put my faith into God. I realised that while

Katie Bennett and Paul Wilkinson share why God is their First and Biggest Legend...

When many people think of Christianity I imag-

ine that the picture they come up with isn’t exactly way as knowing my Creator: God. Like most stupositive. People may think it’s traditional, boring, dents I live such a busy life, full of things I enjoy quiet and possibly irrelevant. This isn’t the God I know. However, if you’d asked me a year ago these are probably the words I’d have used. Christianity and God have been boxed into a negative image, being held back by ‘religious people’ who have refused to see church move forward with modernity.

I’m not talking about changing the message of Christianity, as the message is as relevant now as ever. No, I’m talking about the way it’s presented.

Some churches have largely become traditional, boring, quiet, and in some cases irrelevant to their society. I, personally, refuse to see God contained in this image.

The God I know is exciting, loud, revolutionary and most of all, challenging. As a new Christian tions of what and who God is transformed every day. God challenges me daily, to become a better my own capacity to achieve has increased tenfold.

This is the God I know. He is my true legend.

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fact God doesn’t detract from my busy life rather He enriches it. Coming back to God was the best decision I ever made. It’s not an emotional crutchanything but and I’ve never had more excitement and energy for life.

I found a great church here in Cardiff, which has increased my capacity to dream big and live an exciting life. My church makes the Gospel relevant to today, it’s not guilt tripping nor is it expecting perfection and God doesn’t expect this either.

Christians are the same as everyone else, we make mistakes. But, we know we have a God who loves us, who will stick by us through trials and use them for good. He will give us the best life possible, not just socks and sandals, but waking up every day not knowing what opportunities and surprises He has in store for that day.

It’s an amazing journey. Church shouldn’t be boring, because God isn’t. God is my legend because He always forgives, sticks by in the bad times and uses them for good, and lavishes blessings on me. I dare you to come to Church and meet the original and biggest legend I know: God.

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Features

Yasmin Ganger-Valles explores the Darkness within the of the Fairy Tale... Bedtime Stories Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, The Little Red Ridding Hood, Sleeping Beauty; these are stories, magical stories that have been told for generations to children before going to sleep. We all know them, we all love them, and we all want to be the Princess or the Prince Charming. But beyond the happy-ever-after, do you remember being scared by these tales? Is it that all bedtime fairy tales scare us? Why is it that we continue to red such tales?

"We unconsciously understand the implicit of Fairy Tales...

The ‘Fairy-Tale’ genre emerged under the writing of Charles Perrault in the 17th century, and before his time in the Middle Ages ‘Fairy-Tales’ were mostly an oral tradition. The most notorious writers of this special literary genre include the aforementioned Charles Perrault, The Grimm Brothers and Hans-Christian-Andersen.

Their fairy tales were so popular they were adapted into Disney Cartoons and teenage comedy movies. But, and the big but here is the original versions were sanitized for this young and modern audience.

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"The pigeons pluck out the eyes of the sisters...

Lets look at the tale of Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper. You will know this story as the story of a kind and beautiful young girl who is enslaved by her stepmother and her stepsisters. One a ball. Cinderella is not invited to this ball, but by thanks to her Fairy Godmother she is able to go.

Looking wonderful and wearing marvellous glass slippers on her feet, Cinderella is momentarily transformed from a slave into a Dancing Queen.

Yet, she must return home when the clock chimes midnight. The Prince and Cinderella meet, but it is unfortunate timing because the clock is starting to strike twelve, and Cinderella must be gone. In her haste to leave the ball she looses one of her glass slippers. And well, we know what happens and live la di da Happy Ever After… This story is the Disney version. The original version is disturbing...

Features In the original version then, Cinderella’s stepthe glass slipper, hoping the Prince will believe that one of them was the owner of the ‘lost slipper.’ Two pigeons assert the Prince to the deceit of the Ugly Step Sisters and consequently the pigeons pluck out the eyes of the sisters who end up spending the rest of their lives as blind beggars.

It would appear that we didn’t realize that these stories were not initially meant for children. They were read to children to scare us, to teach us lessons!

An Austrian psychoanalyst, Bruno Bettelheim said that Fairy-Tales create a ‘subconscious common to the societies.’ Basically meaning that when we read the stories we unconsciously understand the implicit: a young girl went to a party and attracted a man that appeared to be the Prince. Bettelheim goes even deeper by saying that the slipper is a small receptacle that can be considered as a symbol of the vagina. And if it is made of a fragile material such as glass we directly think of the hymen, something very easy to loose at the end of a ball.

So, Fairy Tales might scare us, but because of their happy ending we want to hear them one more time. We like to be scared and can be reassured that the Good beats the Evil in the end. Nevertheless, parents tend to prefer reading modern tales rather than the original because they are worried it will traumatize their kids.

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“What children want in literature is the opposite of what they want in life” Roald Dahl

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Fashion

legendary Fashion Pieces REVAMPED Quench fashion are looking at some classic pieces which every girl should own...

The Bowler Hat

Our suggestion...

The return of the hat as a must-have accessory has seen celebrities, male and female alike, choose the classic bowler hat over the warmer options. It was originally designed as a sturdy form of head protection for gamekeepers as the bowler was tougher than a standard felt hat. Though they are

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nitely be said that at the ripe old age of 160 the bowler hat still has its classic charm.

Bowler hats have gone from being a way of conforming to society, on the head of the everyday British banker, to a way to stand out, with their claim to fame on the heads of legends such as Charlie Chaplin, A Clockwork Orange’s Alex DeLarge, and even Magritte in his self-portrait Son of Man. More recently the bowler has been spotted on the celebrity noggins of Rachel Bilson, Jude Law, and Beyoncé, in both casual and formal settings.

The versatility of the bowler hat is undeniable. It has graced the big screen in the costumes of Oscar winners like Colin Firth, as well as cartoons like Mr. Potato Head. It has been used as a weapon,

by James Bond’s nemesis Oddjob (whose razorblade-edged bowler is a trend I don’t recommend), and now in the cinema you can catch the CGI version with the twin bowlerheaded detectives Thomson and Thompson in The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. The bowler hat is everywhere, it’s unavoidable, it’s back.

Sophie Epstein

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Black bowler hat, ASOS, £22

Wear it with:

Items

(from left to right): Shorts: Topshop, £38 Shirt: Topshop, £36 Black Wedges: Urban Out-

Fashion The Blazer

Our pick...

Timeless, utterly versatile, a classicThe ‘Blazer’ is a strong staple piece for anyone’s wardrobe. Whether it’s in heritage tweed, causal corduroy, printed chiffon, or standard black, the ever adaptable Blazer can breathe new

Cambridge University when the Lady Margaret Boat Club became known as the ‘blazers’ for their bold red club jackets. It later became associated with the short double breasted jackets worn by naval sailors and this soon evolved to the modern dark blazers with metallic buttons that we see today. In the swinging 60s, striped blazers became popular among British Mods and icons such as The Who, The Kinks and The Beatles who all donned the three- colour striped blazer. Yet the blazer is still continuously changing. When taking a quick look at the ASOS website I spotted leather lapels, cropped styles, contrasting colours and a huge range of different fabrics. It seems the blazer can and does work for everyone. In the girl’s corner, we have Keira Knightly rocking a tuxedo blazer while causally strolling through Paris (très chic), Ashley Olsen and Gwyneth Paltrow loving cream oversized numbers for the red carpet, and my ultimate style crush Rachel Billson who just loves to roll up those sleeves. And for the boys, Justin Timberlake, David Beckham and Bradley Copper always work the blazer/jean combo. Just please, PLEASE don’t wear a hoodie under it.

Blazer with sheer sleeves, ASOS, £55

Wear it with...

Items (from top to bottom):

Brown Chelsea boots: Miss Selfridge,

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Clare Matthews

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Fashion Our advice...

The LBD (a.k.a 'Little Black Dress') nowned as ever. The reliable friend, the perfect ensemble for any ‘I have nothing to wear’ evening and the item every woman looks perfect in. I’m talking, of course, about the Little Black Dress. A spark of creative genius from the icon herself, Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, the LBD has worked its charm and revolutionised womenswear ever since. Simple yet sexy, the beauty of the LBD is, undoubtedly, its simplicity, its versatility and its apparent staying power (if it’s good enough for Audrey Hepburn, it’s good enough for me!) Making its couture debut in American Vogue, season upon season it has remained incessant both on the catwalks and on the British high street. Ask any woman, old or young, for a ‘legend’ in terms of fashion

LBD, Marks & Spencers, £35

Considered an essential element to any wardrobe, nowadays, the LBD has undergone some adaptations. The simple, original design remains in force, but in our modern times we’re all looking for that edge, something a little bit special, that ‘je ne sais quoi’ to make us stand out in the fashion stakes. Whether it be sheer panelling a la Stella McCartney or Dolce & Gabbana’s black lace designs, the possibilities are now endless. The high street has also tapped into this new found diversity, testing the boundaries and seeing how far this classic can really be stretched!

No matter where the future takes us, one thing is for sure; the LBD is, has been and ever shall be the staple in every girl’s wardrobe."

Cat Worthington

Items (from left to right): Velvet Platform Sandals: Topshop,

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Fashion

Mother knows best...

While it's fun to ignore advice from mum, mother dearest is brimming with decades of legendary beauty tips, Jessica Hull explains.

Beauty legends are the elite selection of beauty ‘tips’ that have stood the test of time and have been passed down through the generations from great-grandmother, to teenage great-granddaughters. They are indispensible and make looking fabulous that little bit easier.

1 .The number one, legendary law of beauty is to ALWAYS remove your makeup before going to sleep. Not only does it protect your white pillowcases from unsightly orange and black stains, but it is also essential for your skin. Makeup can clog and trap bacteria in your pores resulting in zits and blackheads. When you sleep your skin goes through a natural exfoliation process and preventing this, by keeping your makeup on, leaves your skin looking dull and grey. Moreover, mascara dries onto your lashes and holds them in that beautiful curved shape but, if you rub your

ing it off with warm water. Yes, it is a bit slimy, and things can get a bit sweaty but it’s worth it, trust me, try it, just once; you will do it again.

4. Another miraculous makeup trick can make your eyes look bigger and less tired. Applying white eyeliner along the inner rim of your lower eyelid extends the whites of your eyes, making them look. For a more subtle look you can also use pale pink eyeliner, which, incidentally, is a lot

and I personally have spent a fortune on Barry M’s exciting, rainbow coloured treats. But, what is the best way to store this little gem? Well the answer is… the fridge. The cold conditions of your refrigerator stop the varnish from going gloopy and keep it smooth and shiny, just how you like your nails. If it’s already too late for one little pot and he has started to thicken then just add a few drops of nail varnish remover and shake, just be careful to not add too much though, because the varnish will start to separate.

out your eyelashes. So do as mother said and ALWAYS remove before you snooze.

tools available, and our mothers had to make do with the basics. The most invaluable make up trick that my mum taught me was how to contour my face using blusher. Successful contouring can make your face appear slimmer and healthier.

However, contouring gone wrong can leave you

3. It’s coming up to winter and we all know that horrible feeling of dry itchy hands but there is no need for us students to spend a fortune on expensive hand creams. I am going to let you all in on a massive family secret, passed down from generation to generation: Vaseline. The best, and cheapest way to get silky soft hands and feet is to slather them in Vaseline and put on a pair of socks and

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ply a little blusher to the apple of your cheeks, just under your cheekbones, your chin and your temples, highlighting the contours of your face. If you need any further guidance there are thousands of tutorials on YouTube.

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Fashion

Mens legendary beauty tips Luke Jackson will get you looking at lemons in a whole new way 1. Lemons, as well as being quite nice in a long island iced tea, are an age-old remedy for rogue spots and blemishes. They also happen to cost around 30p from most supermarkets so there really is no excuse for not trying this one. Take one lemon and squeeze juice into a container, then add the same amount of water. Apply to problem areas with a cotton pad and then rinse with lukewarm water.

and pull skin taut around the eyes, helping to avoid the tired eye look. The caffeine will also provide a pick me up, perfect for those hangover days. Soak (they should be cool but not frozen). Apply to each eye and relax for a few minutes listening to preferred chill-out music. If you’re anything like me there will be an abundance of teabags in the kitchen at all times so this shouldn’t cost anything.

about since way back when, and in recent years Coke and Fanta are being kicked to the kerb in favour of the healthier alternative of bottled water.

toxins and helps you look and feel your best.

4. Renewing that gym membership sounds simple, and it really is, but it may well be the most straightforward route to looking and feeling so much better.

Exercise induces sweat and gets the blood pumping around the body, which helps wipe out toxins. Exercise also naturally relieves stress, which, among

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series of microscopic cuts to your face, which can become infected. This can result in serious damage to the skin if the right products aren’t used, such as red patches (like I often get) and in the long-term, ageing before your time. The most important thing you can do is to buy a decent after-shave balm or a simple moisturiser which will help your skin recover and heal itself over time.

Fashion

Annie lennox: forgotten legend Jack jenkins explains how masculine chic really began century style icons, our modern day perceptions of fashion idols have become somewhat diluted when compared to the legends which preceded them.

Just as the 60s had Hepburn and the 80s had Madonna, today fashion brings the pop cultural force in a polyester nun dress, Lady Gaga. Although the artistic integrity behind the fashionistas controversial and often satirical costumes cannot be dismissed from being a modern-day fashion marvel, the recent cross-dressing ventures of Gaga’s alter-ego, Joe Calderone mirrored the suit clad days of Annie Lennnox. There can be no denying that the androgynous- chic look executed bravely and boldly by the Eurythmics front woman circa 1983, formed the inspiration for the eccentric singer.

Blurring the gender lines with a crop dominated the 80’s music scene with a string of classic pop records and an intriguing wardrobe to match her bizarre and haunting lyrics. From black suits with leather gloves to show girl inspired pink head-dresses, Lennox changed her look with every new dizzying height her career she became an icon of the era. But her status as a fashion legend seems miniscule when compared to her contemporaries, Cher, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna.

‘Sometimes it was a little bit extreme.’

Admits the Aberdeen- born singer, ‘’But I took the opportunity to embrace that because I just loved experimenting and pushing the boundaries.’ And it is this experimenting which cements Lennox in fashions hall of fame, ‘because if you’re a performer there are no boundaries- you can do what you like’. Boasting a catalogue of hair-styles and ensembles better suited to a cirque du Soleil performance, Lennnox’s love of theatricality is something she keeps surprisingly mum about. Although embracing her singing and song-writing capabilities she refreshingly downplays the revolutionary style of her stage persona and leaves that for her admirers to discuss. What separates Lennnox from other icons is her ability to side-step overexposure and tempclaim some relevance to a new generation.

Fast-forward twenty-odd years and see every high-street window replicating the masculine-chic trend. Clearly the Lennox legacy is still alive if not suffocated by endless trashy celebrity fashion-lines, launched in a desperate bid to cement themselves as fashion legends.

Although Lennox prefers the more casual blazer and t-shirt combo to union-jack printed suits these days, those who dare to venture outside the UK top 40 and scandal fuelled glossy magazines will lay eyes on the performer and think ‘Oh, so she was the one who started that?’

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With every gossip girl, gorgeous Geor-

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Photos

Photo Legend: daneil meadows

Heather Arnold meets the critically acclaimed photographer, digital storyteller and Cardiff University lecturer

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When Daniel Meadows was 18 years old he went to an exhibition by Bill Brandt (an internationally admired photographer who focused on documenting the lives of ordinary British people) and had his eyes opened to the world of photography. Brandt had photo after photo of people from all walks of life, and moved seamlessly from pictures of high society to blue-collar bars.

“I wanted to engage with people,” Daniel told me when I asked why he wanted to photograph people.

"You have to remember the context of the 70s; there was the counter culture to our parents generation.

We wanted to change things,” he said. It was a time when media was down to ‘chaps in suits’ and the agenda was very middle class and London-centric ; “ I saw photography as a way of being able to look at and meet different people.”

out an old barber shop on Greame Street in Moss Side, a deprived inner-city area of Manchester. It was a street of old terraced houses that was about to be demolished, and Meadows wanted to capture some of its residents before they were all moved on. There he turned the little barber shop into a studio and started taking people’s photo free of charge – this resulted in a beautiful collection of black and white photographs. “I’m very fond of this collection, they are innocent and engaging. Look at this one,” he says, while pointing at a photo of two boys of about 10, one holding a toddler and the other holding a cigarette, “he’s wearing his dad’s old suit, the bottoms have been subtly sewn up. Kids don’t dress like that now.”

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Photos

Visitors to the free photographic studio on Greame Street, Moss Side, Manchester, in 1972. Clockwise from top-left: Foster mother and children; Portrait of Angela Loretta Lindsey, aged 8, with her brother Mark Emanuel Lindsey;

begged for pennies here and there from businesses and the Arts Council, and eventually had enough to buy himself a double-decker bus. After converting the top deck into a dark room, he set off on a legenIn his new book ‘Daniel Meadows: Edited Photographs from the 70s and 80s’ Val Williams, university lecturer and editor of the book, describes him as a ‘spy’ able to look into people’s lives.

Recently, Daniel has been working on what he calls ‘Fieldwork,’ which was the digitising of his work for his archive in the National Media Museum in Bradford. “It was my adventure this year, pulling out old tapes of the people I had interviewed and listening to them – until they are cut off by my recordings of Bob Dylan on the radio”.

Meadow’s own legend is Ivan Illich, an Austrian philosopher who believes in the reconstruction of our society as a more convivial world. Daniel explains “This is what is good about digital media now, it’s blurring the distance between who makes media and who listens to it, we are stepping out of the audience. But we are in the sand box of the digital age and there is a lot to come.”

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Eventually though, he ran out of money and spent the next year raising funds for his next idea: The Free Photographic Omnibus. Inspired by Ken Kesey’s ‘destination further’ bus of the 60s (think

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Clockwise from top-left: Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. James O'Connor (left) and David Balderstone, November 1974; Brighton, Sussex. May 1974; 25th wedding anniversary party. Farnborows); From June Street, Salford, February-April

To learn more about Daniel's diverse work, take a look at his website, www.photobus.co.uk

If you want to write about a photogarpher who you think is a bit of a legend, or have any other idea for an article, email us at quenchphotos@ gairrhydd.com

Travel

CULTURAL LEGENDS Kenya: The oldest primary school pupil in history Back in the 50s, Kimani Maruge was a Kenyan soldier who fought in the War of Independence

for himself. This act quickly turned into one of inspiration for many and his story has recently been

captured and tortured but stayed strong for the sake of his country. Yet, this is not the only reason he’s in our list. Half a century on, at age 84, Kimani became the oldest person in the world to start learning again at a primary school. In 2003, when the Kenyan government introduced free primary education, Mr Maruge saw an opportunity

this elderly pupil’s determination has encouraged others: “Every day he is inspiring Kenyans who had given up seeking what they want, age notwithstanding. Maruge has rekindled ambition in people who did not think they still had it."

Cambodia: A journalist who risked his life for the truth Dith Pran is a photojournalist, a refugee, a saviour and the inspiration for Academy Award winning

Vietnam invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Khmer Rouge, he returned home to discover that

lator for journalists working for the New York Times, but that same year the brutal revolutionary regime of the Khmer Rouge won control of Cambodia. He managed to send his family to the safety of America but stayed behind himself in an attempt to report and make the world aware of the atrocities happening in Cambodia. Pran managed

Pran considered himself lucky to have survived.

captured and sent to a labour camp where he was

Burma:

too many, If they can do that for me my spirit will be happy.”

Imprisoned for 15 years in her own home

Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of Burmese

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come to represent freedom and resilience to many.

In 1988, she decided that it was time for Burma to escape from its military regime and so she helped to set up the National League for Democracy party.

Only a year later, however, she was put under house arrest for supposedly “endangering the state”. under house arrest. But in 2009 – less than a year before Burma’s election – countries from around the world cried out for Aung San to be freed. She

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be reunited with his wife and children. But, he didn’t stop there, he continued to give speeches and raise awareness of the atrocities he had witnessed. A few weeks before his death of pancreatic cancer, age 65, he said in an interview “Everybody

was eventually released on 13th November 2010, 6 days after the election had run, and although its timing was disappointing, her liberation was not.

About three hundred people gathered at her home to see Aung San’s freedom and she entrance was drowned by the noise of cheers. Aung San Suu Kyi is a legend for her calm spirit in the face oppression and due to this even president Obama has come to call her “a hero of mine”.

Heather Arnold

Heather Arnold and rhys Clayton educate us about their global idols...

ZIMBABWE: A philanthropic sports star achievements, he will be most remembered for his fearless and courageous act of wearing a black armband at the 2003 cricket world cup. He, along with team-mate, Henry Olonga, wore the armbands to "mourn the death of democracy in Zimbabwe", which had become a one-party state, and

BRITAIN:

knew that his actions meant, at best, his international career was over and also that he would have to leave Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe authorities were accosted to clamping down on such signs of dissent brutally and immediately. However, in could do little to respond given the global spotlight on the event.

The creator of the world wide web

Nothing has transcended modern life more than the World Wide Web. Socially, economically, and in the media, a world without internet is somewhat unthinkable. Yet, it is quite remarkable that very few people actually know that its inventor was the British computer scientist, Sir Tim Bernes-Lee. Of course, there were many contributors to what we

initial idea of the internet prototype. However, in 1990, Tim Bernes-Lee developed HTML, which made a huge contribution to how we navigate and view the Internet today. A year later, Bernes-Lee introduced "www" to the public on August 6, 1991.

In 2004, Berners-Lee was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his pioneering work.

AUSTRALIA: A political activist who sacrificed his career ball in Ashes cricket claiming the wicket of Mike “Ball of the Century�. Soon after that moment Warne mania spread all over the cricketing world.

Not only did Warne enjoy a remarkable career, he reinvented spin bowling, inspired generations of young cricketers and brought the game back into the global eye. He ended his career with an unbe-

travel@gairrhydd.com

Shane Warne: pioneer, inspiration, philanthropist, entrepreneur, champion, hero. Warne burst

His effervescent larrikin spirit was what really made the legend of Warne, although perhaps we have sadly seen the last of this after his engagement to Liz Hurley.

Rhys Clayton

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Travel

Their City, Their Sights Visiting a new city is an adventure. Whether you enjoy scrupulously planning your trip or going with the flow, check out some International students’ perspectives on their home-towns...

Lisbon

Paris

Lisbon is a unique city combining history and culture with modern and popular life style. During the day, it is lovely to stroll by the sea and you can reach the coast in 20 minutes from the city centre by train. You must also visit the stately monuments such as Torre de Belém, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos or Padrão dos Descobrimentos,

Paris. The most visited city in the world. It is also one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and full of my memories. Paris is stunning during the day, night, through sun, rain and snow.

Of course, there are many tourist attractions including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvers, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Disney Land etc. Yet, she is not just a city of museums and hours of queuing. To discover Paris properly you have to get lost in the city. Wandering in the

nostalgic and beautiful. In the evenings, Bairro Alto is the neighborhood you should visit. Imagine streets lined with vibrant bars and tiny shops in which people from all over the world

de Seine, pottering around the Sunday Market Street Mouffetard and discovering the scents

an atmosphere like it anywhere else.

Helena Lins

Paris welcomed so many writers, painters, artists, and musicians its streets are full of history and memories.

Paris is a city for Dreamers- The city of Love

Varna

travel@gairrhydd.com

Varna, the so called “Maritime capital” of Bulgaria, is situated on the coast of Black sea and is one of the most visited summer resorts in Eastern Europe. The city is a wonderful combination of history, culture and modernity.

The best way to start your day is by going to one of the city’s lovely beaches. Besides its beautiful shore, Varna is a city of living history.

You can visit the Archaeological Museum, the Naval Museum as well as the site of the Roman baths (also known as thermaes).You could then enjoy an aromatic cup of coffee in one of the numerous coffee shops in the city centre and take a pleasant walk in the Maritime garden, the city’s biggest park. Last, but not least, you should enjoy the nightlife. You will be amazed by the variety of themed bars, clubs and events the nightlife offers Varna’s student-friendly places along with its diverse attractions will not disappoint.

Victor Tsetanov

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Sao Paulo Sao Paulo is an amazing multicultural “skyscraper”. It’s a huge city (the whole of London whole of the city is 5.5 times the size of London) brimming with culture and entertainment. There is always something happening in this vibrant city and the best nightclubs can be found at Paulista Avenue- the pulsing heart of the city. “Liberdade” is a Japanese cultural area that feels authentic, and as if you have stepped from Brazil straight into Japan. If you like museums then the “Pinacoteca of Sao Paulo” and the Modern Art Museum are must-sees.

Andy Love

Food & Drink

IS THERE MEAT IN MY SWEETS? food@gairrhydd.com

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'AN occasional glance over the ingredients might be a good idea if you want to avoid eating food coloured with beetles or having ‘fish parts’ in your crisps.'

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Food & Drink Review

C A F E

Heather Arnold does Yoga, Dinner and Dessert at Vegan friendly Cafe Atma

food@gairrhydd.com

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Heather Arnold

ATMA

Food & Drink Review

food@gairrhydd.com

Hanna Fillingham

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Ar ts

Documenting the cultural thoughts and fashions of the Arts Scene in Cardiff and the wider world.

NEWS

V & A Exhibiton Launch

Crafts Corner

It has been announced that the V &A, the most

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The Controversy of Modern Art in a Nutshell

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Arts

Reviews and Interviews Blaze

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What is the ultimate prize you’ve ever given

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Before they were Legends.

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legends legends

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LGBT+

ALLEGEDLY...

... all gay men are screaming queens and all lesbians are butch dykes. Do all bisexuals really sleep around? And are transgender people just men/women in dresses/err... not dresses? Of course they aren't. It's time to smash some stereotypes!

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Bisexuals are confused Coming to an understanding of one’s sexuality is confusing. But the sexuality itself, once understood, is not confusing. We are attracted to men and women. We aren’t confused about this. I’d say that we are in fact certain about it.

Erin Ekins

Transgender people are hermaphrodites First of all, the term hermaphrodite is out-dated and offensive; people who are born with atypical sex characteristics are nowadays referred to as intersex. Sure, some intersex people end up identifying as trans, but not all of them! Just as being trans is a minority amongst non-intersex folks, it is not synonymous with being intersex.

Lemon Cottrell

LGBT+ Transwomen are gay men/drag queens

Lesbians just haven’t met the right man yet

The clue here is in the name – transwomen are women! Whilst plenty of gay men enjoy dressing up in drag every now and again, transwomen who identify as female (whether or not they tran-

Some lesbians used to sleep with men, and some may still do so, and pretty much everyone has male friends, unless you live in a Utopia – AKA a lesbian separatist feminist retreat - there goes another

being physically male does not mean that you feel like a bloke in your mind, and that’s what we need to be able to understand.

lesbian straight by offering to sleep with her.

Kate Boddington

Transwomen are hyperfeminine and transmen are hyper-masculine This is a common stereotype and is often inaccurate. Plenty of trans people do conform very rigidly to traditional ideas of femininity or masculinity, but there are also others who tity. For example, transwomen don’t have to wear dresses and high heels at all times.

Equally, transmen sometimes enjoy putting on a bit of make-up and a feather boa! Gen-

Bisexuals are promiscuous.

There are promiscuous bisexuals, just as there are promiscuous gay and straight people. But we cannot all be dumped into the box labelled ‘slut’. Human beings have always come in various forms.

Bisexuals have the best of both worlds/double the chance of pulling

genders. This severely decreases the pull factor.

You’ve got to be camp to be gay This one never get’s old. The camp or eccentric homosexual has been a staple of TV drama for decades, and with a few exceptions, doesn’t seem to be packing up his fabulous suitcase any time soon. There’s no polite way to say this, but it’s bollocks. Gay men serve in everything from the army to cocktail bars, we’re a diverse bunch.

Hector Roddan

You're bisexual? Can I have a threesome?

No.

lgbt@gairrhydd.com

mean that they are any less of a man or woman.

Lemon Cottrell

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LGBT+

LGBT +LEGENDS Scott Kerpen shares his personal Top Three triumphs for gay rights and representation!

Queer as Folk Queer as Folk, written by future Doctor Who showrunner, Russell T. Davies, ran on Channel 4 gay sex scenes on mainstream television, and was ters. The controversies that arose from some of the

ity.

Eastenders gay kiss on British television back in 1987 is set on. The soap opera was also famous back in 2009

groups, programme producers were able to help raise awareness on issues experienced by gay

The Labour Party

equalise the age of consent for gay men in 2001.

It was the Labour government that gave homosexual men, lesbians and bisexuals equal rights

same-sex partnerships in 2005. They even fought

lgbt@gairrhydd.com

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to decriminalise male homosexuality back in 1967.

Disagree? Something missing?

Why not tweet us on your LGBT+ legends to next issue (out 5 December!).

munity hope for equality.

LGBT+ News JACK JENKINS takes a look at the last fortnight's LGBT+ news from around the world.

Glee Gets a New Gay

fortnight, it seems like there is a glimmer of hope for the LGBT+ community longing for gay role type. Glee, which has had a record number of gay (Chris Colfer) and Blaine’s (Darren Criss) relationship threatened by the introduction of Sebastian (Grant Gustin). Gustin will be playing a char-

Aid v. Rights

happens to be gay.’ This looks to be a refreshing change proving that Kurt and Blaine aren’t only together because they’re the only gay guys on set.

na for not legalizing same-sex relationships? Ghawith anger to what he feels is the UK disrespecting the social differences between the countries.

Yet with homosexuality illegal and punishable by death, the UK’s proposed policy seems to come with good intentions. Whilst the radical act seems like a blunt way of evoking sociological change in Ghana, one can’t help but feel apprehensive about what will become of the already prejudiced gay community there. There are inevitable risks that they will be held responsible for aid cuts. Gay rights campaigner, Peter Tachell, suggests that aid should be invested in humanitarian projects teaching human rights instead of being given to ‘abusive governments’. Whatever the outcome, UK

Gaga Launches Charity In 2010, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was met by the lobster-hatted, meat-clad fury of Stephanie Germanlogical message of acceptance across the world.

Armed with enough passion and determination to merge chart-topping singles with the importance of tolerance, Lady Gaga has revealed that she will be launching her own charity The Born This Way

lgbt@gairrhydd.com

social liberation and social condemnation.

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Books

the allure of

Arthur

Ever wondered why there are so many books about King Arthur? Becca Eustis takes a look at what makes the legend so popular with writers...

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MUSIC Madonna, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, and The Beatles are names that are often thrown about when music legends are mentioned - the list could go on and on and on.

As you will see on the following pages, we have tried to give you a diverse array of artists who have made their distinctive mark on music,either

big or small. Of course you may not agree with each artist or album featured, but at the end of the day it is personal to each and everyone one of us.

So here's a small selection of people's personal legends and favourite albums. Enjoy!

Emma Wilford

FLEETWOOD MAC I know everyone says this, but I actually did get into old music as a child.

In a clichèd manner, it was my parents that got me into 'The Mac' and for that I will be eternally grateful. decades and amassed a vast discography of 17 albums, despite numerous line-up changes and break-ups,

music@gairrhydd.com

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bands of the twentieth century.

Formed in 1967, only two of the original members, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie (who the band is named after) have remained.

Perhaps their best-known ‘phase’ was during the 70s and 80s, when Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the band. The release of Fleetwood Mac gave us classic songs such as Rhiannon and Say You Love Me. Then, in 1977, came their iconic album Rumours.

Written amongst the turmoil of three break-ups within the band, it conveyed deeply personal messages about relationships falling apart. An impresisve amount of hit songs came from the album such as Dreams, The Chain (now used as the theme tune for the Formula 1 coverage) and Go Your Own Way. So, it is no wonder that Fleetwood Mac has the When an episode of Glee was dedicated to them it appeared that their legendary status had been truly cemented.

Emma Wilford

Music

Bob Dylan Where to start with Bob Dylan? A man who has released over 60 albums to worldwide acclaim, a man who fought for civil rights in the 60s with the likes of Martin Luther King & Co, and a man that was once nominated for a Nobel Prize in Literature. He is the musical equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson: mysterious, timeless and genius.

Dylan began his musical career in New York on the emerging folk scene. Contemporaries such as singer-songwriter Joan Baez claim his songs resonated perfectly with the ethos of the time, able to sum up every human emotion in one song.

Classics such as Don’t Think Twice and Blowing In The Wind are obvious choices, but it is when you delve into his substantial back catalogue that you see the real Dylan. Seminal albums like The Times They Are A-Changing and Blood On The Tracks all hold little hidden gems; songs that you can listen to again and again without tiring of them.

Never listened to Bob Dylan? Well, actually, you probably have. When he ‘turned electric’ in the late 60’s, he re-wrote the majority of the artists we hear today. Without Bob Dylan, muMatt Tilling

I was hesitant to choose Radiohead as my legendary band. Not because they’re not brilliant, but the word 'legendary' tends to lend itself to bands from the 60s and 70s, or to those who have stopped producing albums, as bands can loose their magic.

But Radiohead truly are a living legendary band that, thankfully, are still producing music. NME, Time, Q, the BBC and Channel 4 have at one time or another named OK Computer the best album of all time, and even then there’s dispute between fans as to which is their best.

What has amazed me the most is the band's ability to reinvent themselves, seemingly at will.

When The Bends got too big they fought back with

OK Computer, when critics lauded that they surprised them with Kid A. This back and forth has left fans and the media never knowing what to expect from the bands next work, or when it will arrive. Albums aside, Radiohead have an epic back catalogue of B-Sides and E.P.s, from the beautiful Gagging Order and True love waits to the more electro Talk Show Host and Bangers & Mash. One of the most critically acclaimed bands in existence, Radiohead are one of the few legendary bands we still have.

Phil Kenny

music@gairrhydd.com

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Music

The Stone Roses The Stone Roses 1989 The greatest album of all time. That's a phrase that gets chucked around a lot, and there are many contenders. But for me, it's not the music that sets this album aside. Nor is it the cover (ranked 5th best ever by Q). You will see albums such as Thriller and White all came deep into the respective artists' careers, The Stone Roses was a debut. Fools Gold, She bangs the Drums and I am the Resurrection were the songs that shaped the Britpop scene of the 90s and no band since has come close to changing their reunion sold 150,000 tickets in 14 minutes?

Phil Kenny

Legendary Radiohead Kid A 2000 At the end of the year 2000, when Radiohead were poised to release their follow-up to the seminal OK Computer, most were expecting a collection of anthemic rock songs. Nobody was ready for the bleak, but rich and warm electronic masterpiece that Radiohead would release. It was a complete left turn to their prior work, but the success of the album says a lot about the skill of the underlying song writing process, no matter in what genre the band produces the songs. Kid A as a band that will defy expectations, who will take whatever music route they please, and succeed.

Alex Calvin

Sufjan Stevens Come On Feel The Illinoise 2005

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Initially intended to be the second instalment Illinoise combines poetic lyrics that describe historical events and personal experiences relating to the state, with an abundance of beautiful melodies and cleverly crafted songs. Despite being over 70 minutes long, Illinoise manages to retain my undivided attention for its entirety. Intimate, acoustic songs lead into uplifting, orchestral tracks that seamlessly blend in to colourful instrumentals. But as I mentioned before, it's Stevens’ ability to write fantastic melodies that makes this album legendary. And why I’m currently on my third copy of the CD. Kit Denison

Music

Arcade Fire Funeral 2004 Like a trusty old friend of a record, Funeral is one of those albums that you can go back to time and time again and know it will be a pleasure to hear.

The opening pulse of Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) builds into a cracker of a tune, setting the tone for an album so rich in textures and emotions, it makes you feel everything it feels. From the carefree whimsy of Haiti to the intense Power Out to the anthemic glory of Wake Up, there really isn’t a weak song on here. Though it was Arcade Fire’s third record The Suburbs which really catapulted them into success, I’d like to think that this album was where it all began.

Basking in the Baroque glory of true creativity, Funeral captures something raw and special at the start of what I’m sure will be a long career for this band.

Jo Southerd

Albums

Titas Andronicus The Monitor 2010 The Monitor could scarcely be more ferocious, deeply felt or transcendently epic LP. Its use of the American Civil War as a loose conceit is a brilliant springboard for vocalist Patrick Stickmanages to be completely subsumed by American actual and literary history, yet feel desperately vital. The songs make a routine out of 6-7 minute plus songs with a propensity for College rock and Springsteenisms, and are a mix of the thos. The conceptual allusion shines light upon amongst the burning embers of the songs, and is more cathartic for the ambivalence- When he screams "It's still us against them", you don't know or care what he means. It ends with the 14 minute The Battle of Hampton Roads, bathed in

Bon Iver

others and itself - Stickles crying "I love you my darling, please don't ever leave" before a fury of bagpipes and guitars end the album in one last passionate stand of brio.

Locking himself away in a cabin in Wisconsin evidently proved very fruitful for Justin Vernon when he wrote this masterpiece of an album.

Flume, as it takes you on a beautiful journey of love and loss coupled with Vernon’s stunning voice. Songs such as The Wolves (Act I and II), Skinny Love and re:Stacks see intricate harmonies added to entire album that could only have been achieved through solditude.

Although we may never know who Emma is, standards and exudes an effotless simplicity many strive to achieve.

Emma Wilford

music@gairrhydd.com

For Emma, Forever Ago 2008

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Music

INTERVIEWS Italy's biggest gothic metal group, Lacuna Coil, are due to bring out their new album Dark Adrenaline on January 23. Ahead of their gig at the union on 13th November, Stewart Hume had a chat with lead singer Cristina Scabbia to discuss their recent tour and the new album.

Is there anywhere else in the world you would still like to play?

I would really like to go to Asia, places in China, and I know Thailand has a lot of metal fans so that would be nice.

cristina scabbia So, eight days until the “Darkness Rising” leg of the tour been?

Very good. We are warming up nicely and are happy with the shows so far. It's not often we get to play in Italy so it’s nice to come back to a home crowd.

I saw in a press release that you are treating the crowd to some songs off the forthcoming album. How much new material will you be playing?

We are playing two new songs from the album.

The single Trip the Darkness and Kill the Light.

Oh yes, I saw a YouTube video of you preforming Kill the Light. right under the speakers and it’s just a blur of sound and you don’t really get the effect. Oh well.

How has the new material been received by the Italian crowd?

Amazing! The single has not been out that long but people really went crazy for both songs; it was a nice surprise.

What are the differences between playing to an Italian home crowd and playing else

music@gairrhydd.com

You can’t really compare. Every venue is different with different people. Sometimes you play a show and the crowd is quite quiet and you think they are maybe not enjoying it, but they will come to you afterwards saying how you are the best thing they have ever seen. But, the UK has always been good to us, and sometimes the crowds have been nuts.

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I saw in a interview that you mentioned that the new album will be heavier. Is it going to be a re-emergence to old-school Lacuna Coil?

I think a lot of old school fans are going to love it.

It was not our initial intention when writing it but it just kind of happened. We just hope everyone gives it a chance and loves it as much as we do.

On your last album Shadow Life I heard that you had put real focus on the meaning behind the lyrics. Was it a similar deal for this album?

We always take great care with lyrics. We think it's better to send a clear message that people can sing and understand than to just use poetic language. There is no key concept through the album and every song is different and that’s how we have always done it. Every song should portray a personal sensation or emotion.

Instrumentally are there any surprises?

There are one or two more guitar solos that perhaps people may not be used to.

What is the story behind the album title?

Although there is no concept, the title describes the vibe going through the album, the dark liquid in all the songs. It is both obscure and energetic and it keeps you awake.

The release date for album is 23rd of January.

What are the plans for 2012?

As soon as the album is out it will be extensive touring. Last album we toured for around a year and a half. It's what we do, tour, go back and record, build some new songs and go off again.

at the end of November. How do you plan to cap off the year?

We have a few shows in December, which we haven’t released yet and then we go back home for some other musical commitments. Then end of December we have a short break before we start up for our busy January and the rest of 2012.

Music

Jon Windle In October 2009, Sheffield-based indie rockers Little Man Tate played their final encore on the stage of their hometown’s O2 Academy. This was the end of a four-year journey that saw two successful albums, a slot on Reading and Leeds’ main stage, and even a case of mistaken identity on a leaked BNP party members list. Now, a year since the release of his first solo album, Step out the Man, ex-frontman Jon Windle talks to Grant Alexander about his autumn tour and his career as a solo artist.

So, after the success of Step out the Man, how are you feeling about the release of your second album and the upcoming tour?

Yeah, really looking forward to the tour. There’s going to be some songs from the two Little Man Tate albums, as well as tracks from Step out the Man. The second album’s release is still to be be released on my label (Tiny Teeth Records) or a different record label. Hopefully, things should be moving early next year.

After being part of Little Man Tate, were you worried that people may not take you as seriously as a solo artist?

I think it was more like starting again, really.

People will obviously have heard of LMT but I never expected to have the same kind of success straight away. With any project, that kind of thing takes time and a lot of hard work. I just want to get some songs out there and hope that people will like it. I don’t think there’s much point putting too much pressure on myself because it’s a work in progress.

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similarities with how I wrote songs with LMT. But it has a very 50s and 60s feel to it. I wanted to experiment with different effects and guitars, which I think has worked really well.

appeal to some of the fans. However, I think the songs I’ve worked on for second album are more what LMT fans would want or expect my writing style. I’ve tried new things on the second album but a lot of the songs are based on what I know and what I enjoy writing.

So, is your solo work on a more personal and self-indulgent level, rather than what you hope will sell or appeal to fans?

I think that’s a really good way of putting it, yeah.

The songs on this album are more like a collection of stories, all of which are relevant to my life, the people in my life and my experiences.

You talk about your songs being “stories”. Is storytelling something that’s always interested you?

When I was young I always liked listening to country music and seeing how there were stories a song rather than just a string of words put together with a catchy tune. It’s important to know the meaning and the story behind the lyrics.

solo work in the future?

Well the second album will be out early next year with another tour following it. Hopefully, if this on the cards. I’m hoping to release a few singles from this album as well to appeal to the LMT fan base. Hopefully it should be a busy 12-18 months.

music@gairrhydd.com

of songwriting rather than being a clone of Little

Do you think your solo work appeals to the fans of LMT or a different audience?

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Music

LIVE REVIEW Noel Gallagher's High Flying birds Manchester Apollo 27 October Two years since the demise of Oasis and Noel Gallagher wastes no time upon on his return to Manchester to gloat over Man City’s emphatic win over their rivals, proudly striding on stage to the classic song Blue Moon. The irony is, the same could be said about Noel and his biggest rival: Liam. Noel's band, the High Flying Birds, are sitting atop the charts while Beady Eye fade quickly from memory.

There would have been few people in the audience who hadn’t seen Oasis live in their long career, and there were nine Oasis songs included in the set to accommodate, but everything was distinctly Noel. In fact,Wonderwall was the only song included that Liam had originally sung in; the rest were a collection of Noel's best singles (Little by Little, Importance of being Idle) with B-sides from The Master Plan, an album in which Liam featured very little.

If I had a Gun... and AKA… Modern life were met the crowd's reaction to each Oasis song. Noel may have won the battle but it was clear Oasis remained in the hearts of the sell out Mancunian crowd.

Phil Kenny

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Incubus Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 5 November Standing in between two mosh pits, literally dripping in beer, all I could think of was the sheer excellence of Incubus’ performance. Opening their set with Wish You Were Here from their album, Morning View, the group were on top form in an almost faultless performance, including such favourites as Pardon Me, Dig and my personal highlight – their awe-inspiring rendition of Drive (much to the crowd’s enjoyment). It was refreshing to witness a to gain the audience’s attention, but instead chose to genuinely immerse themselves in the music. This made for an exceptional atmosphere, with the audience clearly displaying their appreciation for leadsinger Brandon Boyd’s mesmerising vocals, not to mention, I’m sure, the unanimous admiration of his topless body from the ladies in the audience.

Mood lighting and impressive background visual sequences heightened the band’s presence and made the experience all the more entertaining (with the exception of one weird, evolutionary slideshow).

The only criticism I had for the evening is the outrageously bad support band that failed to get the crowd going with their tuneless, generic compositions. Nevertheless, I cannot recommend seeing this band live enough. Spectacularly done boys!

Alice Crabtree

Music Katy B The Great Hall 21 October ‘Dubstep Princess’ Miss Katy B hit up Cardiff on her ‘Katy On a Mission’ tour. It’s been a whirlwind year for her, and it doesn’t look like she’s slowing down anytime soon. The Great Hall was packed with fans ready to hear the crowd favourites we have all learned to love from her debut album.

P Money supporting was an absolute treat.

Not someone I’d ordinarily go out of my way to see due to his foundations in UK Grime, but, nitely converted! He performed his upcoming tune with Ed Sheeran (a remix of Lego House), which produced a chilled out vibe and then dropped various dubstep mixes including those with Flux Pavillion getting the crowd hyped.

Katy B set the stage alight with two gorgeous

Arctic Monkeys

his stuff ! She sang songs from her album, including Witches Brew and Easy Please Me as well as playing some Magnetic Man in which her vocals feature (Crossover being my ultimate favourite).

Katy On A Mission, my personal song of 2010, she sang it faultlessly and proved to us all that, true to her word, she is still, most certainly, on a mission.

Cat Worthington

Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 1 November

Arctic Monkeys are back with their fourth LP Suck It and See. The band strode onstage to Hot Chocolate’s You Sexy Thing, before triumphantly launching into the thumping Don’t Sit Down (Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair). Moving through the set, old classics such as Mardy Bum and Florescent Adolescent are met with an adorning reception, and sing-along’s all around.

Despite the fact that Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not became the fastest selling UK debut, the Arctic Monkeys have been reluctant to engage in unnecessary media attention. And this performance was of no exception. Keeping banter to a minimum, Alex Turner was keener to let their tunes do the talking, a relatively simple task with a back catalogue including When the Sun Goes Down and Gorgeous Closer 505.

Creating a diverse show, which included material from all four albums, the Monkeys have moved from bright, young newcomers to a musical force to be reckoned with.

Alice Marriott

music@gairrhydd.com music@gairrhydd.com

"You don't need to be in everyone's face all the time [for people] to appreciate what you do,” Alex Turner’s modest reputation is a refreshing change in a world of rock star wannabes and arrogant divas. Now, with

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film

news

What? Brad Pitt sees himself quitting acting in three years! “pissed off by a few things”, he’s looking to focus more on being a producer having really enjoyed “bringing stories to the plate that may have had a harder time otherwise”. Here’s hopWe’re excited.

Film studio, Warner Bros, has given the green light to its animated Lego Movie, which is expected to be released in 2014.

Backed by Aussie special effects house, Animal Logic, the team behind Happy Feet and The Legend of the Guardian: The Owls of Ga’hoole, the yet untitled project is set to combine live action with stop motion animation. Warner Bros has allegedly had the Lego Movie in the pipeline for three yearsbut only since several recent trips to Denmark has the project been cleared by the Lego execs.

IMDb, easily the most valuable movie recourse online today, for publishing her real age. "In the entertainment, youth is king," wrote the actress in her Oct. 13 lawsuit. However, IMDb argue that posting a false birthdate could fool potential Hollywood employers into thinking she’s younger than she actually is, asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit so as to not perpetuate a fraud on the public and will be “hurt” if the case is allowed to go forward in this fashion.

success earlier this year, it seems Warner Bros are happy to work with him again as he produces his own comedy; The President Stole my Girlfriend. There's no director attached yet. But, Matt Portenoy, up and coming comic writer, wrote the script which Warners grabbed and handed to Brand to develop with his ‘Branded Films’ production company.

FI

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trailer trash OK, so it's another 'epic' looking live adaptation of a fairytale cum Disney classic, but this one looks surprisingly promising. As demonstrated by the title, Snow White doesn't seem to be surrounded by oversized garden gnomes this time around - instead, she's being hunted down by an axe wielding Chris Hemworth and getting stalked by a sexy evil queen bitch played

by Charlize Theron.

Snow White is Kristen Stewart... and she looks moody. But for those willing to put up with her shock-horror Twilightisms, the explosive LOTR-esque visuals and scary forest monsters look like they might be enough to redeem this as one of next summer's most exciting blockbusters. MA

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film reviews in 140 characters or less...

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Legends of the

From the fresh-faced Romeo is Baz Lurhman’s Romeo and Juliet to the street-hardened Billy in The Departed it would appear that DiCaprio has reer.

Titanic haters out there will be rolling their eyes) and that for me is a testament to him as an actor. Almost all of his recent roles have resulted in critical acclaim including Academy Award nominations for both Aviator and Blood Diamond.

It was Titanic in 1997 that initially catapulted DiCaprio into mainstream success, but it has The Beach and Catch Me if You Can that have set him apart from his contemporaries. Set to play the title role in the new adaptation of The Great Gatsby he is not one to shy away from challenging roles.

Not only is he easy on the eye as well as talented, he is also a committed environmental activist; He created, produced and narrated his own documentary The 11th Hour about global warming and donated $1,000,000 to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

So, with a stellar career, and a kindheart, it is no wonder Leo was the highest paid actor in Hollywood last year.

DiCaprio seems to be unstoppable, and I’m sure he will go down in history as one of the legends of our generation.

Emma Wilford

Tessa Ross From huge blockbuster hits to lesser-known to have Tessa Ross listed as executive producer. In Bruges, Slumdog Millionaire, Submarine and Happy-Go-Lucky, to name but a few, easily secure her “ledge” status in my eyes.

With Billy Elliot launching her career in the year 2000, she’s gone on to produce the best of the best in both the UK and across the pond.

To give you an idea of how prevalent she is

an impressive feat for someone a woman of forty seven. I doubt you’ve heard of her and, in fact, she prefers it that way; happy keepmore pleasurable for everyone".

I’m already excited for The Iron Lady and Seven Psychopaths up to In Bruges) which are, to no surprise, under the helm of Tessa herself.

Fraser Isaac

Diablo

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her hilariously written Juno. It’s not side splittingly hilarious but so warm-hearted and quirkily original, you can’t help wonder who’s behind the perfectly natural exchanges and touching conclusions; what a legend. She's 33 despite not looking a day over 21 and, whilst making a name for herself as one of "Indiewood's" greatest writers, worked as a full time stripper. At the age of 24, Cody wrote her memoir Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper which, thanks to her sharp and sarcastic voice, led to her to securing a publishing contract with Gotham Books.

With stripping and writing under her belt, she turned to journalism, writing her own column for City Pages which consequently lead to her screenwriting career. What can't this woman do?!

Fraser Isaac

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silver screen Christophe HonorÈ

For me Joe Pesci will always be Harry from Home Alone. As a youngster at Christmas time nothing brought me more pleasure than watching an 'M' being burnt into his hand and his head being set on and be greeted by a covering of feathers and hit with paint cans. Whilst Home Alone is still a classic in my eyes I’ve grown up since then and have been A few years have passed since I started watching 18s and on numerous occasions I have found the man I loved to see get hurt when I was younger watch. From the classic Once Upon a Time in America to Goodfellas, Pesci has proved himself more than capable of going up against the big names and has a partnership with Scorsese that, whilst Morten Wright

Earlier this year, Mila was shown a Youtube video in which Sargent Scott Moore invited her to his Marine Corps Ball this November and she’s reportedly rearranging her busy schedule to attend the event. If that doesn’t grant someone ‘ledge’ status, I don’t know what does.

Fraser Isaac

of his generation, and yet remains relatively unknown elsewhere. Honoré has never shied away from controversy, exploring the darker side of life Close to Leo, aimed to make adolescents aware of AIDS, and soon after he took on Georges Bataille’s infamous tale of incest, Ma Mère. Nor is he afraid to take key styles like the Nouvelle Vague or the comédie musicale that have become enshrined in French cinematic tradition, reinvent them and make them completely his own. For an introduction, check out Love Songs, which manages to combine extremely catchy songs with a truly moving and thought-provoking exploration of love, loss and new beginnings.

Katie Brown It’s hard to call Mila Kunis a silver screen” just yet. Yes, her performance in Black Swan was great and she’s loved world over for lending her voice to Meg in the Family Guy series, but, as of yet, I doubt she’s set to go down in history as a legendary actress. I see her more as a total ‘ledge’ for her off screen antics, her chilled out demeanor and likeable personality.

Mila Kunis

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Joe Pesci

What is a legend? For me, it’s someone who’s prepared to take risks for their art, to do something bold and different. Christophe Honoré is lauded in

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FILM Reviews The Rum Diary Dir: Bruce Robinson Cast: Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribsi, Aaron Eckhart ‘Puerto Rico Welcomes You’....to the most attractive place on earth with the two most beautiful people you’ll ever see on screen. This may sound like a contrived effort for a production crew jolly that’ll only make you sick with envy; the truth, however, is far deeper and darker.

In fact, Rum Diary tion of the presence of greed no matter where poison that comes with the American dream. This er...and still the Daily Mail wonders why no-one in the States has gone to see it.

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witty, quick and outrageously funny at times. This can only be achieved by a powerhouse of passion: Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp and Bruce Robinson.

Hunter S. Thompson is the unhinged brain behind Rum Diary, and although he didn’t live to develop the project, the only two people who understood his vision were able to. Bruce Robinson was named the only Director for the job. But with his back turned on Hollywood, it was up to Hunter’s close friend Johnny Depp to talk him round. But you didn’t need to know this to see the love that Robinson’s ability to capture a time period with

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Set in the 60s, Bruce has always exposed this age with grim accuracy. To intensely love a project to a point where you’re pulling yourself out of retirement is a testimony to the real passion that oozes

and at others we see his youthfulness and unrivalled good looks not seen since the days of Donnie Brasco. A joy to watch, this is a performance elties’.

It’s a winding road full of dark and sexy characters, and one that may have you questioning where on earth it’s going. This isn’t a bumbling fairytale of a Yuppie’s fun behind a glamorous Las Vegas hangover; this is the fun that can be poked at the sinister expansion of a troubled nation’s farcical dream. Which cinematic experience is more worthwhile seems obvious, but as long as America keeps hiding away from these masterpieces in favour of a cheap laugh, the distinction will remain murky.

Tom Webb

8/10

In time Dir: Andrew Niccol Cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy thriller; In Time is the latest addition to the Limitless/Repo Men school of mindless wannabe-philoThis time, the premise is that the human-race come both the life force and the currency; meaning can you can afford it you can “buy” more time to live? This leads to a rich/poor divide whereby the rich live forever, and the poor spend their lives working to earn just enough time to live until the next day. Conveniently, Justin Timberlake’s char-

piece after set-piece stitched together with little plot development between them.

The characters are mind-numbingly predictable, with JT in particular being about as charismatic as a plastic bag and really letting himself down after his great performance in The Social Network. The antagonistic police force are unintentionally hilarious in their attempts to outstereotype each other. Inception's Cillian Murphy plays the chief-of-police, who would easily take the for Amanda Seyfried’s inexplicable switch from a staunch supporter of the socially elite to a renegade time-thief in the space of a single scene.

Ironically, In Time just ends up as a monumental waste of time for everyone involved regardless rendous waste of talent considering the cast’s recent achievements in other endeavours.

Thomas Connick

he ‘doesn’t have time’ to wonder how this absurd genetic experiment began, setting the tone for the half-formed ideas that punctuate the rest of the

2/10

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Even if you manage to suspend belief and surrender to the frankly ludicrous world Timberlake inhabits, In Time still disappoints. The script is cringeworthy in its attempts to both portray the injustice in the far-fetched society they’ve created, and to cram in as many time-based puns as possi-

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Immortals Dir: Tarsem Singh Cast: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Frieda Pinto After a six year long absence, Singh’s previous credits, including The Cell, had me expecting him to return with another visually stunning Immortals offers viewers an unlimited amount of outstanding special effects, with impressive use of CGI to create bold, dreamlike scenery, similar states its intentions immediately, with the opening sequence truly embracing the idea of starting as you mean to go on; a thrilling display of blood and gore greets the audience as the ancient battle between the Titans and Olympians is depicted.

Lovers of onscreen violence will be in no way

war, power and death result in its plot lacking in substance; in terms of its direction, as well as its sense of time and location. The acting is also compromised for the sake of the action, with weak characters. Cavill and Pinto in particular fail to impress, leaving audiences feeling passive rather than concerned about their survival. The relationship between the duo is also left underdeveloped and appears therefore to have only been included as a means of incorporating a strangely unsetRourke’s critically acclaimed past performances, noying to watch throughout, to the point at which I found myself surprised to see his name next to his character as the end credits rolled.

Although Immortals provides an interestingly modern take on traditional Greek mythology, the phrase ‘if you like that kind of thing’ could not greatly appeals to those seeking spectacularly

number of well thought out,

3-D effect worthy

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death of his mother.

The creators are fearless in their efforts to proand an exciting climax featuring three battle sequences taking place simultaneously.

Unfortunately, however, the aesthetic genius of

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should be avoided by anyone looking to be gripped by the storyline; although it attempts to address a number adult themes, the end result has a strangely childish feel to it.

Becky Johnson

6/10

Best Film For...

Anchorman (2004) ...mindless cinematic fun ... exclaiming in unconventional ways "Great Odin's raven!" - if you haven't experienced the all-star frat pack ensemble that is Judd Apatow and Adam McKay's Anchorman, chances are that out of though: this triumphant tale of newsroom debauchery is a timeless comedy that, once experienced, will have you uttering the witticisms of heroic newsreader love story at the centre of Anchorman is merely a facilitator for a relentless barrage of hilarious quotes and retarded quips from the likes of Steve Carrell,

idiotic-you-feel-bad-for-laughing humor, you won't do much better.

Matt Ayres

The Science of Sleep (2006) ...transcending language barriers Gondry, the director responsible for equally uncouth dramady Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Set in Paris, it centers around the vivid life of StĂŠphane Miroux, a young man who never quite grew up, who lives in a world of daydreams and walking nightmares as much as he does the real world. Despite his Mexican

leagues at his dead-end, non-creative job. But as he meets kindred spirit StĂŠphanie sparks of imagination are reignited in delicate scenes of stop-motion animation which perfectly illustrate the childlike wonder still existing inside his mind. tural differences, creative thought is a universal language understood by all who are willing to embrace it.

Matt Ayres

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) ...justifying a missed lecture evading the skepticism of parents and friends alike, he achieves that oh-so-unat-

up the windy city in a day of cultural indulgence - scamming his way into fancy Tower, Ferris is relentlessly determined to make the most of skipping class, in one an avid breaker of the fourth wall, addressing us frequently as if we were a real part of this anti-scholastic adventure. You wouldn't go far wrong in joining him next time you sleep through your alarm.

Matt Ayres

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The team editor Gavin Jewkes Features Alexi Gunner, Camilla Flint, Lloyd Griffiths

THE LEGENDS ISSUE

food Simone Miche & Chloe Slade books Alice Hughes fashion Leonie Roderick, Hann Davies, Lucy Trevallion travel Clare Baranowski & Lia Martin photos Tom Armstrong & Lucy Chip TOY MIC TREV//NINJA//BOB DYLAN...?

lgbt+ Hector Roddan arts Asha Verma & Kirsty Allen music Emma Wilford, Jo Southerd & Phil Kenny film Fraser Isaac, Matt Ayres, Morten Wright

Cover art by the beautiful Phoebe Dubb.