Quench - Issue 126 by Cardiff Student Media

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Issue 126 · October 15th 2012

Contents.

issue 126 · 15th October 2012

16 18 9

Features

5 . CHARLOTTE, DNC Daniel Evans recalls his experience at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Columnist

The Culture Review

11 · MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2012 A rundown of the shortlist for this year’s prize. 11 · IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ENTERTAINED? Rachel Moloney

8 · TOY Jo Southerd shares a few tipsy minutes with Panda, Charlie and Dominic at Green Man festival. 9 · HUW STEPHENS CUTV caught up with the Radio 1 DJ ahead of his set at ‘Oh What’s Occurin’?’ in Solus. 10 · STOOSHE Gemma Jones chats to the girlband after their peformance at the Cardiff Freshers’ Ball 2012.

LGBT+

15 · COMING OUT

STORIES Students share their experiences. 15. GAY VS. STRAIGHT How a night on the town in Cardiff’s gay venues is lighter on your wallet.

Travel

7 · ARE YOU NOT

Interviews

16 · ALCOHOL & ADVENTURES

Fashion & Beauty

17 · QUENCH PASSPORT

FRESH The Quench Fashion girls

Music

12 · LUSH: IF IT’S NAKED, IT’S

‘Emotional Brilliance’.

23 · RULE BRITANNIA 24 · REVIEWS, LISTINGS 25 · TRAILER TRASH

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters due to be released in January 2013. 25 · FIVE FILMS FOR BACKING BLIGHTY Best of British cinema.

ON THE COVER 18 · HIDDEN GEMS

14 · BURGUNDY BEAUTY BUYS

Film

20 · S

Food & Drink

26 · CARDIFF’S MARKETS capital: Roath, Riverside and Cardiff

N LISTINGS

21 · ALBUM REVIEWS 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

a word from

LGBT+: Thomas Leeming & Erin Ekins Culture: Jess Rayner Music: Rosey Brown, Kit Denison & Stephen Springate

was our dangerously close proximity to the superstore haven known affectionately as “Big Tesco”. On more than one occasion I would stagger home from a night out, swap my heels for my

Film: Becky Johnson, Amy Pay & Becky Wilson

an impromptu grocery shop, a supply of late-night munchies, or usually just a sobering wander. Alas, you can’t live in Halls forever, and despite my best intentions I’m falling into the same bad habits as last year: doing my weekly food shop at whatever overpriced supermarket I happen to be walking past when I realise I’ve ran out of bread/milk/carrots. But there is another way. This week, Food & Drink delve into the wonderful world of the farmers’ market: a charming place where

Food & Drink: Proof-reading: Alice Crabtree Emilia Ignaciuk

and the person selling you that loaf of bread is more than likely the person who baked it. Market prices might not be quite as studentfriendly as the reduced aisle at Big Tesco, but the advantages of authenticity and improved taste far outweigh the slightly steeper costs.

Student Media folk with some of the worst hangovers I’ve seen so far this year, and left me wishing I’d been there with them. Xpress have been busy with auditions and their autumn semester schedule is shaping up nicely, jam-packed with up-and-coming student talent. It’s still not too late to get involved with any aspect of Cardiff Student Media; simply come along to our weekly meetings, 5pm on Mondays. it’s also the name of the music festival that will be taking place promises an exceptional showcase of new music, from established artists to undiscovered talent. It really is a music fan’s wet dream, and here at Student Media we have an overwhelming amount of excited as we are. As always, any information you need can be found at www.cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk to me & Laura anytime.

Peace. four Q quench@gairrhydd.com · @QuenchEditor

Cover Photo: Luke Slade

This week we learnt: £80 worth of pizza does not go far when Xpress Radio are around. Soundtrack: PSY ~ Gangnam Style Yes, we’ve joined in with the craze too. The sound from Tuesday nights ‘Revive’ downstairs in the Union. Who knew Jo could rap to the whole of Mis-teeq, Scandalous?

Features

CHARLOTTE,DNC Greetings from

CHARLOTTE, NC Photos: Daniel Evans

Daniel Evans

harlotte, North Carolina, is not the most rethe UK, most Brits are probably unaware of its

host to one of the biggest dates in the political calendar this summer. I was fortunate enough to witness this momentous event whilst working for the foreign press team for the week. I spent the majority of my time in the Time Warner Cable Arena, customarily home to the Charlotte Bobcats basketball team. My role was to identify the foreign press with a suite within the TWCA ensuring they had individuals as senior as possible within the Obama administration to interview. This special focus on foreign press does not primarily spring from the wish to inform the world about the event, it is about voters. Overseas voters, to be precise. If you were to take all the Americans eligible to vote living abroad they would make up the 15th biggest state of the US with twice as many people as are living in Wales. You kind of get the idea. Our work started on Sunday, as we mapped out exactly where all the foreign broadcasters were in the arena to ensure we got our surrogates airtime; far from an easy task when approximately 15,000 journalists had descended upon the city for the conference. To problematise this further, the small arena meant not everyone had an individual broadcast suite; thus be sharing broadcasting space was imperative. This simple-sounding task was far from straightforward. The Monday before the Convention was Labour Day (a

national holiday), so on top of extra security and roads already closed for the convention, they were also closed for the Labour Day parade. The more people struggled Fortunately by Monday afternoon we had discovered Sky UK and Arabia, BBC, Voice of America, ITV, Channel 4 and a couple of Italian and French channels and were keen to get them on air. The convention properly started on Tuesday, which was the same day that David Cameron decided to 4 (two of the biggest networks across Europe as well as the UK) pulled their DNC coverage. A disappointing blow, but it did make the job itself much easier. The communication team had unfortunately provided us with only one surrogate: Rachel Kleinfeld, a senior policy advisor on foreign affairs, specialising in terrorism. As she was fairly senior in Obama’s administrawhich was a good start to the week. She never showed, however, which sat very unhappily with the networks, particularly ‘Voice of America’, who were not shy when informing us of our unprofessionalism. This “unprofessionalism” turned out to be in my favour, as it gave me time to witness the preparation for the opening night. The detail that goes into ensuring everything is perfect on TV was incredible. For example, for one entire day a man walked from backstage to the speaker’s podium, made some sweeping hand movements and then walked back. This was simply to time how long it would take the speakers to walk to and from

the podium to calculate ad breaks, and to see how their gestures would appear on TV (using people who broadly represented the size and height). The lights in the arena then grew incredibly bright before dulling down again. This again was a test, as when the speakers are on stage they only want the public to be seen when they are cheering. The rest of the time the lights are dimmed and you can only see the speaker. This is far more than the detail that goes into UK party conferences. You would also never see average citizens who have fallen victim to the previous administration’s policies on stage to add to the drama. On of a young girl that has a serious heart defect and has had and still requires many lifesaving surgeries told her story. Obamacare, a derogatory term in republican circles, is the only way that she can continue to have those operations. Before its introduction, health insurance companies were allowed to put a lifetime cap on medical care, which limits the amount of treatment the insurance will cover. Stacey’s daughter is dangerously close to her lifetime cap. Since Obamacare, she could have as many operations as required. Next-in-line to be cheered on by the crowd was Martin O’Malley, the governor of Maryland. A3 sized cards were passed out, some with ‘Forward’ written on them and others with ‘Not Back’. During his speech, O’Malley congenially repeated the slogans: ‘Obama wants us to move forward not back’. The entire crowd shouted along with him, holding up signs.

features@gairrhydd.com · @qfeature

Features The next speaker of note was Julian Castro, the Mayor of San Antonio. He spoke about originating from a working class family of immigrants, and how his parents’ hard work enabled his university tuition. The headline the following day was: “my grandmother held a broom so I could hold this mic.” He then turned his attention to Mitt Romney, again utilising the crowd exceptionally. He started by saying that ‘Obama wants US veterans to be given more help when they return from warzones through Obama’s GI bill’ and that Mitt Romney said no. He then pointed out that ‘Obama wants to ensure a better education for everyone irrelevant of ‘Mitt Romney said no!’ – By this stage every member of the crowd was screaming. It was surprising to see a crowd so riled up by a political speech; it simply doesn’t happen in this country anymore. Last, but far from least, was the First Lady Michelle Obama: loved by the American people and as popular as many big playing politicians. Her presence contrasted wildly to the UK political order, where our leaders wives play a very minor role in the political sphere. Essentially, her purpose was to cast an image of Obama as ‘one of the people’ and creating an emotional link between President and electorate rather than a real politically charged speech. On the second day of the convention, we again had Rachel Kleinfeld as a surrogate. Fortunately, this time she turned up and we were able to repair some of the damage caused the previous day. There were two Sandra Fluke who started a movement called ‘Sluts Vote.’ It originated in February this year, when Fluke was stopped by Republican congressmen from testifying in front of congress in favour of health insurance covering birth control for women. They labelled her a slut, refused to listen to her and this led to the rise of the ‘Sluts Vote’ movement. Her message was clear: A vote for the Republicans is a vote against gender equality. Finally on that day Bill Clinton walked onto the stage, received by screams and applause. He immediately targeted the Romney campaign. Clinton stated how using only simple arithmetic, the republican stance on taxes couldn’t make sense. “My fellow Americans, you have to decide what kind of country you want to live in. If you want a ‘you’re on your own, winner take all society’ you should support the Republican ticket. If you want a country of shared opportunities and shared responsibilities – a “we’re all in it together” society, you should vote for Barack Obama”, he declared at the end of his speech. Suddenly, the President himself walked out on stage and shook his hand and waved to the crowd. This was too much for some people. They lost all self-

The President walked out on stage and shook Clinton’s hand. This was too much for some people. They lost all self control, jumping around and screaming. Could I picture us Brits going crazy like this over David Cameron? I think not.

Photo:

features@gairrhydd.com · @qfeatures

Steve B

ott

control, jumping around and screaming. As a Brit, this was surreal. Could I picture us going crazy over David Cameron? I think not. After the speech I met some of Clinton’s speechwriters and discovered that at least ten minutes of his speech were ad-lib and not prewritten. For a convention so obsessed with perfection this must have been infuriating. The evening was not complete: it was followed by the roll call, which involved the head delegate of every state standing up and announcing that their state was voting for Obama as their candidate in the election, accompanied by more applause and screaming. to move into the American football stadium but the delegates stayed indoors in the much smaller arena. Out of concern over massive thunderstorms, said the Democrats – out of fear that not enough people would turn up, the Republican press retaliated. not a bad one; we watched the performers warm up. James Taylor, Mary J Blige, Marc Anthony and the Foo telling the audience that giving a tax break to the rich is wrong and that high earners like her do not need it. Scarlett Johansson followed, who conveyed roughly the same message. Then came John Kerry, who, to put it bluntly, played the ‘Obama killed Bin Laden card.’ The sound bite that seemed most resonating for me, was: “why don’t you ask Osama Bin Laden if he is better off than 4 years ago?” It seemed that Kerry, the audience and some journalists were all thinking of the same question. Vice President, Joe Biden, took stage next, emphasising that the President is as passionate as ever and was willing to make the hard decisions necessary to save America. I cannot describe how much the people love Obama; his reception was spectacular. He started by explaining why people are better off than four years ago, including the GI Bill that gives aid to veterans if they want to attend University and how Obamacare quite simply is saving lives by making health care more affordable and ensuring that no one becomes bankrupt through illness. He was also completely open to working in co-operation with Republicans when it comes to policy making. For the past two years, however, the Republican party has simply stated that its policy should be hindering the President at every turning as opposed to helping at all. Considering the US political system is completely dependent on co-operation between parties, it is almost impossible to get anything done in the current situation. This was a fantastic end to a convention, which will undoubtedly contribute to the election: an election, which I believe, is pivotal to the future of American politics.

Columnist

Are you not entertained? by Rachel Moloney

Others in the music profession wouldn’t be seen dead with

ear hit me as my lecturer calmly welcomed us back with the words, ‘most of you will be looking for a job this time next year.’ Help. However I have an idea. There’s no need to just choose a profession and stick to it, as celebrities come and go as they

get bored, then why can’t we do the same? Practically everybody knows that David Beckham is a footballer. Yet since the beginning of the year, some rather moody shots of the sports star in his boxers have graced H&M stores across the land after he designed his own underwear range. The advertisement had a grand debut at the US Super Bowl back in February and even Beckham admitted that he was just a tad embarrassed by it all. And so he should be. Just because you’re getting on a bit, doesn’t mean you can play dress-up. Actually it’s more like dress-down- he’s not exactly wearing much. Beckham is by no means the only celebrity to try their hand at design. With stylists at their beck and call, the stars look irritatingly good on a daily basis and it’s nice that they want us to look good too. When Cheryl Cole got fed up of singing (and I use this word loosely), she teamed up with Stylist Pick to design a whole range of footwear ranging from sandals, wedges, platforms and boots. Not far behind were the Olsen twins, with the sweet and innocent days of Two of a Kind long forgotten. They designed their own collection for the same website, which means that I can now wear one of their rather plain looking tops with my brand new Cheryl shoes. My life is made. However if celebrities are too busy taking everyone else’s jobs, I won’t have any money to buy these essential items. Damn. And that means I’ll also have to cross out Rihanna’s Reb’l Fleur fragrance from my list as well as Lady Gaga’s recently launched Fame. On Twitter, the woman herself claimed that the perfume has sold 6 million bottles in one week making it the 2nd fastest-selling fragrance ever. Well she would say that. And if the ego-boosting title wasn’t enough, Fame even has its own promotional video which lasts a sleep-inducing 5 minutes. It’s a perfume Gaga, not a life-changing medical cure.

shooting people. That’s what Ben Drew (aka Plan B) has been doing anyway. He joined fellow cockney Ray Winstone in police drama The Sweeney, adapted from the original ITV series of the ‘70s. Playing Winstone’s side-kick Carter, Plan B sprints his way

If celebrities between jobs and switch when they get bored, then why can’t we do the same?

Adulthood and Harry Brown. Who’d have thought that a platinum selling artist could be such a director’s dream? They probably only wanted him to do the soundtrack. But moving in the opposite direction is comedian-turnedactor Sacha Baron Cohen, who now plays eccentric and excitable foreigners as well as minor musical characters. ‘Is he really singing in Sweeney Todd?’ is a question about as debated as ‘did Pamela Anderson know she would be kidnapped in Borat?’ but whatever the answer, it’s a long way from Cohen’s previous life as Ali G. He will soon add Les Miserables to his growing musical repertoire, after starring in Hollywood’s highly anticipated movie which opens next year. And to top it all off he gets to reprise his role as the crazy lemur King Julien in Madagascar 3, which hits cinemas on October 19th. Even if he isn’t actually singing in Les Mis, at least he can belt out ‘I like to move it’ to perfection. Playing a character much darker than a dancing monkey, John Bishop similarly proved that comedians aren’t just one- trick ponies. Although he’s not exactly known for holding a straight face and being a shoulder to cry on, that’s exactly what he did in BBC One’s recent drama Accused as he played the husband of a terminally ill woman and father to their 2 boys. However sooner than you can say Liverpool, Bishop had already returned to his normal job and title for someone who gets paid for playing a mourning husband, having a right old laugh and answering sports questions on League of Their Own. It seems to me that life and work is a bit of a fairground ride to many in the entertainment industry. They’re unable to sit on the same one and just cannot wait to leap off and try something new. But for people who are worried about getting a single job in the any extra income. So do me a favour, sit back, relax and let someone else have a go.

Q seven

Interviews

People say that we gaze at our shoes, but we’ve actually just got really long hair... At Green Man festival, Jo Southerd grills TOY’s Panda (bass), Charlie (drums) and Dominic (guitar) on their new album, touring with The Horrors, and their poor choice of footwear. You played the Far Out tent earlier, how was that? Panda: It was pretty far out Dominic: We were lucky that we had a really full tent, it was really good fun. Charlie: It was a belter. So how are you enjoying Green Man? C: It’s pretty funny. D: But we’ve wrecked all of our shoes. Oh and you’re wearing really nice shoes as well! Haven’t you brought wellies? P: We didn’t have the foresight. What were you thinking? P: We weren’t thinking. D: I don’t think we were thinking. We’re going to Japan tomorrow so I think we were thinking about that climate as opposed to this one. C: None of us have even brought raincoats or anything like that. Just denim jackets. C: Well Japan is going to be about thirty-two degrees.

eight Q

Are you going to be playing a lot of shows in Japan? P: Just the one. We’re going to meet up with our friends who are in a really good band, Group A, and Bo Ningen as well, who we toured with. They’re going to show us around, it should be really good fun. Do you have much planned for after that? P: Well we’ve got to head back, we’re there for two days and then we’ve got to head back for Reading & Leeds the following weekend. And then we’re playing Rock En Seine too. You’ve toured a lot with The Horrors who I hear you’re good friends with. Any crazy stories from the tour? P: None that we can talk about. D: It’s all a bit of a blur to be honest. C: I can’t really remember a single event that happened. D: Lots of Bloody Marys, always. P: It’s like we’ll be partying and then we’ll get to the next town and then as soon as we get up we just start all over again. But we see them every week anyway, even when we’re not on tour

with them. It’s just like friends having a drink together, getting up to allsorts. So your new album comes out on September 10th , right? D: Yeah, we recorded it a couple of months ago and it sounds pretty cool. We’re hoping to maybe do an EP quite soon, and have that out in February or sometime. C: Like a noise EP that pre-dates the second album, which we’d like to release at a similar time next year.

Touring with The Horrors? I can’t remember a single event that happened. - Charlie

Have you been doing much writing while you’ve been on the road? D: Yeah, well not necessarily while we’re on the road but whenever we’re at home we’re writing, new songs, just demos; templates that we can develop over the next few months. So how does the songwriting process tend to happen? D: Lyrics usually come a little later. collaborative thing. C: We’ll record demos and develop them in rehearsal, then all sit around with a pen and paper and shoot ideas off each other to come up with lyrics. You get a lot of comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and all that shoegazey stuff, what would you say personally us but we like a hell of a lot of different types of music. P: People say that we gaze at our shoes but we’ve actually just got really long hair.

Interviews

Huw Stephens CUTV catch up with the Radio 1 DJ ahead of his appearance at Oh, What’s Occurin? You DJ at loads of Freshers’ events; what’s the craziest stuff you’ve seen? There’s a lot of fancy dress sometimes, people are really up for it and just wanna make friends, I think. So I’m happy to provide the soundtrack for the making of friends. D: We do try to look up at the audience sometimes. We aim to. P: We’re not really shoegazing we’re kind of more concentrating. D: And we forget to cut our fringes sometimes. But listens to a lot of early electronic music. C: Velvet Underground. P: I’m a great fan of Jethro Tull. D: What? (Laughter) D: He’s not really. There’s a lot of hype surround you guys right now. What are your long-term plans for the band? C: We just wanna make as many albums as we possibly can. D: We know that we’ll be poor for a long time, but we just wanna make EPs, albums, singles, and keep on exploring different avenues of music. P: The thing we enjoy most is making music and playing it to people so if we can continue doing that we’ll be happy. TOY are playing Swn Festival on Sunday 21st October. Music has the full preview.

Are there any tracks you’re hoping to get a big reaction from tonight? Well because it’s a Welsh night I’m gonna play Nicky Minaj because she’s from up the road in Cwmbran... loads of Welsh artists you know like Skrillex, Rizzle Kicks who are from Pontcanna.... nah, I’m just gonna mix it up and play what I normally play really. But because it’s Welsh themed I might play some big Welsh classics. You’ve probably been to a few festivals this summer, what bands are you rating? Who are your ones to watch? I saw a band called Random Impulse at Wakestock, I thought they were good, very impressive. I saw bands like Obviously the next big festival is Swn Festival, there must have been a lot of planning gone into that? A lot of planning and a lot of booking of bands. We’ve got about two hundred bands playing this year, including here at the union we’ve got Django Django and The Cribs playing. We’re using all the venues across the city. It’s our sixth year doing the festival; we started it becuse there was nothing like it in Cardiff and there’s just loads of great bands playing. It’s really exciting. Watch the full interview at

What are your plans for the future of the festival? I think we’re going to stay the same size as it is, about three to four thousand people every year, which is great. I suppose if it were to grow much bigger you’d lose the intimate feel of it. I think so, Cardiff’s quite a small city, but it’s a lovely city, so it’s the perfect size I think. But hopefully it’ll just carry on and continue to exist and get more bands every year. I imagine you’ve played a big role in the booking of the bands and deciding who’s going to be there. Who are you looking forward to the most? Ah there’s loads and loads and loads. I’m excited thatt Toddla T is playing Clwb Ifor Bach, and Django Django, and The Blackout are playing at the Globe in memory of a Welsh journalist James McLaren who passed away a few weeks ago, so that’ll be nice. So how do you think Grimmy’s gonna get on with the Breakfast show? I think he’ll do a brilliant job. He’s lovely Grimmy, he’s really into his music and he’s just naturally funny. He’s the same with A-list celebrities as he is with people who call up the show for a chat. He’ll do really well. And lastly, any advice for the Freshers who have just started at Cardiff? Just meet as many people as you can, explore the city that you’re in, and have a brilliant time!

cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/cutv

Q nine

Interview

Stooshe Ahead of their performance at the Cardiff University Fresher’s Ball 2012, Xpress Radio caught with the glamorous girls of S t o o s h e Minaj, their MOBO nomination and how they gel together to be one successful girl band! Words: Gemma Jones How did the name Stooshe come about? Well we realised that we didn’t have a name. We all liked the word Stoosh; In London it can mean when a girl thinks she’s too expensive, but we didn’t like that meaning. So it can also mean stoned, a mystery, or hidden away. We took the different contrasts of meanings: take us how you want to take us. And then ‘she’ is at the end for girl power. You all seem really close like sisters, how do you stay so close? You have a good bond together. (Giggles) No we actually are, we are very close and we are very lucky that we can feel comfortable enough to talk to each other. If there are little things we sort them out straight away. We love each

ten Q

other dearly so it always gets sorted out so yes we are like sisters. You have just toured with Nicki Minaj how was that? Did she give you any advice for the industry? It’s weird because last year we were thinking it would be wicked if we could support Nicki Minaj, and we did it and we only got to meet her on the last day. She was cool and she said she handpicked us and told us to keep doing what we wanted to do. She liked our material and said we had wicked style. We are also supporting Jennifer Lopez! I know, I heard! That will be amazing, how did that come about? I’m not even sure! It just popped up in

my diary; we were like, that is cool. Wow, that is going to be huge! I think the artists are given a choice of

the worst clothes you could imagine! It’s just nice to know after a year we are actually going to be nominated after just attending last year so yeah it’s really cool!

person or their management. The big news is that you have been nominated for a MOBO, best newcomer. Following in Jessie J’s footsteps are you going to win that girls? Did Jessie J win it last year? Yeah she did! Oh my gosh we were there and we didn’t realise (laughing). It was so overwhelming when we were there last year. We were completely unknown in our crazy clothes just sitting there in

students in Cardiff who are really interested in music, do you have any advice for them? If you want to do it, keep developing yourself before you try and push to go anywhere and make sure you’re comfortable in what you do. Don’t let anyone try and change or mould you because you want to go out singing, performing and making music that you want to make, not what everyone else wants you to make.

Culture

The Culture Review - ArtLiteratureDanceTheatre -

Man Booker Prize 2012 By Jess Rayner

or novelists the Man Booker Prize is big news in the literary calendar. So as the wait for the winner to be announced grows shorter here is a look at the novels in contention for the coveted prize. Last year’s prize put an emphasis on readability over critical merit

solely experimental novels that show the power and shocking nature of language. This year it is clear that the judges have steered clear of

Narcopolis By Jeet Thayil (Faber & Faber)

Set in the shadow of World War 2 in

Indian poet Jeet

Tan Twan Eng’s novel tells the story of young law graduate Yun Ling Teoh and her unlikely friendship

is made up of six very different Stothard as all showing “a huge and place in the renewing of our words and ideas”. Stothard stresses how when he and his fellow judges were making their decisions they

called the credibility of the award year’s shortlist turns its back on

The Garden of Evening Mists By Tan Twan Eng (Myrmidon)

on novels that push boundaries in this year’s shortlist makes for challenging yet dynamic reading has had. So here is your brief guide of what to expect from the 2012 contenders….

Narcopolis explores how opium dens in 1970s Mumbai leads to heroin addiction and a brutal modernity. Thayil has been quoted as saying he lost almost 20

prison camp seeks solace in the mountaintop garden of the title and enters into an apprenticeship with

uses his experience to create this vivid and honest portrayal. Judges verdict: ‘Poetry is not

unanswered questions surrounding them threaten to fracture their fragile friendship.

but we very much admired his perfumed prose from the drug dens and back streets of India’s most concentrated conurbation.’

Swimming Home By Deborah Levy (Faber & Faber)

Umbrella By Will Self (Bloomsbury)

the July heat wave Home explores the damage of depression on seemingly stable people. The novel is centred on a famous British poet on holiday with Kitty Finch. Kitty is obsessed with the poet and determined he should read a poem of her own. Levy’s Home is a dangerous yet emotive interrogation of obsession.

2012 Judges

Adam Brelsford puts the Lovecraft why…

the best known being Stuart Gordon’s Re-

and he’s had both the Penguin Modern Classics and Library

episode of the Ghostbusters cartoon (for all you

whose main message was that humans are a fairly

walking holiday in Germany. But he is haunted by mother’s abandonment of him when he was younger and adrift. Judges verdict: temperature control set very low and an acute sense of smell.’

The second in Mantel’s trilogy on

the lives of a misdiagnosed woman in a north London mental

Bring Up the Bodies begins in

an epidemic that raged across Europe after World War 1.

Lovecraftian anthologies

Futh a middleaged man trying to

Bring Up the Bodies By Hilary Mantel (Fourth Estate)

family and her doctor. The novel comprises of 400 pages without chapters and almost no paragraph breaks. This experimental narrative explores

obscurity.

Moore’s debut novel published by independent

This stream of consciousness

suggestion do the rest. He was also a bit of

H. P.

The Lighthouse By Alison Moore (Salt)

over a year. With Henry becoming increasingly left to Cromwell to disburden him his second wife. Judges verdict: ‘The judges this year noted her even greater mastery realism in the separation of past and present and the vivid depiction of English character and landscape.’

In the spotlight

to feature people discovering some unsavoury Cthulhu memes on the Internet some time. driven insane by it. Lovecraft’s style was a mixture of excess

and places. So forget the plush Cthulhu toys people like Stephen King (who called him ‘[t]he twentieth-century horror story’s dark

batrachian nightmares and maddeningly

also sometimes hold back at the moment of abominations and letting the power of

one of the greatest living writers of horror or

culture@gairrhydd.com · @quenchculture

Q eleven

Fashion&Beauty

LUSH:

‘IF IT’S naked , IT’S FRESH’. Words: Jacqueline Kilikita

ith a cornucopia of cosmetic shops littering the high street, it’s hard not to be drawn towards the brands with the big names and bold advertising. It takes just seconds to purchase that brand new colour stay lippy without giving a thought to what’s inside and, incidentally, what you will soon be shovelling onto your skin. So,

heard about the true innovation that is ethically sourced, vegan cosmetics at Lush, it’s safe to say we were intrigued. They aren’t all about bath bombs and soap, you know! Lush lives by the motto: “If it’s naked, it’s fresh,” which is why every single ingredient that goes into their products is completely natural. Interest surrounding naturally sourced cosmetics, however, isn’t a new idea. Science boffs at Lush have been researching cosmetics for years, with each brand new lipstick or mascara being extensively tested for a year before it is allowed to be sold - and that is

These beauty buys can satiate anyone’s cosmetic curiosity. ‘Animal testing’ hasn’t even made it into their vegan vocabulary. The team rights ever since the brand was founded in 1994, a true inspiration to beauty brands everywhere. Cosmetics advisor El gave the Beauty team a lesson in all things pure, ethical and just plain beautiful when she informed us of the lengths Lush goes to, to supply us with what she describes as the world’s most natural beauty buys. “The team at Lush are lucky enough to be able to travel all over the world and pick out the best ingredients in person and by hand. If it isn’t one hundred per cent natural and ethically sourced, we simply refuse to use it”. The word ‘ethical’ keeps popping up in all aspects of fashion and beauty lately, with Lush at the forefront, acting as the mediator between worldly divides of prosperity and poverty. We were amazed to discover that Lush works closely with a plethora of poverty stricken countries in order to keep brand is currently supporting young children’s education in Japan, most of whom have had their homes and schools ravaged by recent tsunamis. In exchange for naturally sourced coconut oil which graces the likes of lip balms and face masks, Lush sends text books

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to underprivileged, uneducated children, whilst also supporting a variety of other aid campaigns. emphasis on ethics, it’s fascinating how sourcing the cosmetics isn’t the sole focus at Lush. Their attention is constantly on customers’ needs and the latest beauty trends. We were introduced to their new Emotional Brilliance beauty colour range. Emotional Brilliance matches your personality and emotions to of making you feel amazing. Sure, it’s a known fact that a slick of red lippy can act as a pick me up on rainy days, but Lush have delved deeper into the minds of customers as well as our cosmetics bags, to leave us feeling our best at all times. Emotional brilliance consists of simply closing your eyes until you are ready to choose three colours which instantly stand out for you as an individual. These colours are matched to three different products, all of which future prospects. “The colours you being”, says El. “Then, whether you use the product as a lip tint or an eye shadow, it gives you a choice to dictate yourself through colour”. With bold pink lipsticks named ‘BELIEVE – and you will see’ and eye shadows cutely labelled, ‘FANTASY – You’re allowed’, it’s no wonder Lush have started a make-up revolution. psychic cosmetics reading: it really is a true innovation for choosing which colours suit you.

LUSH cosmetics give you a choice to dictate yourself through colour. Each product contains at least twice as much pigment than other cosmetic brands to ensure that your face stays on from dusk till dawn, with every product displayed in recyclable virgin glass alongside recyclable brushes otherwise known as ‘eco tools’. Labelled ‘the delicatessen of the beauty world’ by Cosmopolitan magazine, Lush seeks to satiate that ‘cosmetics curiosity’ which every girl has within her. Whether it’s choosing between using a blusher or bronzer for the day or even if you have time for a face mask that evening, you will know that each and every ingredient will be kind to your skin. Talking of kindness, the team at Lush have gone out of their way to get to know

fashion@gairrhydd.com · @quenchfashion

every single person who is involved in the cosmetics making process. From Fisherman Pete in Poole who harvests the seaweed for those rich moisturising masks, or the housewives in Turkey who lovingly pick individual roses that make it into scents and body butters. Each and every contributor is treated fantastically; they are even given a small mention on the underside of the product, accompanied by the date in which it was made, for a true indication of its freshness. For your chance to be a part of the Lush cosmetics experience, simply step into any Lush store and ask to have you inner emotional brilliance released! Emerge with a brand new look and positive energy to boot – all whilst testing and the importance of ethics in fashion and beauty. What’s not to love?

Skin Tint: Charisma £12

This skin tint is a great base for both day and evening make-up. It’s smooth enough to be mixed with any moisturiser to give that beautiful, healthy glow every girl covets and rich enough to be used over a foundation base as a light bronzer. The product glides on to leave you with a weightless feel whilst at the same time injecting a warm colour that suits any skin type. What’s more, it contains highlighting pigments that can be used to contour both cheek bones and eyebrows for a catwalk worthy appearance. A true beauty staple for any make-up bag. JK

Fashion&Beauty Liquid Eyeliner: Independent £14.50 This eyeliner is excellent; very long lasting, easy to apply and also easy to

Colour Supplement: Light Pink £8.50

to eyelids, great for building with eye shadow for nights out, or a subtle touch of black for daytime. Would

I have been using Light Pink as a sort of primer after my moisturiser and before my foundation and it has worked a treat. Designed for paler skin tones, the gentle cream base containing rose petal infusions (ultra soothing) and its lack of mineral oils make it oh- so wearable for even the most sensitive of skin. An absolute must for evening out your complexion and soothing any redness. OR

eyeliner, such a generous amount that will last many Cardiff nights out. VG

Skin Tint: Feeling Younger £12 great for covering dark circles in the morning. It also works great for evenings mixed with foundation for a long lasting glow. I would recommend it for under eye touch ups but not for an all over face mix, as it gave the appearance of an uneven complexion. VG

As a false lash junkie I was assured that this little saviour would preserve and condition my lashes thanks to the Wheatgrass which is packed with vitamins and bottle hardly looks adequate for lashings of volume and jet black lashes, however the Japan and Carnauba wax prevents the panda look and means it is gym and rainfriendly. A steal at £12. OR

Liquid Lips: Ambition £14.50 When given the choice of products to try-out this week, my eyes instantly darted towards this pot of coral liquid lipstick. I applied the lipstick at around 8 o’clock in the evening; 6 hours and numerous drinks later the colour was just as bright as when applied. Overall, the colour is amazing; you won’t have to keep applying it through the day or evening, and it won’t dry your lips out as it contains softening jojoba oil. SC

Cream Eyeshadow: Quietly Motivated £14.50

Mascara: Eyes Right £12

Translucent Face Powder: Emotional Brilliance £12 powder that can be used over foundation or on its own to even out your skin-tone. it would be a nightmare for people with dry skin. But don’t be fooled; the jojoba oil is ever so nourishing, especially for people with sensitive skin. SC

Products reviewed by Sophie Chamberlain, Victoria Gadsden, Jacqueline Kilikita & Olivia Reidy. With thanks to:

A dazzling liquid eye shadow with enough sparkle to wow even the most make-up shy girls out there. This product does exactly what it says on the tin, by instantly giving you zest in the make-up stakes. Cover the lid completely to take advantage of autumn’s metallics trend, or use it as a liner by gently following your lash line into a point, 60’s style. There is no need to re-apply throughout the day as the true freshness of the product prevails in terms of quality; it stayed put and was easily removable with a face wipe in the evening – result! JK

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Q thirteen

Fashion&Beauty

BURGUNDY BEAUTY BUYS

In keeping with the gothic style sweeping the catwalks this autumn, deep burgundy is set to be one of the leading make-up trends this season. From striking lipsticks to smouldering eye shadows, the opportunities to revamp your look this season are endless. Designers have cleverly teamed this prominent use of burgundy with minimalistic skin make up, combined with nudes and golds, to create a bold but understated look, perfect for any occasion day or night. These high street essentials make this catwalk look accessible. Barry M Magnetic Effect, Superdrug, £4.99. to incorporate this trend into your make-up, why not try wearing a deep burgundy nail colour. Barry M’s burgundy nail varnish is affordable and long lasting and even allows you to customise your own nail effects with its magnetic effect formula.

Glam ‘Eyes Mono Eye Shadows in Spicy Bronze, Superdrug, £4.49. Burgundy eye shadow particularly compliments blue eyes, but can be worn by anyone to create a smouldering up-to-date look. Apply in the corner and creases of the lid to intensify the colour of your eyes. For an even more piercing evening look, team with dark kohl or black liquid eyeliner.

No.7 Moisture Drench Lipstick, Boots, £9.00. Exclusive to Boots, this rich plum colour is perfect for creating a standout pout. It’s specially designed formula ensures that your lips remain soft and hydrated even in the harshest winter conditions. For that extra special occasion, why not top it off with a glossy shine to add an extra sparkle to your look. Alexandra Brown

Salon Spy:

Nettles Hair & Beauty Crwys Road, Cathays Cathays has no shortage of salons offering student friendly deals. Nettles Hair and Beauty on Cwrys Road could easily be overlooked, but is well worth a visit. Having recently returned from Thailand, where there are salons on every corner and the treatments are cheap (although sometimes rather painful!) I was keen to see how Nettles compared. I decided to go for a manicure, which was done meticulously by friendly salon owner Helene. With a wide array of colours, and a complimentary hand massage all for £8, you can’t complain. Days later my nails still looked great, which is more than can be said about manicures I have had in the past.

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The salon has been established for 3 years, and has a staff of just two, which ensures a personal service. The ladies are friendly and clearly know what they are doing, and you really cannot fault the prices. It’s also in easy reach from Taly or anywhere in Cathays, so saves traipsing into town. Nettles offer an extensive range of hair and beauty treatments with a 15% student discount, and also run ‘2-4-1 Tuesdays’ for waxing, tinting, manicures and pedicures. They even give away free styling kits worth a look. Lorna Mason

LGBT+

Coming Out Stories Thomas Leeming talks to Cardiff students about their coming out experiences

very year on the 11th October, National Coming Out Day takes place. Founded in America in 1988, the day is a peaceful celebration and a recognition of everyone who has told the world that they are LGBT+. It is observed in many countries across the world, with marches, rallies and information stalls providing help and advice. seem to have no problem. Most people, however, experience a range of emotions. “The prospect of coming out scared and frustrated me” one student, Rachel, says to me. “My sister didn’t have to announce her heterosexuality, nor did any of my straight school friends, why should things be different for me?” Similarly to Rachel, I felt annoyed at the fact I had

to come out, but I also wonder now if this was simply a cover to how I was really feeling on the inside: scared and alone. I knew that telling someone meant I wouldn’t need to hide any continues, “the thought of lying to people sickened me, and I felt my parents deserved my honesty.” Yet, being open in a mostly heterosexual world can make from others. Indeed, I was worried about how people would react. Another student, Erin, who is bisexual, remembers: “My friends refused to take it seriously, as did certain, more liberal members of my family.” When you are young, it can often be seen as something you’ll grow out of or still need to thing that was often giggled about. I never admitted how much that hurt me.” Fortunately, Erin’s mother was a lot more accepting. tion into my life. The closest I ever came to a coming out was Erin laughs, “Her reaction surprised me: ‘Well, as long as you don’t mind who you’re with.’ ” I have always been so grateful that she was willing to be so accepting so quickly. I know that I am lucky.” My parents have also been very accepting of the fact I’m

For those individuals who come out as “+”, it can be, perhaps, somewhat harder than being L, G, B or T, as it is less prominent in society. One student, Laura, explains, “The acronym LGBT, while widely used, doesn’t cover everyone queer and androgyne.” The term can also be used to refer to straight people who help to raise awareness and support part of the LGBT+ society. “The Cardiff LGBT+ Association welcomes friends and allies from the straight world and they too can feel represented by the ‘+’.” Coming out as whatever sexual orientation can be harder depending upon who it is you tell. Erin’s mother and friends are all supportive of her, however she still has yet to tell her gle between keeping it a secret in order to keep their love and wanting so desperately for them to know who I am.” Erin is an active member of the LGBT+ Society, having helped out on various campaigns: “There is so much I have achieved this year which I am proud of and, yet, I cannot share it with them.” I empathise with Erin completely as my grandparents don’t know either. I would like them to know, but they would gay wasn’t the way you lived your life. But, this is the way I live my life because this is the way I was born. Of course, coming out is optional and can be done at any age, but eventually, even if just for your own peace of mind, it becomes necessary. “I realised that coming out was

from traditional Christian backgrounds, but eventually it has ing you’ll turn out to be anything other than straight. “She was in shock”, Rachel recalls telling her parents over dinner. “My Dad ate his noodles. I cried, she cried, we hugged, we cried some more and eventually laughed.”

ing, but ultimately liberating. Erin concludes, “If there’s one thing I have learned over the past few years, the only way to be happy is to be true to yourself.”

Gay vs. Straight James Cheeseman venues in Cardiff

sity with the title of LGBT+ Society Treasurer. This year, however, has a slight twist as I am the President of the Maths Society. This has started to give me a greater insight into the differences between organising a night out for the LGBT+ crowd and the (mostly) straight Maths crowd. The most obvious difference, that both society members and committees will notice, is the price of drinks on club nights. In Cardiff’s gay bars and clubs, drinks prices are

the society’s loyalty, either the reward is not really useful or you have to be legally bound in a sponsorship package working with other venues. LGBT+ venues are completely different. As a society committee member, I can meet with the gay club managers bers. One evening at WOW bar, we managed to arrange an offer where society members got free entry and would match the number of drinks you bought with free shots. The best part about this for the society committee was that

Wednesday nights at Pulse, all drinks are 99p until 1AM. I lenging this. It’s normal for most straight people, to take £30 cash from the ATM on a night out, whereas £15 covers it for LGBT+ venues. The other important difference, which is not so obvious, is the relationship between clubs and society committees. The straight clubs are so big and popular they do not need their business to succeed. If the clubs do put on an offer for

custom and the offer obviously encouraged the members to stay longer at their bar. In my opinion, more societies should consider going on a gay night out. The fact that the venues are smaller and have a friendlier community means that your members can have an amazing, safe and cheap night out. You never know, your members may ask you to take them out again!

££ £ lgbt@gairrhydd.com

Travel

Alcohol adventures

Travelling the world one drink at a time

Alcohol is one of those wonderful things that brings people together. Popular in many countries around the world booze can cross language barriers and give you a real taste of the culture. Quench Travel have created a list of alcoholic beverages from across the globe that you can use to help you decided

SNAKE WINE

ABSINTHE

A big bottle of wine can be a dangerous thing on its own but in Southeast Asia it can get even riskier! ‘Snake Wine’ is made by infusing a whole snake (usually a poisonous one) in with a bottle of rice wine- thankfully the alcohol kills off their venom. There are two type of snake wine: there is ‘stepped’ wine that usually contains a big snake and is left to infuse

Originating from Switzerland in the late 18th century Absinthe (also known as ‘the green fairy’) is suited for the more ‘hardcore’ students. Averaging at around 60 % alcohol content, this spirit isn’t for the faint hearted (up until 2007 the USA had completeis well known for its supposed hallucinogenic effects and was even

shot glass. Heather Arnold modern twist! Kathryn Lewis

IMPALA

WARAGI

Although traditionally in Africa the locals are used to home-made beers, in recent years the brewing company SABMiller has worked out a way to use cassava to commercially produce a beer called Impala. Not only creating jobs and helping farmers sell their cassava, the development of Impala has reduced the amount of unregulated alcohol consumption and provided a tasty alternative to the porridge-like home-made beer. Far cheaper than a normal beer, Impala tastes just like a normal lager with its own unique slight sour note and as we all know, cheaper is always an incentive to try something new! Kathanna Riekemann

provided us with a gin distilled from bananas called Waragi. Sold in sachets the mere unusual novelty of buying alcohol in a bag is enough to try it. The

periment and add it to Coke, Lime or Tonic for a drink that goes down easily. Kathanna Riekemann

CAIPIRINHA

JÄGERMEISTER

Caipirinha

There are few students who haven’t succumbed to the epic Jagerbomb, this is because A – they’re cheap and B – they get you very drunk, very fast. However Jägermeister is more than ju as a cough remedy in the early 20th Century and is made from 56 different herbs and spices. The name Jägermeister translates literally to ‘hunting-master’ thus the ägermeister with cherry Sourz and Red Bull to make a Cherry Bomb. Kathryn Lewis

SANGRIA

Sangría originates from the Iberian Peninsula and, being an informal drink, its recipe is often improvised - making it fun to make with a wine, brandy, whisky, triple sec, soda water, strawberries, apples, oranges, lemons, pineapples, peaches, mint leaves, sugar and sometimes even cinnamon. It is usually served in a jug with a wooden spoon so you can eat the yummy fruit when it has absorbed the alcohol. Making sangría is easy and makes a cheap bottle of wine so much more drinkable; it tastes like Spain in a cup! Fun fact: its name is derived from the Spanish word ‘sangre’ which means blood…make of that what you will! Danielle Penny

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drink comes from the word ‘caipira’ which means ‘someone from the country side’ and is Brazils version of the word ‘hillbilly’. Despite the humble origins of this name Caipirinha is now hugely popular in fancy bar around the world. Heather Arnold

SHIRAZ

Shiraz which change greatly depending on which soil and climate it grows in. This “peppery notes”, but also comes in a lighter, fruitier variety, which contains lots of blackberries and raspberries. Legend discovered Shiraz near Shiraz in Persia during the 13th Century Crusades, hence the name of the grape. Danielle Penny

Illustration: Mitra Maher

Travel h c n ue Q

PASSPORT

Name:

apital of Portugal since the 13th century Lisbon, now a cosmopolitan metropolis, has a splendorous combination of history and modernity which provides this city with a unique and indescribable charm.

history and charm resides. One can visit the São Jorge Castle, located on the top of one of the seven Lisbon hills, have a walk inside its walls and see Lisbon through a periscope. There are also several imposing theatres such as Teatro D. Maria I and Teatro de São Carlos; Catholic churches such as Igreja de São Roque; numerous viewpoints across Lisbon’s hills with their traditional quiosques; and singular lifts

Helena Lins The coffee shops and their traditional pastry are also part of Portuguese History. A Brasileira is a 107-old coffee shop where intellectuals such as Fernando Pessoa used to drink and debate politics. Nowadays, it is a symbol of the old Lisbon but it also serves the most delicious chocolate croissants.

City: Lisbon

Country: cream) or Cozido à Portuguesa (blood sausage, spare rib, pig’s foot, chicken beef with vegtables).

Portugal

on its top that provides a splendid view of Lisbon and Tagus River; and Torre de Belém, the tower that was built to protect the city strand. With its rich Manueline It is considered a World Heritage by UNESCO and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. On Sunday some monuments have free entrance so it is worth taking a look when planning the visits. A walk on the riverside and in the beautiful gardens is inevitable as well as tasting one of the most iconic Portuguese sweets, Pastel de Belém. Its recipe has remained a secret throughout history so the only place where they are sold is in the coffee shop Pastéis de Belém. for a walk, especially on the Tagus riverside. Nowadays its greatest attraction is the Oceanário: an aquarium with more than 500 different species where we feel submerged by the Ocean. At night, the city life moves to the neighborhood Bairro Alto. With its many diverse bars it attracts people of all ages, from all over the world. From its streets one can easily reach Santos, a riverside neighborhood known for its clubs. But before that, nothing is better than having dinner in one of the friendly restaurants, drinking one of the many respected Portuguese wines.

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Beware of what you’re drinking Alcohol can be a powerful thing, especially when it’s a drink your body isn’t familiar with. Konyagi: It’s not vodka, it’s not gin, it’s not water and it’s barely legal outside of East Africa. As soon as that distinctive taste hits your lips, all aboard! You’re in for the long run; the Konyagi train has just departed. Ever wondered what the Hyenas in The Lion King were drinking? No one can truly know for certain, but if I was a betting man, I’d say that they had railcards for the Konyagi train service. ‘Tears Of the Lion’, it proudly states on its delightfully unsuspecting label. Who would think otherwise, after shortly arriving in Tanzania, that this placid looking liquid could do no harm? Well folks, a lot of hard lessons have been learnt regarding this ambiguous liqueur. Trust me on this one.

One minute you’re casually basking in the dry heat, having an ever so pleasant conversation with an intriguing comrade to be. Then the Konyagi takes hold. You to avoid what’s inevitably coming… then it happens, and it happens hard. The lyrics to ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ start a mutiny within your vocals chords, causing every last syllable to burst out of your lips, as unforgiving as the lion towards the gazelle. Dance moves follow, chairs are soon dispersed across the Savannah as every muscle in your body delights in this new liquid companionship. MI5 has their own unique style of truth serum, and this folks, is the key to the majority of East Africa’s

police interrogations. The lions didn’t cry in vain, they were paying the price of the secrets and childhood stories that this liquid unearths. As long as the recipients are aboard the train with you, every embarrassing story is reciprocated with copious laughter and heartfelt smiles. Your Tanzanian friends will get it out of you, but they will never condemn a single word of your crossdressing youth. So if you ever meet Konyagi on your travels, make preparations to brush up on your Robbie Williams, gravitate towards the cuddliest person shoes. You never know where the train might take you. James Cuddy

Pssssssst!

According to Which? magazine, the the UK is a almost always a Tuesday. So if mid-week trip to save some pennies.

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Q seventeen

HIDDEN GEMS T

ISLET _________________

. Their

crowd.

EGYPTIAN HIP HOP

CLOCK OPERA

________________

_________________

such as

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music@gairrhydd.com 路 @quenchmusic

Music ECHO LAKE _________________

BO NINGEN _________________ with their

TALL SHIPS _________________

TOY _________________

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Q nineteen

Music SŴN LISTINGS Thursday 18th

Friday 19th

The Essential playlist

Saturday 20th

Sunday 21st

POST-SŴN BLUES? 22.10 24.10 25.10 01.11 02.11 04.11

| Clwb Ifor Bach | Theatrical and ridiculous, Fearless Vampire Killers are certain to impress and amuse. | Buffalo | Performing stunning post-rock suites, I Like Trains should be huge. Don’t miss them in this intimate setting. Buffo’s Wake are a travelling gypsy-folk carnival. | Moon Club | Incredible live hip-hop, complete with a brilliant brass section, Lazy Habits are certainly not slowing down after a festival-packed summer. | Bogiez | The Doors Alive are the UK’s number one Doors tribute band, after honing their craft over years on the circuit. | Coal Exchange | Featuring comedy legends Phill Jupitus and Ade Edmondson, Idiot Bastard Band combine satire and folk with hilarious results.

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music@gairrhydd.com · @quenchmusic

Koroshitair Kimochi (Reprise) - Bo Ningen No Rest - Dry The River Even The Blind -Echo Lake Light Leave Me - Jewellers Never - Micachu And The Shapes Keep Your Teeth Sharp - Mr Fogg Back To The Fuck Yeah - Pulled Apart By Horses Books - Tall Ships Default - Django Django You I See - A Girl Called Ruth You’re Not Alone - The Blackout Holdonme - No Ceremony/// Glitters Like Gold - The Cribs Shut Eye - Stealing Sheep Wings - The Invisible Wild Human Child - Egyptian Hip Hop Echo - Wild Swim Allergies - The Lovely Eggs Water Agaisnt the Rocks - Faye Sky Blue And Ivy - Torches We Shall Visit - Islet Seddi Gwag - Huw M 3AM - Rusty Shackle (I Should Be A) Communist - This Many Boyfriends Game Love - Gulp Motoring - TOY Never Thought I’d See The Day - The School Lemonade Grrrl - Joanna Gruesome Chainsaw Song - Exit International A New Word To Say - Bright Light Bright Light Summertime - Milk Maid JCVD - Without Maps Need It - Splashh Titan - The Physics House Band Road Run - The Knox Pastures New Season Turn - The Bent Moustache Tom The Drum - Palma Violets

REVIEWS

Music

Albums

FLYING LOTUS UNTIL THE QUIET COMES (WARP) 01.10.12

THIS MANY BOYFRIENDS THIS MANY BOYFRIENDS (ANGULAR RECORDS) 08.10.12

Many producers creating futuristic down-tempo music love to use repetition to lure the listener into a trance-like state. Tracks are often in excess of 8 minutes long in order to allow their ideas to develop and mature. Conversely, Until the Quiet Comes contains 18 songs yet is a mere 46 minutes long. Each to the next idea, creating a beautiful patchwork when viewed holistically. This could have easily been headache inducing, but a consistency in production and carefully considered links between tracks ensures that it isn’t tiring to listen to in its entirety. Only on a few occasions does the track feel interrupted; the groove of Sultan’s Request barely gets underway before we are ushered on. and are instead laced with jazzy percussion and keyboards, with many of the tracks also featuring the melodic basslines of Thundercat. Together with the glitchy electronics and chopped-up vocal samples, Flying Lotus has produced a memorising world of spacey, jazz-infused beats that sets him apart from the sea of mediocre electronic musicians. Kit Denison

Strokes, Orange Juice and Patti Smith, their debut album was hailing from Leeds, certainly delivered. Punchy lyrics, pounding drums and incessant guitar riffs don’t necessarily adhere to recent chart successes and therefore guaranteed popularity, but create a rather more reminiscent feel. The albums’ upbeat sing along tracks such as Young Lovers Go Pop and Tina Weymouth are destined to be played live, yearning for a crowd to sing back the lyrics. There does however seem to be a slightly repetitive tone throughout. As a result, This Many Boyfriends doesn’t break any boundaries; they aren’t introducing anything new to the indie scene, but are perhaps instigating resurgence in the “traditional” indie band. I Don’t Like You, the opening track, seems to epitomize the whole album succinctly. With references to The Pastels, Bruce Springsteen and an unashamed love for their Cribs singles box set, chanted over powerful drums and a simple rhythmic bass and guitar combinations, This Many Boyfriends are trying to please no one but themselves, making a simple proclamation for their love for the indie genre.

LAU RACE THE LOSER (REVEAL RECORDS) 01.10.12 With only four out of nine tracks containing any lyrics, Race the Loser isn’t your average folk album. The album is instrumentally led and sees familiar, traditional Celtic tones blended with more modern sounds. The result is an album which is dynamic and innovative whilst still maintaining an authentic folk feel. It’s easy to assume that an album with few lyrics falls into the trap of each track sounding the same but Lau avoid this and each song is distinctly different from the last. Although the album’s primary focus is instrumental, when lyrics are introduced they are poignant and poetic, a perfect accompaniment to the rustic and inviting tones of the violin which features heavily. For people who like their music to be moving, Throwing Pennies is beautifully evocative and thoughtprovoking without being overstated - a must listen. While Race the Loser is a comparatively short album with only nine songs, listeners won’t be disappointed as the tracks are of epic length, ranging from four minutes to just under eight so you really get your money’s worth. Lau have succeeded in creating a diverse and progressive album; don’t let the fear of instrumental music put you off or you might miss this masterpiece of modern folk. Ellen Davies

SINGLES GREEN DAY KILL THE DJ (REPRISE) 15.08.12 Green Day are getting on a bit, aren’t they? The band are no longer the scruffy-haired teenagers naming albums after their own turds (the deceptively good ‘Dookie’) but the scruffy-haired parents who actively wonder what it is their children like. As such, new single ‘Kill the DJ’ is strangely anachronistic; on one hand, its violent swearing and Christianity conspiracy theories are as juvenile a statement as a raspberry, like good old fashioned Green Day. On the other though, the song’s sentiment and Country guitar lines owe a great deal to Morrissey/Marr’s ‘Panic’, now over 25 years old. Worth a look in? Well, it’s certainly a return to their roots: a bit of a turd. Jimmy Dunne

CRYSTAL CASTLES WRATH OF GOD (SELF-RELEASED) 26.09.12 The new single from the electronic duo’s upcoming album (III) was recently aired by Zane Lowe and is probably exactly what you were expecting; well crafted, strangely beautiful noise which sounds like the bastard child of industrial and clubland. They’ve clearly stuck to what they know, so it’s the standard Crystal Castles formula of three and a half minutes of screaming synths and yowling banshee vocals courtesy of Alice Tree. Fans of the band will no doubt love this new single, but to me, like the majority of their work, it just sounds repetitive and messy and

love about the song. Stephen Springate

music@gairrhydd.com · @quenchmusic

Q twenty-one

Film

Rule Britannia

LEANNE DIXON DISCUSSES THE RISE OF BRITISH ACTORS CROSSING THE POND TO TRANSFORM INTO

I Inception

Mickey Blue Eyes

The Reader

Revolutionary

Road The Lion King

Warrior Lawless

Spiderman, Superman

Batman,

The Amazing Spiderman The Social Network

Gangs of New York There Will Be Blood.

The Dark Knight The Dark Knight Rises.

The Social Network

路

Q twenty-three

Film COMING SOON...

REVIEWS

TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU THIS FORTNIGHT

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER DIRECTOR: STARRING: RATING:

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

PUSHER Charlie Mock

SINISTER DIRECTOR: STARRING:

GINGER & ROSA

RATING:

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4

TAKEN 2 DIRECTOR:

THE PENGUIN KING

STARRING: RATING:

SKYFALL

With thanks to

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Trailer Trash

HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

SCREEN TEST

Release date: January 2013

Five films for... BACKING BLIGHTY

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Food&Drink

CARDIFF’S MARKETS W

here’s a certain charm about the farmers’ market, a charm that beats any dark circles and any hangover, the unavoidable trajectory of a full night out. Been there, done that. Set the phone alarm at half past ten and turn on the other side for thirty minutes more. This is how a good weekend day starts: with a postponed visit to the market, but with the certainty that none of these small efforts will go unrewarded. The two best-known places of this kind in Cardiff are Roath and Riverside. Situated in two different parts of the city, these are popular shopping venues for the gourmet devotee. And if this passion is complemented by a community spirit and a sense of environmentally friendly practices, then all the better: most of the products come from Wales and are organically grown. Roath runs every Saturday from 9am until

1pm on Keppoch Road, Mackintosh Sports and Social Club, 5 minutes away from City Road, while Riverside Market is opened on Sundays from 10am until 2pm, just opposite the Millennium Stadium. From fruit, veggies and free-range eggs to assorted olives and pies, the stalls display numerous marks of authenticity. A trace of mud on the carrots, a hand written label; there’s nothing to worry about, all of it has been produced in the wide Welsh garden. Depending on the time of the year, the stalls can change both in location and in the range of products they offer. However, there is no doubt that the Riverside market is by far more consistently popular than Roath, as the central location constitutes an undeniable advantage. It doesn’t come as a surprise, then, that it has achieved the 8th position in the top BBC Best Food Markets.

Roath coloured and multi-shaped array. Although generically called “ Welsh Dragon Chilli”, it gathers some of the most worldwide appreciated chillies, including Aji Lemon, Pimienta da Neyde and Piri Piri. Organically grown in Cardiff in the grounds of a solar panel factory, they can instantly give a boost to any otherwise dull salsa. Eggs and butter can be found in any supermarket, but nothing compares to the fresh, free-range goodness of market produce. As a proof we get the goods, while smiling back to us. Although not tried yet, the meats seem as fresh and as inviting as the other products. Just a few of the assortments listed on the “Todays Special” board: Preseli Mutton (cut as you like), T-Bone Steaks, Home -Made Haggis Sausage, Home-Made White Pudding, Osso Bucho, Pork Leek and Garlic Sausage and 5 Types of Beef Bacon. Think green and fresh. Try one of the organic fruit and vegetables

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food@gairrhydd.com · @quenchfood

Food&Drink

Riverside Meandering along the Taff on a Sunday petite. La Creperie de Sophie is just in the right place, at the right time. Their to be found in High Street Arcade during the week as well. Despite not having any Welsh connections, they seem to integrate themselves successfully into the market theme with their gluten, wheat and dairy-free products. Tip: they also run a loyalty card scheme (each customer receives their 10th crepe for free). Coming from the same “ethnical” area, Taste of Persia manages quite well to add some colour to the grey surroundings of the Riverside area. Intrigued but too shy to ask the name of the pastries displayed, we assume that they were variations of the Persian baklava. Adding a plus of innovation to the usual vegetarian and vegan choices, the

Parsnipship is a stand not to overlook. Peas and brie, leeks and cheddar – two of the savoury choices we sampled that tickled our taste buds. They have special discount offers for the latecomers. Another widely appreciated stall is The Spice of Life. Also having a small shop in town, next to Albany Road, the family-run business sells whole foods, herbs and spices “with a smile”. While walking towards the centre of the market, we share a friendly smile with a lovely grey-haired lady as we ask her permission to photograph her stand. Sebon Soap pleads for palm oil-free soap, since they acknowledge the effect of its wide usage on the rainforests. Jams, pickles and sauces, all from the nearby Newport - instead of providing you a clue of what to choose, the samples might even deepen the dilemma.

Central Market F

or the more day-to-day requirements of any kitchen, there is Cardiff Central Market. What the market lacks in the gourmet-level, weekend exclusivity of the other markets, it makes up for in affordable quality from the 8am opening until 5.30pm close. Don’t be put off by stalls that often shut down before any respectable student would be home from lectures (or the pub); its central location means that you can pop in whenever you happen to be about town, including the weekends. The market’s layout hasn’t changed much in its 800 year history, and neither have the products. Ashton’s Fishmongers, the stall that welcomes you into the market, has been there since the 1800s, and its persistence is perhaps a testament to its quality. My most recent purchase, smoked salmon, was wonderfully fats’ instead of the salt with which supermarket brands tend to within the market, is not perhaps for the tightest budget, though

The cheap (and worthwhile) deals really start to show when you move onto the fruit and vegetable produce. It’s worth shopping around, as the number of stalls means inevitable competition, though I have yet to push my luck with actively pitting them against each other. Best of all, though, is the fact that it actually is a good deal. For example, the fat, numerous raspberries bought for a mere £1 really were too good to make it to my fridge. The cheese, bread and cakes that make up most of the other stalls are comparable to supermarkets in price, but boast similar (and this goes for everything in the market) is locally sourced in proper farmer’s market style, so you can expect higher quality for lower prices. My personal favourite part of the market, which I think deserves a special mention, is the snack stall near the centre, specialising in all manner of tidbits from liquorice to baklava to chocolate cocoa beans, and not forgetting the more savoury treats of sweet garlic and herbed olives. Here, you can often be offered tasters to sample what you like; a good business tactic, as many a newfound favourite has been found this way. £1.50 per 100g may seem a bit steep in comparison to your average chocolate bar, but there is something far more wholesomely satisfying about dipping into a modest white paper bag of yoghurt-covered fruit or a sticky, honeyed nut selection. Furthermore, a little really does go a long way; these snacks are easily savoured, not polished off in a few If nothing else, the Central Market is a wonderful monument to Cardiff’s heritage, having stood the test of time amongst the changes that propel Cardiff forward as a culture capital. While the city continues to edit, rearrange and re-evaluate itself, the Central Market can rest easy knowing that the only things it needs to modify are the daily specials. Isabel Larner

food@gairrhydd.com · @quenchfood

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