IN THIS ISSUE THE SHOPAHOLICS’ GUIDE TO CARDIFF WHERE TO EAT WHEN, WHY, AND FOR WHOM STUDY DRUGS - POP ONE AND BETTER YOURSELF (OR NOT REALLY)
WE SAW: FRIGHTENED RABBIT, BAND OF SKULLS, WOLF ALICE, DAUGHTER, AND DARKSIDE
FESTIVAL SEASON
BEACONS, 2000TREES
September 2014
Quench
Quench Editor Sum Sze Tam @sumtzenbumtzen Deputy Editor Chloe May @chloejayne_ Head of Print Michael O’Connell-Davidson @mikeocd
Video Games Editor Alex Glazer Film & TV Editor Aaron Roberts @aalroberts Film & TV Editor Charlie Andrews @CharlieRAndrews
Features Editor Aimee-lee Abraham @Aimlee_Abraham
Food & Drink Editor Emma Giles @EmmaGiles94
Features Editor Jason Roberts @JasonRoberts__
Food & Drink Editor Kathryn Lewis @KathrynLewis92
Columnist Gareth Evans @_GarethEvans
Sub-Editor Rhian Carruthers @RoutineEnvelope
LBGT+ Editor Emrhys Pickup
Sub-Editor Sophie Lodge @sophiel2013
Culture Editor Elouise Hobbs @Elouise_Lilly
Illustrator Naomi Brown @honeyandbrown
Culture Editor Jasmine Freeman
Illustrator Olivia Thomas
Fashion & Beauty Editor Franciska Bodnar @frankiebods Fashion & Beauty Editor Nicole Petty
Travel Editor Olivia Waltho @LivWaltho Music Editor Charlie Mock @charlie_mock Music Editor India Thomas @IndiaAliT
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SPECIAL THANKS TO: Tom Eden, for his constant support Emilia Ignaciuk, for her help in creating the magazine’s new design philosophy Monocle, TIME, SHARES, and Boisdale Life, for being constant sources of design inspiration Michael O’Connell-Davidson and Chloe May - because although they’ve already been credited, they deserve extra special thanks for keeping the Quench ship afloat this issue
Editor’s Note - otherwise known as the most interesting piece of writing you’ll have ever laid eyes on I’m not going to lie. As I write this, I am exhausted to the bone - in that the insides of my limbs, my torso, my everything, feel drained of all life. They want to do nothing more than flop onto a medium-soft bed and stay there. My life currently revolves completely and utterly around work: whether at my internship by day, or Quench by night. I’m being paid well for my internship (a rarity among students of the humanities/social sciences), but Quench is what occupies my mind all day. If you know anybody who’s passionate about student media, or is a student media veteran, you’ll know that this particular breed of person spends more of their time in the “office” than they do maintaining their a) social life b) studies c) hygiene. (If you’ve just arrived at university, don’t be alarmed; it’s normal practice for students to engage in any of these three activities. A little less normal to engage in all three.) It’s arguable that this applies to anyone who’s neck-deep in a society, but the difference here is that student media directly gives a particular group of students some extreeeeeeemely employable skills. It’s a good way into work experience because you’ve done some real work; I’d say that a lot of the stuff we produce here at Cardiff Student Media are of a higher quality than some of the commercial stuff you’ll find out there in the big wide world - and it’s all voluntary.
would have them treat me; to be fair, and to empathise with others when they struggle. I don’t want any drama to get in the way of the magic that happens in the office on the 3rd floor of the Union building. I want to share with everyone the great fun and great meaning there is in putting together this magazine with our blood, sweat and tears this strange non-sentient being my team and I put so much of ourselves into creating. Quench looks different from last year. If you’ve seen Quench 2013/14 you’ll probably be able to sense some similarities. Last year’s magazine is the bedrock of Quench this year, but some stylistic things have evolved. We’ll be trying to bring you good, meaningful content, presented in a way we think is beautiful. We’re going to be candid, respect everybody we interact with as human beings, and have fun while we’re at it. This first issue hasn’t been easy; but nothing worth doing is, I suppose. I’ve got a few people to be extremely grateful for - both because they were the ones who got me through this, and also because I’m honoured they’d give me their precious help, given that each of them are very busy and very talented. I’ve also got to be grateful for my special boy, for many, many reasons. I can’t wait for this deadline to be over. I’m going to sleep in and do nothing all day. I’ll probably only eat one meal the whole time I’m awake; that’s how late I’m going to sleep in. I am a slob.
But there’s a strange tension in any student organisation. You never know where the line between working as a student and working as a professional is. When Bob makes a mistake, he can throw his hands up in the air and say, “Hey, I’m just a student.” But when Bob’s boss (who is also a student) makes a mistake, he points at the latter and says, “You’re making us look bad. We’re more than just amateur students!” Nobody wins.
But that doesn’t change the fact that I love the opportunity I’ve been given. There are plenty of people more talented than I, but I’m the one who’s been lucky enough to be chosen for this job. So I’m not about to throw away a chance like this: I want this magazine to be read, to be touched, to be in demand and to be almost addictive. (That isn’t some Freudian call for sexual liberation, by the way. Who needs sex when you have the internet?)
When that happens, it’s extremely frustrating and some great people have left their respective student societies for this reason. I personally know people who’ve done this, and I just want to say, in this very first issue of the new year, that these people are sorely missed.
Most of all, I want to share all the benefits of Student Media with as many students as possible; it’s got so much to offer! So please, swing on by our Monday contribution meetings, come into the Student Media office, or drop me a message/tweet, if even just to scout out the surroundings. Who knows? You might just find that the scenery suits you.
And there’s not much I can do about it myself. All I can do - at the risk of sounding like a primary school teacher - is treat people as I
-Sum Sze Tam
Contents FEATURES
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Pop, Look, Listen, Learn.
Would you take ‘smart pills’ to get good grades?
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Love Games
Relationships at university come with their own brand of problems
LGBT+
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What Got Done This Year?
Check out some of the most important ways the LGBT+ movement has progressed over the past 365 days
COLUMNIST
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The Alternative Guide To Wales
Quench’s resident lad (no kidding) shows the new kids around town
CULTURE
13 14
Twenty Years of Glee
A look at Cardiff ’s coolest comedy corner
Hidden Gems for the Curious Student
Here are ten things you wish you knew about Cardiff ’s cultural scene
16 17 18
The Power of the Capsule Wardrobe
Natasha Vaughan tells the story of the importance of key wardrobe pieces
Make it Summer All Year Round
Sunny days are in the past now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still dream...
Cardiff Guide to Shopping
The essential guide to all those who can’t resist the lure of retail therapy
20 21
Gap Year Destinations
One in China, one in Australia
Europe’s Undiscovered Cities
Where to head when you want to escape the tourist trail
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FASHION & BEAUTY
TRAVEL
25
MUSIC
22 23
new/newydd
New artists to look out for, as per our editors’ recommendations
“We just didn’t feel like we were done yet”
An interview with Peace, on their new album, going to the dark side, and Justin Timberlake
24 25
Is Album Artwork Still Important?
Would you buy an album based on its cover?
COVER STORY Live Festival Reviews: 2000trees & Beacons Festival
We’ve got the latest on some of the best local festivals that played this summer
VIDEO GAMES
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Hype in Video Games
Call of Duty, GTA V, Destiny, Assassin’s Creed and co. all generate more attention than they perhaps deserve
31 32 33
The Frame-Rate Debate
Your eyes can only see at 24 frames per second - true, or false?
Bang for Your Buck
Students are skint, and perhaps video games are too expensive
Review: Tropico 5
El Presidenté returns!
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22
FILM & TV
34 36
A New Dawn, A New TV Season
New and returning shows to satiate your inner TV junkie
Underappreciated Box Sets and Blockbusters
This selection is sure to get you through your first few weeks at university
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Star Power
Are the days of the star actor or actress over?
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Box Set Binging VS Real Time Viewing
Aaron Roberts tells us why Netflix and its peers may not be so much fun after all, when compared to traditional TV
FOOD & DRINK
40
Rising to the Occasion
Where to eat when? Food & Drink have got you covered
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Fine Dining: Art & Archaic
Students rarely get the chance to eat high-end, but are they worth it anyway?
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DIY: Mixology
Cocktails to get you through Freshers’, tastefully
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POP, LOOK, LISTEN,
LEARN.
AIMEE-LEE ABRAHAM INVESTIGATES THE RISE OF ‘SMART PILLS’ AND THE PRESSURES THAT ARE INFLUENCING STUDENTS TO SUCCUMB TO THEIR DANGEROUS CHARMS
F E ATUR E S
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Photograph: Take your Pills by Laurent Diabold via Flickr. (CC BY-NC 2.0)
e have reached a point in higher education where courses intended to creatively liberate and intellectually stimulate risk being reduced to exercises in relentless memory retention. Even the attainment of a glowing First will not necessarily suffice in the current economic climate, but we are all aware that it helps. We are also aware that we can rarely rely on our natural talents alone to get one. And so we learn; we learn to distinguish ourselves, we learn to block out distractions, we learn the value of sacrifice. No matter how much we value their companionship, we learn to trample over our peers in a race to the top of the CV pile long before the graduation cap is placed. Adopting these cold, corporate values puts us in good stead for the market, for the performance targets and co-worker comparisons we will face there. Even when we’re starting out as designated office coffee brewers, we channel our attention into remembering who takes sugar and serving with the brightest smile the office has seen, hopeful that this will land us a permanent (and possibly even paid) position. This drive to outperform ourselves and others is not necessarily a bad thing. It thickens our skins. It stretches our limits. It nourishes us and allows us to grow from fresh-faced first years into real adults. But it comes at a price. Surrounded by machines, it’s easy to forget that we cannot compete with them. Technological advances often place us in a position where the office is omnipresent. We carry it in our pockets, we fall asleep thinking of what flashes upon the screen beneath the pillow, we let it interrupt our social conversations. We are made of flesh and bone, yet we are treated like information processors and told we’re only as good as the words we squeeze onto single sided A4. Academic excellence, extracurricular activities, internships, part-time jobs, relationships to build, social lives to keep us sane. How many plates can we juggle before something smashes? It should not come as a surprise that many have collapsed under the weight on their overworked and underslept shoulders. A recent study of 41 universities conducted by The Tab highlighted a boom in the use of nootropics among the student population, with 1 in 5 of the 2000 asked by the website admitting that they had taken nootropics during their time on campus. A relatively unfamiliar term coined by the Romanian Doctor Corneliu E. Giurgea in 1972, ‘nootropics’ refer to a range of drugs designed to ‘purportedly improve mental functions such as cognition, memory, intelligence, motivation, attention and concentration’. Outside of pharmacology, they are known to most as ‘smart drugs’, The correlation between students and recreational drug use is wellestablished but the assumption often made is that teens and twentysomethings experimenting with substances are doing so to escape themselves. Writing in The Guardian, Charlie Brooker’s description of his student years spent almost entirely playing video games stoned and ‘wandering around massively overlit convenience stores feeling jittery and alien’ embodies the cliché of the undergraduate spending more time with their head in a bong than in a book. His ingenious remark “I don’t want to get out of my head: that’s where I live” rings true for students who reject the more hedonistic side of student party culture. Nootropics, though, are engineered and administered to achieve precisely the opposite effect - to access closed components of the mind, bettering performance and sharpening focus. When all else fails, when competition is fierce, Students can look to nootropics as a solution. Searching for something extra that will get them to the library at the crack of dawn and keep them there until closing time, it is often the highest achieving and most perfectionistic of pupils who fall down the rabbit hole. Academic potential is so often lost to distraction, to basic human need, to the clock. Most users aren’t prone to lying under a duvet avoiding reality. Instead, they share a hunger to jump out of bed and get shit done. One of the more widely used smart drugs, modafinil was first prescribed to enhance alertness in those suffering from narcolepsy, a rare, chronic sleep disorder that renders the brain of the sufferer un-
“I was able to write a 22page paper in one day. I revised it over the next couple of days and got an A. Normally, I wouldn’t have even been able to get a rough draft done in a week.” able to regulate sleeping and waking patterns. The tendency of narcoleptics to fall asleep at random times places them in danger. When it was discovered that modafinil also helped aid concentration and sharpen memory, the drug was trialled by pilots on long-haul flights. Then, in 2004, The Ministry of Defence were exposed by The Guardian as suppliers of modafinil following an investigation into MoD spending granted under the open government code. It was claimed they had purchased a staggering 24,000 pills over a six-year period, with orders peaking in 2001 (the year allied forces first entered Afghanistan), revealing an intent to keep soldiers artificially alert. Unlike more conventional pick-me-ups, like the precious flask of coffee considered a study day staple by many, modafinil does not keep users awake for unreasonable hours against their will. It mysteriously manages to remove the desire to sleep, but not the physical need. This means that users can stay awake for as long as they need to complete the desired task, yet drift off seamlessly as soon as they choose to hit the hay. How exactly this is possible remains a matter of debate for neurologists and pharmacists alike - users should consider this before indulging. The official site for Provigil (the brand of modafinil distributed by the MoD) lists psychiatric symptoms ‘including depression, anxiety, sensing things that are not really there, mania, thoughts of suicide and aggression’ as potential side effects - a haunting reality if troops were/are using them to maximise battlefield success. With the awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder rising, the concept of adding a mind-altering drug known to cause delirium to the mix is concerning to say the least. In despite of this, modafinil is frequently compared in the media to NZT-48, the fictionalised ‘genius pill’ that formed the plotline for the 2011 Hollywood hit Limitless. In the film Bradley Cooper plays a man plagued by the writer’s block that prevents him from finishing his novel and achieving the literary success he feels he is capable of. A chance encounter with an old school friend turned pharmaceutical rep sees him popping a transformative, top-secret ‘smart drug’ that allows him to instantaneously become the best possible version of himself. Overnight he is elevated from his lowly existence as an unemployed, overweight layabout to dizzying heights of success personally and professionally. Although the effects are highly exaggerated to fit the requirements of a blockbuster thriller, many claim that ‘limitless’ is perhaps the most apt word to describe how modafinil makes the user feel. In 2011 a survey on the topic of nootropics was conducted by BBC Newsnight in collaboration with New Scientist. Of the 760 respondents it attracted, 38 percent had dabbled - with a staggering 92 percent of the latter figure claiming they would do so again. One respondent spoke of the experience so many unmotivated students yearn for, admitting; “I was able to write a 22-page paper in one day. I revised it over the next couple of days and got an A. Normally, I wouldn’t have even been able to get a rough draft done in a week.”
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John, a young man who has been taking modafinil intermittently for the last two years, agreed to speak to Quench about his experience. The interview began with a walk-through of the first stage; the ordering process. John had explained with a wry smile before the meeting that his source was ‘quicker than Amazon’ despite being based on the other side of the world, following the same standard of professionalism you’d expect from major distributors. This seemed hard to believe, but a quick Google search brought up the exact supplier John uses within seconds. There was no re-wording to be done, none of the endless trawling you’d expect. It was right there on the very first page and it was as legitimate as John described, its webpage almost indistinguishable from that of high street pharmacies like Lloyds or Boots. It only becomes apparent that all is not well upon closer observation. The sidebar includes links to antidepressants, cancer treatments and slimming aids banned in several countries and all of these can be added to a virtual basket in seconds with no questions asked. John explains orders come with a tracking number and pass promptly through border control with ease, arriving in ‘plain cardboard boxes with no references whatsoever to medicines or pharmacies’. All medicines are ‘genuine branded products’ unless stated otherwise and come with a 30-day guarantee. A free helpline operates within local office hours to deal with any queries, although the extensive FAQ section of the site proves capable of handling the majority. Such high levels of customer service allow UK users of nootropics to steer clear of the dark net, avoiding the cliched underworld where Silk Road dealers lurk and transactions are paid in untraceable bitcoins. Despite this, it’s worth remembering that not all sites will be as professional as the one featured here. Pharmaceuticals purchased online will of course come in varying qualities. As with all drugs, unless you were somehow able to run clinical tests on your purchase, you cannot be certain of its purity. Although morally questionable, sites like the one John frequents are not doing anything wrong from a legislative standpoint. Although it is illegal in the UK to sell drugs like modafinil without a prescription, the importation of non-controlled substances from overseas remains legal (if intended for personal use). The off-shore nature of the site places it firmly in the grey and while the company stresses the importance of consulting a doctor before taking new medication or altering pre-existing dosages, stating this achieves little in deterring the curious and the vulnerable who make up the majority of their 100,000 ‘regulars’. Safe in the knowledge that they won’t face repercussions and stigma of legal action, loyal buyers are free to experiment and self-medicate at their own will. When dependency crops up, John insists that he is not addicted. When he stops taking modafinil, he reports none of the physical reactions associated with withdrawal; there are no night sweats, no jitters, no excruciating pains. A moderate smoker, cigarettes haunt his dreams soon after cessation, whereas quitting modafinil induces a kind of quiet nostalgia. He notices its absence but there is no biting, omnipresent yearning. Rather, things simply return to ‘normal’ and a lull ensues. But while there might not be a dramatic come down, returning to a normal life seems rather anti-climatic and mundane. John explains how ‘stacks of work see to themselves’ under the influence. It’s hard to adjust to life in slow motion. Modafinil, taken consistently, he says, is like living off ‘really good cake’ for a while and finding to your surprise that you feel better than ever and haven’t gained any weight. Returning to a diet of leaves is the sensible thing but you’re constantly hungry and lethargic and you just really miss cake. Despite John’s assurance that modafinil does not induce dependency, one cannot help but question if users of modafinil are too captivated by its apparent magical powers to consider the long-term consequences. If it feels great and shows no immediate physical or mental signs warranting alarm, it can seem just too good an opportunity to refuse. This is where the danger lies. Anonymous online forums contain hundreds of testimonies from modafinil users and the verdict is unanimously positive, with the exception of a few reviews claiming that it exacerbated pre-existing anxiety and tips advising users to designate tasks before taking the drug. Failing to do so means wasting boundless enthusiasm on pointless activities. John relates; beforehand he had lost days binge-watching Netflix with the infallible concentration of a meditating monk. One anonymous contributor to an online forum became completely engrossed in a game of Halo, unaware that the lecture she had taken the drug to get through had ended nine hours earlier. Many users who have learnt to administer it ‘properly’ refer to it as a ‘wonder drug’, ‘miracle worker’ and ‘life saver’. Some ‘cannot remember how (they) functioned without it’. Euphoric reviews make the drug seem tempting to those yet to experiment but completely sidetrack the element of risk. Throughout the forum pages are endless hints from those obviously dependent from the outside of the “I CAN give up but I don’t WANT to yet” mentality so many smokers adopt to avoid pain and inconvenience. The blinkered effect of modafinil can further add to elements of denial. The same induced focus it brings can make users unknowingly nightmarish to be around, meaning that it poses a real threat to personal relationships if used for extended periods of time. One student blogger wrote online of his observations having spent a semester surrounded by friends using it to get through finals. A quiet, courteous, painfully shy roommate had obliviously transformed into a confrontational, visibly agitated mess right before his eyes. When the fact that cognitive enhancers could be viewed by some as a form of cheating in the same way that performance-enhancers would be in a professional sporting setting was mentioned, he erupted in public, red faced and screaming in the middle of the silent library. As with any drug which alters the natural neurological state of the user, unpleasant and uncharacteristic personality changes can set in, in some chronic cases proving almost impossible to reverse. John tells me that he stopped taking modafinil one day because it was out of stock at his
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A BBC / NS SURVEY SHOWED THAT 38% OF RESPONDENTS HAD TAKEN COGNITIVE ENHANCING DRUGS.
OF THAT 38%, 92% SAID THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THEM AGAIN.
usual suppliers. The dry spell lasted for three months - a significant period for someone accustomed to taking 1-2 doses a day, everyday, for the two years prior. Untrusting of other sources, he had no choice but to go cold turkey for far longer than he had before. Things did not go as swimmingly as he anticipated. During that time, John was rushed to hospital following signs of cardiac arrest. Driving down the motorway, he was struck by a sudden and overwhelming tightness in his chest. Palpitations, breathlessness and blurred vision followed and he soon found himself pulling over on the hard shoulder, dialing NHS Direct with trembling hands. They insisted on sending an ambulance immediately. Exhausted by his work schedule, John had taken a gram and a half of caffeine ‘to get out of bed’ that morning. To put that into context, a single Pro Plus tablet contains 50mg, meaning that John had ingested the potentially fatal equivalent of thirty Pro Plus pills in one sitting. The incident would never have happened, John claims, had he not run out of modafinil in the first place. It was a silly decision, one that he regrets and admits is impossible to rationalise with the benefit of hindsight. Vowing never to touch caffeine again (with the exception of a recreational coffee here and there), he has now resumed his routine of taking modafinil every morning. The God complex and sense of deep-rooted confidence it gives him in otherwise stressful situations was too soothing to give up. However, his immediate resumption of old habits following a scare suggests that there could be some sort of disconnect in his mind. Although the absence of modafinil caused him to behave in an irrational way, it was the caffeine that caused him to become ill. If anything, then, the incident has served to reinforce his belief that modafinil works for him and cannot be substituted. He uses the analogy of a car engine to describe the difference between the two and how they interact with his body: “Caffeine is like putting your foot down in first gear” he begins, “...the engine is going at 9000 rpm but you’re barely moving. There’s an initial buzz but before long the engine starts playing up and you know it’s getting damaged in the process. You’re destined for a crash. Modafinil is cleaner… it takes you straight up to fifth gear, where you can coast along smoothly at 80 mph.” The attraction of a pill that can make us better and stronger is one that will never wear off. It’s in our nature to seek growth and to hope for miracle makers. Similarly, the economy may appear paused in a perpetual state of recession. The job market may not be as kind as we hoped it would. Emails will be ignored, applications will be binned before they have been read, opportunities will be missed. For some, nootropics can bring some sunshine to a rainy day, clearing brain fog and brightening prospects. For those opting to stay clean, there will always be a nagging worry of being left behind. But, ask yourself this; do you still consider Lance Armstrong to be the groundbreaking, world-class cyclist he was once held up to be, now that you are aware of the means to his ends? Would you feel the same sense of pride and achievement as a completed degree scroll is placed in your hand if you knew that a chemical had done a significant amount of the work for you? And are you willing to risk your health and relationships in the process? Under-researched and anecdotally personality-altering, it’s a gamble. Place your bet wisely. NB: Sources’ names have been changed to protect their identities.
LOVE GAMES EXPLORING RELATIONSHIP ISSUES AT UNIVERSITY, BY SOMEONE NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO.
Photograph: Couple by Mrhayata via Flickr, (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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I
will make absolutely no pretenses about my credentials as any sort of relationship expert, guru, czar or any other position of relative authority you care to choose. I’m also aware that there are many people infinitely more capable of explaining the various vagaries and complexities surrounding romance, a fact that will remain true for as long as I continue to snore, play Candy Crush after sex, or do any of the one thousand other things that make me a mediocre boyfriend. Thankfully, we’re reminded that within all forms of media that there are thousands of other people who are paid actual money to have an opinion on subjects they know less than shit about. So before I continue, this article is dedicated to Adrian Chiles, Katie Hopkins, and every single BuzzFeed contributor. From your respective fountains of ignorance, I draw strength. It’s quickly become apparent that, now more than ever, university is being marketed as an experience to prospective and incumbent students alike. It’s not really hard to see why either. Telling a student that your university is the best chance of securing a wide selection of good jobs in a variety of interesting fields sounds like a good pitch, but telling a student that they can drink what they want, fuck who they want, all whilst avoiding responsibilities of pretty much any sort reckons to be at least slightly more effective. Well, effective enough that university enrolment rates are higher than they’ve ever been before, even though the cost of university is so obscene that I’m pretty sure every Vice-Chancellor in the country carries a sieve to the toilet to collect any loose change that might fall out of them. The point is, there are lots of students at lots of universities and we’re (mostly) all here because we’ve bought into the idea of an experience. And invariably we do our best to try and live up to the image of students we see presented to us in the media as the all-drinking, all-shagging future of the country. That’s a problem, but not for the reasons that might appear obvious. I should point out here that if you want to read a piece about how students treat university as a non-stop bacchanalia, you’re in the wrong place. If ever there’s a time in your life to do all the stupid shit you won’t be able to do when you’re stuck with actual responsibilities, this is it. It’s a bit more difficult to drink 3 bottles of White Lightning and end up in someone else’s bed when you’re middle-aged with a job and children. Unless you’re Paul Gascoigne. The way we see university now goes something like this: by the time we’ve graduated, we’re supposed to have drunk everything, shagged everyone, maybe ended up with a half-decent job, and look back on it as an experience well paid for. But if you find yourself in a relationship? You’ve properly derailed the student gravy train. People look at you with a weird expression that’s half disbelief and half pity. What could possibly be wrong with you that you’d voluntarily give up your UNAY experience? You’d have to be an idiot. However, with respect to those who believe that relationships at university are a waste of time , they have a lot to be said for them. In fact, the way that relationships at university have almost become stigmatized in their own way is quite reflective of general university culture and the university experience as a whole. Without wanting to sound like your dad, university is probably the best place that offers you a chance to grow as a person. You succeed and you fuck up, but you do it all on your own terms. So if you go through university living within a set of social parameters and guidelines that prioritise booze and fucking strangers, how much are you actually going to get out of it? Chances are you’ll still be the same immature dickbag you were when you arrived, only with a few more STIs. It’s pretty true that you tend to grow up faster in a relationship because your girlfriend or boyfriend slowly manages to get you to stop doing most of your annoying shit. Good relationships make you a better person, and your goal at the end of university should be to become a better and more complete person at the end than you were in the beginning. With a degree. Hopefully.
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I’M IN A LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP This is probably the most common worry among freshers’ for quite a few reasons, and although it’s not limited to them, students who have been in this situation for a year tend to be less worried because they know how to make it work. The majority of these worries boil down to the one question, “How can I make this work?” Look, longdistance is the worst. I won’t even bother debating that, because it’s obviously true. Nobody in any sort of healthy relationship says to themselves, “Hey, you know what’d make this better? Moving miles apart, only seeing each other every other weekend, and surrounding ourselves with single people and Jägerbombs!” Some couples break-up before term even starts, because they know it’s a lot of effort to keep things the same. Which they won’t be, by the way. It’s difficult go from seeing a person nearly every day to only seeing them whenever you’ve both got time and money. Which is like, never. If you accept the realities of being in a long-distance relationship, it becomes a lot easier to deal with. Of course it entirely hinges on how secure you think your relationship is. If you think that you’re with THE ONE and you’ll never find THE ONE ever again and you’ll go to the end of the earth for THE ONE and THE ONE would do exactly the same for you because they think you’re THE ONE too, then fine. If you met them a month ago in McDonalds after a night out, and only meet up every so often just to make sweet McLovin you should probably consider things a bit more carefully. Either way, don’t believe people when they say long-distance relationships can’t work at university. They can, and they do, for lots of people. Just be realistic about how much work they take.
MY FRIENDS THINK I SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WITH MY PARTNER REMEMBER WHEN YOU USED TO BE FUN? Seriously though, this is a big reason why people can be so anti-relationship. You have 24 hours in your day, and dividing them up effectively is the best way to avoid pissing people off. There will be times where you have to let people down, and they will hate you for it. But if they’re real friends, they’ll only hate you a little bit. Talk to your partner about this as well, and maybe they’ll realise that they take up more of your time than they thought. The best thing about this is you’re totally blameless. These are the thoughts of other people, not you! Realistically, it’ll probably end up a fair compromise in which everyone shares you nicely because you’re so fucking popular. Lucky you.
I JUST SLEPT WITH MY FLATMATE / HOUSEMATE Cool. Just to clarify, the “No screwing your flatmates” rule is the fucking dumbest rule of university. Seriously. How else are you supposed to prepare yourself for drunkenly sleeping with one of your co-workers at a Christmas party in 7 years time? As mentioned earlier, university is a time to grow, and nothing says growth like learning to deal with the social fallout that accompanies sex. It’s not a big deal. Either you’ll a) do it again, or b) decide once was enough. Just because you live with somebody doesn’t automatically make them unattractive. Go for it. IT’S ALL IN THE NAME OF GROWTH.
F E ATUR E S
Photograph: Shiny Happy People, by Brotherham via Flickr. (CC BY-NC 2.0)
I’M LGBT+ I know even less about LGBT+ relationships than I do about heterosexual relationships. And as you may have noticed, I know shit all about those. So I enlisted the help of our LGBT+ editor Emrhys, who was very kind and patient. So anything that sounds vaguely sensible from this point probably shouldn’t be credited to me. Basically, being LGBT+ at university comes with a different set of problems from a relationship standpoint, aside from dealing with the occasional intolerant shithead. For example, you might not even be out yet. And while it isn’t particularly my place to tell you what course of action you should take with regards to that, I feel that universities in general are a safe place for the LGBT+ community. There are those from small villages and towns with no LGBT+ scene that’ll come to Cardiff and find much more on offer. Not to mention Cardiff as a city is generally quite progressive, another plus when coming from a smaller village or town. Other worries like not knowing where to look for a relationship or worrying that nobody will want to go out with you can sometimes surface as well. Again, it’s important to remember that there are people in exactly the same situation. People inevitably find themselves at university, and eventually you’ll be comfortable enough to start doing things here that you may not have been able to back at home.
I’M A VIRGIN Chris Rock once said (back when he was funny), “Everybody lies about sex. Shit, people lie while they having sex.” In all walks of life this is true, but probably nowhere more so than university. At some points, playing Never Have I Ever seems less about drinking and more about seeing who can top everyone with the best/weirdest sex story. “Never have I ever had a threesome!” “Oh yeah? Never have I ever had sex with my mates sister!” “Never have I ever had sex with a clown in the middle of Debenhams!” And so on. It’s no wonder that people feel pressured to lie about sex when it becomes more of a competition than anything else. Virginity can be enough of an embarrassing and intense stigma without being exacerbated by everyone else telling you how great their sex life is. If you’re a virgin and you choose to tell people, you’ll probably be surprised how little people care. It just isn’t that big of a deal. Don’t worry about it. Just know that the first time you do it, it will be terrible. Just awful. But at least you won’t know any better.
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can understand why people dislike the idea of being in relationships at uni. Relationships are time consuming, require effort, and there’ll always be people who dislike them just because they go against their perception of how university should be. But ultimately, university is what you make of it. There will never again be a time in your life where you’ll be able to live like with no responsibilities, free to do whatever and whomever you want. But also consider that you’ll probably never again be surrounded in an environment so conducive to helping you grow as a person. You paid for the experience; it’s up to you how you choose to make it worthwhile. — Jason Roberts
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what got done this year? It’s easy to get bogged down in the trials and tribulations of everyday life, but 201314 has been a great year for the LGBT+ movement. Here at Quench we want to kick off by celebrating all the progress that has been made this year - and hopefully set a good precedent for the year-to-be
Game, set and match to the PC brigade If you were following the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage this year, you might have heard presenter Sue Barker referring collectively to “ball kids” in place of the traditional terms “ball boys” and “ball girls”. Apparently this more modern gender-neutral version has started gaining traction abroad, and although it has yet to make it into the official jargon of British commentators, Barker used it twice during the tournament in June. It seems unlikely anybody would have noticed, had it not been for the Daily Mail’s reactionary article on the subject, under a headline involving the words “PC brigade”. Because heaven forbid anybody ever update the language they use out of sensitivity
to the feelings of others. In this case, the adjustment is a tiny one which is not only more inclusive, but actually quicker and easier to say. But to some people, all change, no matter how petty, must be resented and resisted regardless of its merits.
words can make. Let’s be honest, Barker probably wasn’t thinking about potential ball enbies (non-binary people) at the time. But on the off chance there was a non-binary kid working at Wimbledon, imagine the difference it might have made to their mood.
To almost everyone else, the change doubtless seems insignificant. But the small phrases we repeat every day - things that carry so little weight by themselves as to seem harmless - they all stack up. To a non-binary person, having your identity erased by the phrase ‘ball boys and ball girls’ might not be a big deal, if that was the only time it happened. But when you go through life having tiny reminders of your own non-existence and otherness constantly pushed in your face - “ladies and gentlemen”, “brothers and sisters” - you realise what a difference these
“Ball kids” isn’t just more inclusive. It’s also a step away from society’s obsession with gendered language. You don’t have to be non-binary to be sick of having your gender mentioned in every breath, as if it were crucially important for strangers to know so they can decide what to think of you (and make assumptions about the contents of your underwear). So please, let “ball kids’”catch on. Even if you don’t watch tennis, support the PC brigade.
Image: Tennis golden oldie - name the player by Carine06, CC BY-NC 2.0
No one to judge Pope Francis has, let’s face it, shocked most of the Catholic Church with his modern progressive views and actions towards the LGBT+ community. He’s reportedly given a blessing (via letter) to ‘Kairos of Florence’ a group of gay and lesbian Italian Catholics, he’s called for the catholic church to be more accepting of the LGBT+ community and back in March he said that the issue of gay marriage should be studied and not dismissed out-of-hand. The Pope has had many varied careers; he was a former janitor, nightclub bouncer, chemical technician and literature teacher before joining the seminary in 1958 and taking his vows in 1960. These varied experiences make him quite a unique Pope. His attitude towards homosexuality has won him plaudits and earned him a place
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on the cover of The Advocate, which you may know, is a gay news magazine. Over the past 12 months, Pope Francis has surprised the world and captured the attention of Catholics and non-Catholics alike For the LGBT+ community, he has opened the door, however slightly, to encouraging an open and honest conversation. Now, the Pope’s more open minded views go beyond the LGBT+ community; he’s been photographed washing the feet of convicts and even posed for a selfie. He’s been quoted on the subject of women considering abortion due poverty or rape “Who can remain unmoved before such painful situations?”; and regarding divorced and remarried Catholics, who are forbidden from taking the Eucharist/holy communion, that this crucial rite “is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”
We are a generation experiencing a pivotal moment of change, mostly change for the better. We need to be active and take part in the opportunity presented here. The more we communicate and interact with our churches, synagogues, temples, gurdwaras and religious communities, the more we can learn about each other, the less we fear that something “other”. You can be religious and LGBT+, people can be big parts of both communities and be accepted for having faith and being LGBT+. The pope having said “If a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge.” In many experiences the wider communities of most religions can be wholly accepting. Be proud of who you are, the Pope seems okay with it. - Marcus Connolly
- Kevin McGowan
LG B T+
The Turing test for Artificial Ignorance Alan Mathison Turing. The father of computing. Mathematician, logician, computer scientist, cryptanalyst - the list could go on. Born in London in 1912, Turing is most well known for his work during WWII. By creating the “Bombe”, Turing enabled Germany’s encryptor, Enigma, to become obsolete by intercepting over 84,000 enemy messages every month and ultimately save millions of people’s lives. But there is so much more to Turing than his contributions to the technology revolution. Alan Turing was gay, which in this day and age would not be an issue - but when Turing was growing up, being gay was illegal. So when, at the age of 39, he reported a robbery and (somewhat stupidly) suggested it might have been a male-friend of his who committed the crime, it was actually Turing who ended up getting arrested. Faced
with a choice between imprisonment and chemical castration Turing chose the latter, for better or worse. This resulted in a series of injections of oestrogen to reduce libido and - supposedly - ‘cure homosexuality’. Unsurprisingly this ‘cure’ didn’t work and all it succeeded in was making Turing extremely depressed and eventually, at a mere age of 41, taking his own life. It is the most humiliating punishment for a not-even-a-crime. After having helped to put an end to the anti-gay persecutions happening in Germany in WWII, it seems almost tragically ironic that this is the thanks Turing got. Who knows what more Turing could have achieved if his life wasn’t cut so short. For an early Christmas present to all Turing fans out there (which really should be everybody) on the 24th December 2013 the Queen granted a posthumous pardon. The pardon was a process that took many
years, thousands of signatures, a failed bill and many many open-minded and open-hearted people to make work. It is a massive step in the right direction, even if it is far too late and would be much better if it hadn’t been needed in the first place. 2012 was the centenary of his birth and most certainly shows the leaps in equality and understanding society has taken since Alan Turing was alive. It is such a shame to have lost such an amazing person to such a petty thing as ignorance - but his legacy lives on, and now, with this pardon, it will live on untarnished. As Gordon Brown said in his official apology in September 2009, “we’re sorry, you deserved so much better”. - Emrhys Pickup
Wurst is the New Best
had she become a beloved hero to millions of people watching, but she scored significant points from many of the countries that had been responsible for the backlash against her, including Russia. Upon receiving the trophy, she proclaimed “we are unity and we are unstoppable”, directed at those trying to silence LGBT+ people across Europe. As Graham Norton said of Wurst’s victory, “… Eurovision has done something that matters just a little bit”.
London Pride 2014. Thousands gathered in the capital to march the streets and celebrate the progression of LGBT+ liberation. And while many acts performed the Main Stage, there was one person that the proud crowd were desperate to see. Conchita Wurst has captured the hearts of LGBT+ people around the world, showing that we can be ourselves without fear. It’s hard to believe that just a few short months ago, she was a Eurovision hopeful being ridiculed by the Russian authorities and other small-minded bigots for not fitting their expectations. But as she soared through her winning entry – “Rise Like a Phoenix” – uniting the crowds and bringing a tear to one’s eye, it was clear to see that we had won, and we would carry on winning.
He named his persona after a Cuban friend and a common German phrase. Of course, it is the beard that makes her stand out. Neuwirth chose to include the relatively unique feature “…to say that you can achieve anything, no matter who you are or how you look”.
Wurst is the creation of the Austrian performer Tom Neuwirth, a gay man who uses female pronouns to describe Conchita.
She was selected in September last year to represent Austria at Eurovision 2014 and quickly gained criticism and worse from
conservative groups, especially in Eastern Europe. An Austrian anti-Wurst Facebook group garnered 31,000 likes within four days, while petitions were started in Russia and Belarus to edit out her performances from national broadcasts. Fortunately, Neuwirth was unfazed by the backlash and Conchita’s popularity soared. Conchita won the Eurovision Final with 290 points and the reaction from the arena in Copenhagen was unbelievable. Not only
Every so often, someone comes along who is capable of leading a revolution, someone who is talented, determined and inspirational in equal measures. In the age of social media and celebrity, Conchita Wurst has become such a person. Her victory was a victory for everyone who has ever felt like an outsider and showed that there are so many more victories to come. - Sam Cook
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AN ALTERNATIVE GUIDE TO WALES New here? Quench satirist-in-residence Gareth Evans is here to help with a whistlestop guide to wales
THE SKETCH with GARETH EVANS
What springs to mind when you think of Wales? A dangerous question to ask, admittedly. For the naïve, or the three people who actually acknowledge the Welsh tourist board, perhaps it’s a pleasant land of greenery, scenery, and absolutely no meanery. On the other side of the coin, there are those who view it with a double measure of disdain - as if it’s the roofless conservatory attached to the UK’s sprawling house; wet, empty, and expensive to maintain.
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As someone who has spent most of my life here, I feel qualified to offer some vague, essentially useless, advice for those who are yet to experience this fine nation’s charms. That said I’m from Chepstow, which for those unaware is the first place you enter after crossing the bridge. I can see England from my house, and for four-hundred years Chepstow was rejected by both countries like some hideous, unwanted, love child on The Jeremy Kyle Show.
“There is more to Wales than Cardiff - such as Newport, named in 1126, the last time something new was actually built” Many visitors find the bilingual signs an oddity at first. For most Daily Maily English types, I’m sure it is irritating to find that, after years of oppression, of lashing and humiliating Welsh-speaking children, the language is actually on the rise here. It must be like finishing a long-course of antibiotics and then noticing that pesky rash again in the shower. Such people often complain about the cost of bilingualism as well. Ignoring the fact that this is painfully ignorant, my solution would be to cut the English language instead. That costs more, right? And isn’t everything about costs nowadays? I can’t imagine that there’ll be many protests: “I just don’t know what
a bws or a tacsi is! I mean, they LOOK like buses and taxis, but how can I be sure? Screw it, I’ll walk, and if I get injured on the way I’ll just phone for a…what the bloody hell is an Ambiwlans?!” Anyway, on arrival at Cardiff Central, you might expect to be greeted by the toothy grin of Wales. You are, after all, stepping out into the country’s proud capital. Instead, you’ll find the second best Burger King within 500 yards and some pigeons that look like birdlife prisoners of war. It is underwhelming.
“My chum from Swansea once moaned that ‘Cardiff gets all the funding’. This is not strictly true. Swansea has to prove that it’s actively seeking work and meet with a Careers Officer once a week before it’s granted anything” Do not fear, however: it is an excellent city. It is cheap, accessible and easy to get around; the Katie Price of British cities then. (N.B: usually wet). I jest! I jest. It has everything that a hip/unhip, young/old, man/woman/ other might want/not want. Every shop worth shopping in is on offer here, such as ‘Shop Wales’ which is essentially extortionate reverse xenophobia, and the wonderfully named ‘Cashino’; a place where gamblers without internet access go to burn their children’s trust funds. ‘I bloody love this city!’ you hear the locals exclaim, as they leave ‘Cash Converters’ with some defunct currency and without their wedding rings. ‘Do Wetherspoons accept drachma?’ they ask, before breaking down in front of you. It must be noted that Cardiff is often viewed with resentment in certain parts of Wales. This is because it receives a higher amount of funding than other areas, as evidenced by the bizarre euphemistic monument at Hayes Place which cost a whopping £1.5 million (otherwise known as ‘rent’ by Londoners). My chum from Swansea once moaned that ‘Cardiff gets all the funding’. This is not strictly true; it’s just that Swansea has to prove that it’s actively seeking work and meet with a Careers Officer once a week before it’s granted anything. Many will associate this city with the likes of Doctor Who and Sherlock, which are both filmed here. You may think that this is a good thing; however it’s more a result of BBC budget cuts. For every Doctor Who episode set pre-1900, the producers simply head to Grangetown or Canton and film there. As for Sherlock, it saves money on set construction
as they film in University buildings, which are of course deserted before 10am. On that subject, the Doctor Who Experience is one of the city’s biggest attractions and can be found in the Bay. If you’re on a student budget however, just throw a bin on a bouncer and get them to chase you around the Apple store, it’s just as - if not more - fun. But seriously, go to the Bay, it’s really nice. Not too far out of Cardiff lies the St Fagans Natural History Museum, which is both nice and free; the rarest of combinations. And no, St Fagans wasn’t the patron saint of homophobia; that would be ridiculous. The church is far too spoilled for choice to pick one. As it happens, there are some cracking Welsh cakes there. Other national delicacies include bara brith, so named because it tastes like boiled briefs - and cawl, so named because it tastes like coal. The lack of edible Welsh cuisine is no better encapsulated than by the Wikipedia page ‘Welsh cuisine’, which cites the soft drink Tango - yes, Tango - as a national delicacy. Or that may just be because of the Welsh fake tan addiction, as evidenced by the occupants of St Mary’s Street every Saturday night.
“And no, St Fagans wasn’t the patron saint of homophobia; that would be ridiculous. The church is far too spoilled for choice to pick one” There is more to Wales than Cardiff however. Nearby, there are the cities of Newport, named in 1126 (which was the last time something new was actually built), and Swansea – an urban outlier. This is because the nicest parts surround it. The Gower, for example, is truly wonderful. The city centre on the other hand recently featured in a BBC documentary about heroin abuse. Consider it as you would a hurricane then – the closer you are to the centre, the more likely you are to end up either homeless or dead. As for the North, that’s not really Wales at all. Yes they might speak the language a bit - but that’s just a veil. Somehow screaming “Cofiwch Treweryn” (“remember Treweryn”, the village that was drowned in order to supply Liverpool with water) in a strong scouse accent and Liverpool football shirt is slightly less effective. If anything it’s more like Switzerland there, partly due to the impressive scenery, but mainly because it’s where the elderly go to die. Yup, yes, that’s definitely the sound of an angry nationalist mob - you’ll have to excuse me while I fireproof my house. For now, hwyl fawr… ■
culture
twenty years of
The comedy scene in Cardiff is growing in leaps and bounds, and the city‘s got quite a few places to thank for the rise of this new trend. One of them’s the legendary Glee Club...
Everyone who lives in Cardiff has their own hidden gem, a venue that is special to you and undervalued by others. Mine is the Glee Club. It may not be a secret place, but it’s a place some students may not have heard of, never mind attended a gig there. The Glee Club chain is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month, with their debut venue opening in Birmingham as the first dedicated comedy club outside of London. Cardiff was second in 2001, and in recent times, Oxford and Nottingham have joined the party. Many students may best know the Glee Club from the legal battle – they took on the Glee show. That’s right, the American show that cost $3m per episode to make and generates $2m per half hour of adverts, was taken on by the small, British independent business – and David beat Goliath (it was ruled the TV show diluted and tarnished the comedy club). Situated in Cardiff Bay, you could easily walk past the whole venue unless you were looking for it. But go through the modest double door, up the stairs, and you’ll find a vibrant room, with dazzling lights, around 440 seats and 8-foot tall letters spelling ‘Glee’ on the stage. The jokes have changed, and the comedians (and audience) might have to deal with the uncouth checking their phones and
illumining their faces every five minutes, but essentially, comedy is the same as it always was. Stand up, and making people laugh. It’s no easy task. Anyone can practice until they improve their singing, or playing an instrument. But how do you make yourself funny? It’s often harder in a smaller room, especially when it’s not at capacity and the small crowd are gathered near the stage. A trip to the Glee Club provides several hours of escapism, a sanctuary of laughter and amusement, something no other type of entertainment provides. Comedy has become big business in the UK. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have a combined total wealth of over $100m, whilst top of the UK-based pops is Peter Kay, who earns around £45,000 a day – the same as the best earning footballers. Michael McIntyre, John Bishop, Jack Dee et al, are also raking in a fair wedge, with roughly the top 15 UK comedians all earning a seven figure sum year. Where the rich lists differs to footballers though, is that even average footballers earn £10k a week – get down to number 20 on the comedy list, and earning drops to ‘only’ a quarter of a million, and it’s a steep drop thereafter. Most comedians have to travel the length and breadth of the country to make ends meet, plying their trade in places like the Glee Club. Small comedy venues are the lifeblood of the comedy circuit, a place to learn the ropes with many highs and lows among the way. It’s not a coincidence (and as the posters rightly boast) that over 90%
of comedians you see on ‘Live At The Apollo’ honed their skills at the Glee Club. Some may think that the Motorpoint is the only place to see the huge comedy stars. Not true. At the Glee Club I’ve seen Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre, Kevin Bridges, to name but a few. Almost everyone has a tale of when they were 16 or 17, and nervous about getting into some nightclub or pub with an age 18 limit. My story is of a 17-year-old me, petrified that I wouldn’t get into the Glee Club to see John Bishop. I’m guessing the bouncers knew I was underage by the way I was cowering behind my parents, clutching my ginger friend’s driving licence (I’m not ginger). But disaster was avoided, and my love of live comedy was born. Although mainly a comedy venue, the club is also a music and “Evening With...” venue. At the time of writing, WWE Hall of Famer
as impressive as the comedians, including Mumford & Sons, Adele and Ben Howard. There really is no excuse for students not to give the Glee Club ago. Student tickets are often only £5, cheaper than entry to a nightclub on a Saturday night. With a standard comedy night featuring three or four comedians, including a compère, there is often at least one comedian that you may know from radio or television. Nevertheless, I’ve often found the best performer on any given evening is one you’ve never heard of before. Humour is quite a subjective thing, but with several comedians on in one night, you’re guaranteed a night of laughter. Seeing a top comedian at a packed concert hall is great, but given the choice, I’d choose the Glee Club every time. The smaller the venue, the more intimate is becomes. You can see every movement, hear every word. If you sit near the stage, you can catch the eye
“It’s not a coincidence that over 90% of comedians you see on ‘Live At The Apollo’ honed their skills at the Glee Club” “Rowdy” Roddy Slater is coming this month, and in the past I have seen Howard Marks speak – a man born 20 minutes from Cardiff, but through cannabis smuggling became infamous throughout the world, with links to the CIA, IRA, MI6 and the mafia. That was an interesting night. The Club is nothing if not varied. The roll call of musicians is equally
of the performer, and it feels like he or she is telling jokes or singing to you personally. As the website puts it, “the atmosphere it intimate and ambient...the venue is designed to encourage a sublime connection between artist and audience, creating a memorable gig experience.” Couldn’t have put it better myself. -Rhys Clayton Jones
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hidden gems for the curious student Culture editors Jasmine Freeman and Elouise Hobbs bring you ten of Cardiff ’s cultural treasures you wish you knew about. Go unearth them!
I want to do something different
– 2 for 1 everyday) cocktail.
Ever fancied watching an opera? Well, the Welsh National Opera offers 50 £5 tickets in the top three price bands for Under 30s for every performance. What’s more, for some performances there are free Pre-Performance Talks that introduce the opera and will ensure a truly enjoyable evening.
I want to see a show....but have no money
On Market Road in Canton you’ll find Chapter. Chapter leads the way as a cultural community, which promotes international art, performance, and film and is also a vibrant social space. ‘Friends with Benefits’ is Chapter’s free student member card and entitles you to discounts, presale and invites to special events. You might have heard of Buffalo for its cocktail deals or it’s big name DJ bookings but comedy nights at Buffalo are also a great night out, where better to enjoy local acts than in a hipster bar with a fancy (yet cheap
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React is the 16-25 theatre club that allows you to books seats for selected performances at New Theatre and St. Davids Hall for £5-10. All you need to do is sign up for free online and the world is your oyster. SHIFFT is a service that texts you when there are spare theatre seats, you may be sat by yourself but they offer some great tickets. Sign up online on the Wales Millenium Centre website and you can get some amazing last minute deals on tickets AND food and drink at the Wales Millenium Centre. Last year students grabbed tickets for the West Ends Wicked for only £15. Five minutes from the union, Sherman Cymru is a great theatre for independent performance and for selected performances,
culture
Great reads in < 140 characters This year Quench Culture are launching a new regular feature we’re particularly excited about. Tweet us a review or synopsis of a book you’ve recently read and we’ll choose our favourite three to publish each issue. Our twitter handle is @QuenchCulture. Here’s our favourite three from this month. Happy tweeting! tickets are half price for under 25s. It also offers great volunteering and playwriting opportunities for budding creative minds.
I want to learn something Cardiff Castle is usually a pricey day out but if you are a resident or work in Cardiff and can prove it (a utility bill or your residences card is fine) then you can get a Castle Key which costs £5 and gives you unlimited access to the Castle for 3 years. Look out in the summer for their annual open-air theatre performance. The Norwegian Arts Centre is one of Cardiff’s hidden gems. Located at the bay, it showcases both local and national artwork. Better yet entry is free.
Cardiff National Museum is a place where everyone means to visit but never gets around to. It has amazing exhibitions which change all the time and continuous exhibits including a life size baby whale which ‘swims’ above your head and the priceless art collection including works by Monet and Picasso. St Fagins is too cool, located just outside Cardiff it is a working farm (the bakery is definitely worth a visit) where you can visit the stately house, school room, landscaped garden and a model old town. People dress up and demonstrate their crafts and better yet the museum is free and there is a direct bus from the centre of town.
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THE POWER OF THE
CAPSULE WARDROBE Natasha Vaughan tells the story of the importance of key wardrobe pieces
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randmas and old aunties in boucle zip cardigans joke about needing Gok Wan to wave his magic wand over their wardrobe, and five years ago, I might have agreed with them. Oh, poor Gok! Stick your feet up and give it a rest, my love. Once we’ve seen one colour-pop trench coat we’ve seen them all. I will, however, reluctantly admit to there being one good and current Gok recommendation - the power of the capsule wardrobe. It’s taken a lot of money and a lot of regrettable impulse buys to realise that there’s nothing chic about a closet collapsing with the weight of wasted ‘I-forgot-about-you’s’ and ‘what was I thinking?’s’. Moving into university halls was especially shocking - I slung everything into two or three suitcases and only when unpacking realised that just half of the first one would fit in the teensy-tiny hole in the wall that they expect you to dress yourself out of for a full academic year. Cue my first dilemma as a student - what clothes to put in and what clothes to leave out.
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It didn’t take me long to learn that organising your university wardrobe is the key to organising your university life. The thing is, there’s always a Tuesday Revs night that requires a cute skirt, or, if you’re as good a chef as me, there’ll come a day where thanks to all those takeaways, leggings are “all that [fit] you right now” - to quote HRH, Regina George. The simple task of dressing up that skirt or quickly finding those trusty black leggings becomes a hassle when you have to wade through a clothing bomb site. So, before returning for my second year, I ebayed the stuff I hadn’t worn for three months or more, and pulled myself together. Keeping things to a minimum, I picked up a few staple pieces that were versatile, so I could easily find something to get dressed in with just five minutes before a lecture. Updated with a statement necklace or blazer, a plain jersey dress looked different each time I wore it, and I wasn’t scraping together my pennies to buy something new every week either.
Now, I might be a little too sad, and a little too much into reading Cosmopolitan, but actually knowing what I had in my wardrobe and spending my money carefully made me love fashion again. Finding a top I actually liked and I could wear several ways was better than buying a couple of blouses ‘just because’ and then leaving them in the carrier bag for a week because I wasn’t all that bothered. To be honest, I really do think that I owe my status as an independent young lady of education - looking like, and acting the part - to that teensy-tiny hole in the wall in my first year. Oh... and to Gok Wan too. I guess what I’m trying to say is, sometimes old advice is the best advice. Don’t get me wrong, Gok’s advice is old, but on this occasion, it just happens to be the best. You know it’s true; if you buy cheap you buy twice, but if you buy a pair of trousers you can wear more than twice, then give yourself a pat on the back.
FA SHION & BE AU T Y
MAKE IT SUMMER ALL YEAR ROUND Summer is the most highly anticipated season of the year. But there comes the end of season when our tans start to fade and our beachy hair just doesn’t quite look the same as it did on holiday. Here are our tips on how to keep up a summery appearance long after the holidays have finished!
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Summer’s absolute number one agenda is of course, to tan tan tan! Unfortunately, most of us aren’t lucky enough to jet off around the world more than once or twice a year and the UK weather provides limited sunny days you can catch to top up your tan and obtain a natural glow. Therefore I would definitely recommend trying out “Cocoa Brown Tan” which is available in Superdrug, Primark and online. Even Made In Chelsea’s Millie Mackintosh raves about it for a natural summer look.
2 Image: The Serenity by Ula Peiciute, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 / cropped from original
Next on the list is keeping your nails looking gorgeous. Light, pastel and bright colours will really help you to look more tanned than you actually are. Even if fake tan isn’t for you, these summery colours will really help your skin colour pop. Don’t forget your toenails in case your sandals and flipflops get to make their final appearance! Try Barry M’s new gel range or head to your local salon for a pamper.
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Don’t neglect your hair either. Although natural seasalt sure does a good job at styling your hair even without you trying, there are many ways to keep up that appearance. Think Jennifer Aniston, Marissa in the OC or Sienna Miller (before the bob);
tousled waves will give you an effortless look that’s perfect for any occasion. Try Vo5’s salt spray to look like that typical Cali “beach girl” and rock the perfect summer hair all year round. This look really suits all hair colours as well, don’t be afraid to try loose curls just because you’re not beach blonde.
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After looking after your skin, hair and nails it’s time to focus on your face. Summer is all about looking low-maintenance and natural so don’t go back to the heavy eyeliner and layers of foundation as soon as the season is over. My top products to focus on would be getting yourself a really good bronzer and highlighter. More expensive brands such as MAC do tend to be the best but Rimmel and Maybelline also offer good cheaper alternatives. Try to find a powder highlighter with some shimmer in to use around your cheekbones and forehead, which will help you keep that perfect summer glow. So there you have it, just by following these easy points, you can obtain your beachy appearance and make it summer all year round! — Lucy Guy
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Image: Nina Leen for LIFE magazine in the 1940s. Image found: http://angelahenrie.blogspot.co.uk/
THE CARDIFF SHOPPING GUIDE Embrace the Vintage Flair After watching Dawn Porter’s recent program This Old Thing, vintage fashion is gradually giving the much loved high street brands a run for their money. Here at Quench HQ, we have selected the top two vintage stores in Cardiff to ensure you look stylishly unique, without breaking the bank this autumn.
1) Oxfam Boutique Oxfam Boutique is situated in the heart of Cardiff’s city centre, and sells everything from timeless classics to high street vintage. As a slightly more up-market charity shop, Oxfam Boutique caters to anyone’s price range. Whether you’re looking for a casual piece to wear with friends or a staple piece to make you stand out during Freshers week – Oxfam have it all. As a charity, their overwhelming passion lies in their determination and focus on producing sustainable and ethical fashion; they provide anything from high street to designer fashion, and all at great prices. Selling anything from Carvela to Topshop, Ted Baker to Asos, you can guarantee to find something new every time you visit. What is more interesting is their Reinvented range; Oxfam produce their own range through Oxcraft by up-cycling donated items and giving them a new lease of life, so you are almost certain to find something to suit any style!
2) Hobo’s Vintage Store Hobo’s Vintage Store resembles Aladdin’s cave. Hobo’s is bursting with a generous selection of brightly coloured vintage and retro dresses, lumberjack shirts, printed t-shirts, daps and accessories. Quirky vintage pieces, eccentric collectables and vintage posters cover each wall of the store, giving it a warm, nostalgic feel. Each item is hand selected for the store, sustained by the owners’ admiration for 60’s and 70’s style.
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Shopaholics, read on! This is your essential guide to shopping in Cardiff. Be it high street, independent or alternative fashion you’re after or better yet, a beauty make over, Fashion and Beauty have selected the 5 best fashion & beauty stores to visit in Cardiff.
FA SHION & BE AU T Y
Hobos have a brilliant rail of printed dresses which come in a variety of colours and interesting designs. No print is the same, so you can be sure that your dress is unique! Their dresses are perfect teamed with a pair of sandals in the summer, or worn with a pair of tights and ankle boots during the autumn/winter seasons. A perfect edition to anyone’s wardrobe!
special charm to the store and often host art exhibitions, act as pop up stores, games rooms and are home to Vinyl CDs to listen to! Cool, right? All that and they’re trying to pass it off as a clothing store. Psssht. More like our new favourite hangout!
Highlights of the High Street
Are you looking for a fresh start this semester? Look no further as The Beauty Studio has everything on offer to help you mix up your look this season. Cardiff’s newest beauty store has recently opened in St David’s Centre, offering customers anything from skincare to cosmetics, perfume to hair appointments. Why not get your roots done at their newly refurbished hair salon. Or perhaps treat yourself to a luxury manicure - because who doesn’t love a fresh set of nails? What’s even more convenient is that there is
1) Primark Cardiff recently welcomed 5 brand new sparkling floors of Primark fashion as their new store opened during the summer. Located just opposite their old location on Queen street, our favourite budget store has got even bigger and better being twice the size of the old one - and twice as fancy. As if the old Primark wasn’t enough to turn our pennies into serious pounds upon buying dozens of clothes at once. In case you’re able to resist the sound of that, you’re in bad luck because the new store can be accessed both from Queen street and from inside St David’s, making it pretty hard to avoid. The new store provides an enjoyable shopping experience with its contemporary and cool designs and layout. With their current seasonal campaign running on TV screens, big fashion posters, themed backdrops and special corners for limited edition, it’s safe to say that Primark is giving other high street stores a run for their money as not only do their clothes but now their store appear much more expensive and classy as well. Be sure to check out their autumn collection on their website or have a browse in store if you haven’t already. Go on, we know you want to.
Image: urban outfitters, http://blog.urbanoutfitters.com/blog/category/fashion
2) Urban Outfitters The ever so popular American retail giant is situated on The Hayes, Cardiff. This store takes Urban Outfitters’ retro and industrial branding to a whole new level as a renovated department store. With its large side windows overlooking the arcades, it’s worth going further than the men’s section downstairs. Upstairs is the women’s urban paradise, and where the store’s character really kicks in. You feel like you’re partying in a warehouse rather than just shopping around. Below the cool, fairy light inspired lighting system are their usual array of clothing options from vintage reworked to retro, hipster, sporty and bohemian and dozens of cool brands such as Minkpink, Cheap Monday and New Balance. The galleries at the back of the store are a unique feature and one that can’t be found anywhere else. With comfy leather leather seats, big vintage mirrors, cool signs and wallpapers, they add
3) The Beauty Studio
“You feel like you’re partying in a warehouse rather than just shopping around.” no need to pre book! Just stroll on in and you can be sure to be seen by one of the many highly qualified hairdressers and beauticians. Further still, if you’re feeling more adventurous and are looking to dye your hair a fab new colour, The Beauty Studio has a personalised application in store that allows you to take a photo of yourself to see what hair colours suit you best. The application will then advise you on what product you should buy depending on your colour specifications. Sounds great, right? There’s more. They also have a NO.7-like application in store that allows you to personalise your own skin regime. All you need to do is specify your skin needs and hey presto your perfect skin regime has been selected. The Beauty Studio caters for everyone’s needs; even if you are just looking for a new bottle of your favourite Marc Jacobs perfume or you have ran out of your trusted foundation, you can be sure to find it at The Beauty Studio. What more could you ask for from one shop? You can most definitely find everything you need to look and feel great this season, all under one roof. Beauty Bar prices: Threading - from £4-£44 Tinting - from £8-£25 Eyelash Extensions - £40-£60 Nails - £0-£15 Ear piercing - £15 Hair Salon prices: Hair cut & dry - from £9.95-£24.95 Colour (includes cut & blow dry) - from £39.95£49.95
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GAP YEAR DESTINATIONS Gap years can make or break a person...or just be a complete waste of effort (and not to mention, precious money). This month, Travel brings you two students who have been on very different gap years - and we’ll leave the decision of whether they’re worth it or not to you
CHINA The phrase ‘gap year’ evokes a variety of responses, one of the most common being the sarcastic quip: ‘Oh, so did you find yourself when travelling?’ Most people respond with a dry, ‘Haha’ and raised eyebrows, but the question is, what do we actually expect from gap year destinations? Words such as freedom and adventure come to mind and generally gap year destinations fulfil these expectations. However, digging deeper into the history, culture and people of a country, gap year destinations are often more than the guide books show you. Travelling to Shanghai, China two years ago, I was naive about what to expect. Fresh out of sixth form, ready to embark on Asia and eager to step outside of Europe, I had pictures of the lights of Shanghai and traditional Chinese houses in my mind. With no other expectations to prepare me, I didn’t consider the fact that the tourist catalogues only showed me the highlights and that the whole of Shanghai wasn’t expensive and flashy but instead, rather derelict and grey. An oppressive smog and sweltering humidity greeted us when we got off the plane and surrounded us for the next three months. Visiting ‘the ancient treasures and modern wonders’ in China was awe inspiring,
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but learning about the everyday, menial aspects of a country is what turned out to be life changing. I thought that the more extravagant the places I visited during my gap year were, the more fulfilled and changed I would feel. But it is when these expectations were broken down and I started to see the ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of the country, that I really learnt things of worth. Standing on the Great Wall of China was an unforgettable experience, as was walking through the Forbidden City. However, I learnt much more from walking down dirty back streets, visiting underground churches and interacting with a range of local people -
AUSTRALIA I’d just finished thirteen years of education, hundreds of essays, hours of exams, endless days of revision, and suddenly I’m faced with a whole year of complete freedom. What’s the first thing I do as an eighteen year old avoiding the world of full time work? Adhere to the’ gap yah’ stereotype and book a flight to Australia, of course! Australia is a fantastic destination for any form of traveller, whether you’re a student or an OAP the country has such a diverse and wide-ranging culture that you’re sure to find something that interests you. With amazing, unique wildlife and spectacular scenery,
IF YOU’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO ELUDE THE FINANCIAL HURDLES, YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR A LOT OF LONG JOURNEYS from orphans to church leaders. So, from my experience, gap year destinations partly live up to expectations – in that I saw everything that the pictures showed me. But it was the unexpected hidden aspects of China, which actually had the power to change the way I looked at life. The dirt of the country, the gritty reality of its culture, the contact with the hospitable Chinese people – these aspects of my gap year taught me far more than the impressive sights. -Emma Forbes
Australia is unquestionably a country like no other which should definitely feature on all travellers bucket lists, however I’m not sure the land down under really is best suited for gap year trips. To start with Australia is an expensive place to visit. You can attempt to make cuts and search for bargains as much as you want. However, the high price of flights is a crucial element you really can’t avoid. Once you’ve touched down the expense doesn’t stop there; hostels and hotels are pricier than
London, let alone the cheap European prices we’re used to paying on our holidays. Even after you’ve secured a bed for the night, the price of food and drink can be a bit of a shock; I was left speechless after being charged £5 for a can of coke. If you’re lucky enough to elude the financial hurdles, you need to be prepared for a lot of long journeys. Such an expansive landscapes means that travelling from city to city in Australia can be a drawn out affair. Prepare yourself for sweaty coach trips and hours of nothing but bush land views from your window. Another aspect of travel within Oz, which I believe sets the country apart from really great gap year destinations, is that fact that the Australian culture is not all that dissimilar to our own. I believe that a gap year is a time to experience a truly different way of life and explore new and exciting lands. In many of the cities, especially Melbourne and Sydney, you’ll come across many shops, brands and television shows you enjoy at home, and it can all seem a little too familiar. But hey, this is just my opinion and in no way do I want to deter students from travelling to this fantastic country, nonetheless I think it’s a destination to be enjoyed on a boundless budget. -Kathryn Lewis
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EUROPE’S UNDISCOVERED CITIES Some destinations you hear about over and over again. But where to head when you want to escape the tourist trail? Alice Whelan gives us a few scenic suggestions
AVIGNON
This south-eastern French city in the Vaucluse region is one of Europe’s lesser known diverse, historical and stunning cities. A large proportion of the city’s population live within its medieval walls; a reminder of this city’s significant history which dates back to the Middle Ages when Avignon was the capital of Christendom. One of the most popular events in the city is The Festival d’Avignon occurring in July of each year, which led to Avignon gaining the status of “European Capital of Culture” in 2000. This festival incorporates traditional theatrical events along with the more modern entertainment such as dance, cinema, music and numerous street performances. Transport is quick and simple to Avignon, a mere 2 hours 40 minute train journey from Paris. Once in Avignon, the free “Avignon pass” is advised for gaining discounts on sites and attractions; something very popular with visiting students! To escape the heat during the summer months, Les Halles is a welcome retreat; Avignon’s large indoor market offering typical Provençal delicacies and Côtes du Rhône wine. Avignon’s main street, Rue de la République, is the heart of the city with numerous shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, making it one of the most popular sites in the city.
“THE ARRIVAL OF THOUSANDS OF WALKERS HEIGHTENS THE CITY’S ATMOSPHERE AND EVEN JUST SITTING IN THE NUMEROUS CAFÉS IS WELL WORTH A VISIT”
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Spain is well-known for its hot weather and glorious beaches, but this north-western corner of Galicia holds some of the country’s most impressive cities and landscape. Renowned for its magnificent cathedral, Santiago de Compostela, the capital city of its region, offers breathtaking views, beautiful ancient buildings, and a popular university (involved with the Erasmus scheme) which winds its way round the maze of stone paved streets. Cathedral de Santiago borders the main plaza which sits high above much of the newer part of the city. Santiago is often associated with the ‘Camino de Santiago’, the old Catholic pilgrimage walk which can nowadays be carried out by bike or on horseback. It starts in France, Spain or Portugal, depending on the distance you want to cover, and ends in the impressive square in front of the cathedral. Although the event may not be for everybody, the arrival of thousands of walkers heightens the city’s atmosphere and even just sitting in the numerous cafés and watching the walkers arrive into this excited square is well worth a visit. For relaxing, visit the Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval, located on a hill sitting above the city, overlooking the surrounding countryside. With the popular and lively university, the city gains a youthful and fast-paced atmosphere, especially at night when the terrace bars, pubs and clubs open their doors and the city remains awake and energetic.
NAPLES
Italy is recognised for its numerous historical and stunningly beautiful cities throughout the country, yet Naples is still one of the less touristy of them. Easy to get to by plane, this capital city of the ‘Campania’ region is the third largest Italian city after Rome and Milan. Situated on the Gulf of Naples, whose beauty has served as motivation for many artists, Naples has outstanding views overlooking the western coast of southern Italy. Quick ferry rides take you to the islands of Capri, Procida and Ischia, where boat tours circulate the islands and show you the beauty of Naples and its coast. Back in the city, a walk starting from one of the city’s largest ‘piazzas’ in front of the dominant Royal Palace, takes you up the climbing streets, continuing up until you reach the ‘Castel Sant’Elmo’. This highest point of Naples offers an incredible 360 degree view of the entire city and its surrounding countryside, from its historic coast where Naples’s magnificent castle stands, to the high-rise business district, to Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance. This energetic city is packed with cafés, bars and restaurants, for those who wish to merely watch the city’s daily life whilst enjoying Italy’s famously delicious food and drink, yet those who want to enjoy the city by night means a visit to the many nightclubs along the coast.
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new/newydd Anna of the North The sounds of Anna of the North have been slowly filtering to further adrift shores for some time now. Promising a special brand of electro dream pop, it’s hard not to fall head over heels for the Norwegian singer-songwriter and her ethereal vocal stylings. Debut single Sway was released earlier this summer and if it’s anything to go by, big things should be expected in the coming months. For Fans Of: Little Dragon, Grimes Download: “Since You Got On” feat. Little Dreamer https://soundcloud.com/annaofthenorth @anna_ofthenorth
astronomyy If you chucked all of the best elements of RnB, surf rock and pop into a blender, the smooth, addictive medley that would come out at the other end would be astronomyy. Or something similar at least. The London-based songsmith returned this summer after a year’s hiatus and my, are we happy to have him back. It took only one song for the bloggersphere to jump on this bandwagon and they probably don’t want to be jumping off any time soon. astronomyy’s debut EP ‘There For U’ is available now. For Fans Of: The Weeknd Download: “Nothin On My Mind” https://soundcloud.com/astronomyy @astronomyy
Fold
Zola Blood
Fold are, in their own words, an experimental trip-hop four piece from Leeds (don’t let that scare you away). Using speech samples Fold are bringing the likes of Bruce Lee and poet Mr. Gee to their music and the result, would you believe it, is a collection of songs that not only sound bloody good but are also witty and politically driven. Having been picked up by the likes of Guardian Music and NME Radar, Fold are not ones to be dismissed quickly.
Zola Blood started with nothing; a handful of Facebook likes, less Twitter followers than your average 15-year-old girl and next to no reason as to why anyone should give a shit about them. And then, out of nowhere, came ‘Grace,’ the debut track that caught everyone’s attention and sent the press into overdrive. With forthcoming music set as the first to be released on Pond Life Songs in 22 years, Zola Blood have, with good reason, their steadily growing devotees hanging off their every status, tweet and update.
For Fans Of: Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip Download: “Be Water My Friend” https://soundcloud.com/fold @foldfm
For Fans Of: SOHN Download: “Girl” https://soundcloud.com/zolablood @Zola_Blood
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“We just didn’t feel like we were done yet” Birmingham’s indie-rock five piece returned this summer with a new album. Charlie Mock caught up with Peace’s lead singer Harry to talk going to the dark side, Justin Timberlake and ‘real’ music
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nly a year after ‘In Love’ hit the shelves, murmurs of a new Peace album were beginning to stir. “Already?” they cried, “surely not,” we offered. But, something was happening in Peace HQ and it certainly wasn’t going to be quashed by the skeptics. So, how do you eclipse a top-20 debut? The answer: go straight back into the studio. “It was our decision,” frontman Harry explains. “I think we put a bit of pressure on ourselves because we’ve always been really fast with everything. It was us who went to the label and were like, ‘can we do this now?’ We just didn’t feel like we were done [with recording] yet.” And done with recording they weren’t. 12-hour stints in a basement in Soho, recording in a hotel room in Australia and working around a busy touring schedule don’t sound like the most ideal ways to produce an album, but Harry insists that it worked. “I think the songs are better… It sounds a lot more like one band. It was more in the production that we tried to make sure it worked as an album.” Going at the recording process with a different mindset seems to have paid off for B-town’s most recent big export. “Musically, the first thing we wanted to do as a band was focus on how the drums work with the bass so that each song had a different groove. The guitar wasn’t as important [on this album]. There’s moments that are quite Elvis inspired. A lot of strings… Some stuff that’s a bit more Bowie and Lennon inspired. There’s a song… I think it’s track six or seven that sounds like a Justin Timberlake song, it sounds like it’s from Justified. It’s got a Spanish guitar solo.” Has taking inspiration from some of the biggest names in music changed the overall sound? “It’s not as live- a lot of the first album was recorded live in the room and we didn’t do that this time.” Lead single ‘Money,’ released in April of this year, carries the ever
loved, catchy Peace chorus but, like all the best songs, has an ulterior motive. “I guess it does sound a bit dark sometimes, doesn’t it? The album itself is quite positive! I think the thing of the record is that it’s more about ignoring the negative side of things and focusing on the positive. They’re really happy songs but they sound quite sad!” Getting an album ready for release wasn’t the only thing that Peace have been up to this summer. Along with playing a whole host of festivals, a not-so-sneaky appearance on E4’s hit ‘reality’ show Made In Chelsea gave fans something to talk about whilst finishing touches were being put on the release, with some even
“Jimmy Page sold his soul to the devil openly and he was one of the best musicians in the world” taking to Facebook to claim that Peace have gone to the ‘dark side.’ To those, Harry had but one thing to say; “Jimmy Page sold his sold to the devil openly and he was one of the best musicians in the world. For anyone who thinks that there should be more ‘real’ bands in pop music, it was an offering.” The word ‘real’ is used tentatively after a run in with NME a few weeks previously, but with the lines between genres becoming ever more blurred, it’s easy to understand where Harry is coming from. “Clean, fast drums and guitars… Indie music today doesn’t really sound like that anymore and I think that that’s a cool thing. It has many meanings. As a sound, it’s a completely different thing now.” What that ‘thing’ is doesn’t seem to matter, though. Confidently negotiating their way through the charts and into earshot of more and more people by the minute, Peace and their ever developing sound show no means of slowing up any time soon.
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IS ALBUM ARTWORK STILL IMPORTANT? As the age of digital music descends upon us and the discourse surrounding it starts to repeat and go round in circles, people forget about the practices of the past. Music editor India Thomas explores the wonderful world of album art, today and yesterday
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In this age of streaming services and shuffle culture where we rarely play an album from start to finish, just how important is an album’s artwork? With over 24 million monthly users, Spotify’s grey and white playlists alongside the likes of iTunes and YouTube mean than most music listeners no longer purchase the physical product. In the absence of downloadable music, larger formats such as CDs and vinyl provide the musician with a sizeable sleeve or cover upon which they could present their chosen designs. So is the increasing digitalisation of the music industry driving this art form towards insignificance. The biggest selling album at the time of writing is Ed Sheeran’s “Multiply”. Its easily identifiable cover consists of a large black X on a green background, and visually works both on a larger scale and as an icon on an iPod. Charting close behind is Lana Del Ray’s “Ultraviolence” which features the singer, posed alongside her name and album title. It’s a convention employed by many a modern record label whereby one photograph is used for posters, adverts and albums alike. This increases an artist’s visibility and is not a new marketing strategy. In the past, the likes of Patti Smith and Morrissey graced their own record sleeves, with the image from Smith’s “Horses” becoming iconic in its own right. While Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Ray’s covers are excellent examples of what will suffice in music today, it is doubtful whether anyone would consider them as iconic works of art. In her book Just Kids, Patti Smith sheds light on how her friend Robert Mapplethorpe photographed her for the cover of “Horses”. “I flung my jacket over my shoulder, Frank Sinatra style. I was full of references. He was full of light and shadow.” Seemingly gone are the days of this kind of artistic freedom. Shortlist collates the 50 coolest album covers of all time on their website, ranging from The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” to Nirvana’s “Nevermind”. None of the records listed could be considered remotely recent. In contrast to the marketing strategies and focus groups behind album artwork today, most of those album sleeves were produced on a whim. From The Strokes with “Is This It” being snapped on impulse by photographer Colin Lane to Jamie Reed cutting and pasting a ransom-note style design for The Sex Pistol’s “Never Mind The Bollocks”, these autonomous artistic decisions ended up gracing the covers of some of the most iconic records around. However, that isn’t to say that careful thought and attention weren’t given. In Neil Taylor’s “Intimate History” of record label Rough Trade, Robert Wyatt explains how the magnified-grass cover of his “Trade Union/Grass’ 7” represents grassroots union membership. Furthermore, the album art alludes to the fact that the single was “done on behalf of some Bengali refugees who were wanted back in their country for trade union activities.” Such cohesive concept albums have since become something of a rarity. When record sleeves weren’t focusing on the humanitarian, they could be outlandishly creative. The narrative behind The Beatles’ “Sgt Pepper” record sleeve is just one of the tales explained in Eric Christensen’s documentary The Cover Story: Album Art. Sir Peter Blake who was directly involved in the project recalls how the idea of featuring the band’s fantasy fan club within the album photograph
involved making life-size plywood cut-outs of various public figures. Unsurprisingly, John Lennon’s request for Ghandi and Hitler was soon censored. Blake explains that “we did it because it was exciting, we weren’t thinking about the money.” What with the creation of programs like Photoshop, the idea of manually putting a collage of cover images together today seems unnecessary. In spite of new technologies facilitating the slick appearance of contemporary album covers, the DIY outlook of old does continue on. John Mayer’s “Born and Raised” began as a series of sketches by the musician who then passed them on to David A. Smith. The artist has worked with the likes of Kings Of Leon and is renowned for his triage of skills; glass embossing, signage and pictorial art. Speaking to some smaller record companies such as Pure Noise and Run For Cover revealed that handmade images are still popular amongst some of their acts. Handguns’ latest album was hand drawn before being edited in Photoshop, while “Charmer” by Tigers Jaw has an embroidered cover. Cornish punk act Crows-An-Wra opted for a hand painted cover on their first EP and are continuing this trend on their next release. For these less commercially-successful bands and record companies, heavy financial reliance is placed upon their album art and physical products, in lieu of the staggering record sales of more famous artists. At one live show in Cardiff’s own Clwb Ifor Bach the merchandise table almost cleared, and the support act shifted the entirety of their vinyl stock. In the words of one fan, “Good artwork can be make or break for me when it comes to buying vinyl as they’re all about display.” Having wall-worthy designs then can generate extra income for bands whose single sales pale in comparison with those artists who manage to top the chart. Quench writer Dillon Eastoe explains why album artwork seems to be of greater importance to fans as opposed to the casual listener. “People who buy less physical albums are bound to pay less attention to the art. This also goes for the liner notes. So, most people completely miss out on the whole concept. Personally, albums where I’ve read through the lyrics form a stronger connection, but then I guess it isn’t a priority for a lot of people.” In an interview with CBC music, Stones Throw Records’ art director Jeff Jank stated, “I don’t see album artwork staying as relevant as people talk about it being today. If you compare the trend from LPs to the video days, when the videos had just as much to do with the look of the music as the album covers, and now today it’s the video and the website and not just the album cover — it’s just going to continue, that trend. As people figure out different ways to release music, albums will be less and less associated with one single image.” To a certain extent this holds true. While physical albums are increasingly being seen as irrelevant or something of a collector’s item for fans, the music video has become both a new outlet for creativity and a source of income. With some of the most popular and creative clocking up over a hundred million views, perhaps commercial success and art within music can finally reconcile in this new format.
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LIVE FESTIVAL
2000 TREES Nestled in the Cotswold countryside, 2000trees has grounded itself firmly in the list of the UK’s top independent festivals. Offering up Frightened Rabbit and Band of Skulls as headliners, it’s clear why. Two-time winner of the Grass Roots Festival award and repeat winner of underground music lovers’ hearts, it is not one to be missed.
FRIDAY: Band Of Skulls, Main Stage
Photographer: Dom Meason
Southampton trio Band Of Skulls take to the Main Stage as the sun began to sink in the distance. As their heady rock permeates the arena, much of the audience stay put at their blankets or picnic benches. Watching from afar can sometimes be the best way to appreciate an artist, and it is no exaggeration to say that Band Of Skulls’ mid-tempo guitar lines cast something of spell upon the field that evening. Darkness brings forth a light show that draws all eyes towards the stage, the band managing to captivate the crowd without once having to demand their attention. - IT
THURSDAY: Dan le Sac vs Scroobious Pip, The Cave Thursday night is drawn to a close by the capable hands of this highly creative duo. Le Sac’s fragmented beats provide the party atmosphere, while Scroob layers his spokenword poetry over the top. This frontman with a cause seems more revolutionary than rapper as he leads the captivated crowd through the chanting refrain of ‘Get Better’ and the likes of ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’. Taking down the corporations and electing to include songs like ‘Letter From God To Man’ in the set list could have made for some heavy listening. To a certain extent, Pip’s venomous vocals combined with le Sac’s lurching tempos do make for an uncomfortable
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Brawlers, The Axiom experience. However, as the entire purpose of the duo’s music is to shake the people from an apathetic slumber, perhaps this menacing awakening is what we need. - IT
Gnarwolves, The Cave Main support given to those who have committed to the Thursday early entry comes from no less than Brighton’s pop punk trio, Gnarwolves. Competing with no other acts for the punters, the slightly roomy tent seems a disappointing start. Not that anyone seems to mind, though; with circle pits breaking out left right and centre the extra space is a blessing in disguise. But let’s not forget what’s happening on stage. With belters like ‘Community, Stability, Identity’ getting a roaring response from the crowd, it’s likely we’ll be seeing a lot more of Gnarwolves in the coming months. - CM
Friday sees the brash pop-punkers hit The Axiom tent at an eye-wateringly early 12:50. Providing an upbeat hangover cure for the decidedly worse-for-wear looking punters in the crowd, the quartet seem to relish in their first ever festival set. Incidentally, the milestones don’t end there. After a passing comment regarding the one-year anniversary of Brawlers’ existence, the crowd breaks out in a chorus of Happy Birthday. As far as welcomes go, the band can’t have received a better initiation to the festival circuit if they tried. Who knows where they’ll be in another twelve months’ time. - IT
Decade, The Axiom Pulling a sizeable crowd that includes the dudes from Brawlers, local lads Decade storm through their Friday evening set. Looking the happiest that Quench Music has ever seen the Bath-based band, Sears and co. are
more than at home on The Axiom stage. While previous support-slot performances have been peppered with Alex’s incessant queries of ‘has anyone heard of us before?’ It is evident that the crowd amassed here have a lot of love for this band. A few gaps in the audience show that Decade are still flying relatively low on the mainstream radar, yet their catchy pop-punk has the potential to send them rocketing up the bills of festivals nationwide. - IT
Radstewart, The Croft Cardiff’s very own join a packed out tent for their set on the sweltering Friday evening. Perhaps it’s merely the abundance of hay bale benches and shade that pulls the crowd away from the other, more sweat riddled options; after all, who could blame them? Or, perhaps it’s because Radstewart are well and truly on their way up. With a stream of highly polished songs and oh-so-witty lyrics that have the slightly dazed crowd smirking as well as swaying, the quartet well and truly beat their vertigo and conquered the heights of a main support slot. - CM
Slaves, Main Stage Complete with anecdotal evidence of a Sasquatch in Royal Tunbridge Wells (cue ‘Where’s Your Car Debbie’) and a bit of audience participation on the subject of favourite biscuits, Slaves win the ever more sunburnt crowd over with each minute that they grace the 2000trees main stage. For a two-piece with only a floor tom, guitar and some perfectly timed shouting, Laurie and Isaac have enough presence to throw even the most practiced of performers off their well-trodden path. And they do. Topping the sets of those around them, Slaves are not to
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be missed this year. - CM
SATURDAY: Dad Rocks!, The Axiom Having travelled for 17 hours on a bus from Denmark, it’s safe to say that Dad Rocks! are a little startled at the turn out they receive. Frontman Snævar Njáll Albertsso (bit of a mouthful, eh?) brings with him a sevenpiece band, complete with brass section and strings to ensure the ‘contemporary tractor music’ sound they advertise is delivered at its best and it is. It’s the middle of the afternoon and the sun is shining, pints are in the air and fun is being had by all. - CM
Frightened Rabbit, Main Stage It’s to no surprise that the largest crowd of 2000trees 2014 is drawn by these Glasgow based indie rockers. A set full of anthemic Scott-rock (that’s a thing now) sees the quintet sailing through over an hour on stage whilst making it seem like a mere matter of minutes. Track of the night goes to ‘Keep Yourself Warm,’ which has the crowd of thousands singing about fucking someone you don’t know in faux Scottish accents. It’s a sight to behold, it really is. - CM
Lonely The Brave, The Cave Purveyors of expansive rock Lonely The Brave are forced to contain their sound within the parameters of The Cave on Saturday afternoon. Consequently, the tent is packed with those curious to discover the band’s melodic music for themselves. Touted by the official programme as an act for fans of Biffy Clyro and Balance & Composure, it is slightly disappointing to realise that Lonely The Brave are decidedly less anthemic. Despite
the lack of stand out tracks in their set, the performance is hardly unpleasant. If nothing else, the five-piece provide welcome relief for those whose hearing had been shot through by the extensive array of punk and hardcore on offer in The Cave tent at 2000Trees throughout the weekend. - IT
Photographer: Dom Meason
REVIEWS:
Tall Ships, Main Stage If there’s an unspoken highlight of the weekend, it’s Tall Ships. The indie-rock foursome bring a selection of old and new, using the appearance as an opportunity to air tracks from the much anticipated forthcoming album. They hardly need to try and impress, though. Songs like ‘T=0’ and closing choice ‘Phosphorescence’ hail just as much accolade as if they were released merely weeks before, making it clear that Tall Ships really have made a lasting impression. - CM
Wolf Alice, The Axiom
“A SET FULL OF ANTHEMIC SCOTT-ROCK (THAT’S
Crowds begin to A THING NOW) SEES THE QUINTET SAILING gather under the canvas of The Axiom THROUGH OVER AN HOUR ON STAGE WHILST MAKING stage a good thirty IT SEEM LIKE A MERE MATTER OF MINUTES” minutes before Wolf Alice are due to make an appearance. This is hardly surprising when you consider the buzz that the fourpiece have gathered in their relatively short time together. When the band finally arrives, their face-painted visage belies the gritty yet polished performance to come. They may be an indie band beloved by the likes of NME, but their opening choice of ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’ rages in a way that surely blew the floral headdresses off the young teens at the front. Appearances, apparently can be deceptive. - IT
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BEACONS FESTIVAL
Background photo: Tom Joy
North Yorkshire’s premier arts and music festival set amongst the picturesque Yorkshire Dales returns for its third year, with headline
slots from Daughter, Jon Hopkins and Darkside as well as some of the biggest names in new music and the best pizzas the Moors have ever
East India Youth – Noisey Stage William Doyle knows the secret of live music performance, handed down from Little Richard and (very probably) your failed band in school; if you’re going to go mental on stage, it looks best in a suit. The man better known as East India Youth holds a solitary court on the Noisey Stage, looping and singing and mashing a keyboard with his elbow while playing guitar, his face mostly stretched in a painful scream. And somehow, what emerges is close to the dreamy pop of debut album ‘Total Strife Forever’, given some sharp tailoring, a shot of adrenaline, and instructions to heat up the soaked masses of Funkirk Estate. —JD
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Photo: Ben Bentley
Daughter – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage This is an open letter to (some of) those who attended Daughter’s headline performance at Beacons Festival. I don’t care how many drugs you’ve done this weekend or who you slept with last night and quite frankly, your mates probably don’t either. If you’d have spent even a fraction of the performance facing in the direction of the stage you would have realised that you were actually part of something pretty special. Whether it had been the gauzy vocals or the haunting instrumentals that struck you to your core, you would have came away from that evening with something a whole lot more tangible than the knowledge that you went harder than the person in the tent next to you this time round. —CM
Photo: John Wizards
Sivu – DIY/Argyll Stage Stage timings are questioned as a sizable crowd gathers; Sivu is nowhere to be seen. 20 minutes later, on rushes a flustered James Page, backing vocalist in tow. Revealing that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the whole band can’t perform, Sivu composes himself and organises an on-the-spot setlist of stripped down songs. Jumping straight into a heart wrenching rendition of ‘Sleep’, followed by new single ‘Miracle (Human Error)’, Sivu immediately shows that he doesn’t always need the backdrop of a multi-layered band to stun the audience. Even in their most raw form these songs are fantastic products of individual artistry and it’s clear that, with or without band, we have ourselves the making of a truly brilliant musician. —CM
Photo: Tom Joy
FRIDAY
Photo: Field Candy
seen. Welcome to Beacons.
MU SIC
SATURDAY Glass Animals – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage Glass Animals bring their coupling of frigid indie and grinding R&B to Beacons, putting on a show that tests how genre-pairing plays away from albums, in the real world. The results are, appropriately, mixed. The fizzing sexiness of ‘Pools’ proves to be truly unstoppable, setting souls and arses shaking, but ‘Gooey’ shuffles past to little fanfare. The band stand at a distance from one another onstage, allowing frontman Dave Bayley to make commanding runs of the space, but aside from one brief jaunt with a tambourine he largely remains by the mic, bopping away to his own rhythm. The ideas are bright, and the potential is there, but this performance does not come together. —JD
JAWS – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage A good bit of indie-pop never hurt anyone and it most definitely didn’t deal this Birmingham quartet a band hand either. It barely matters that JAWS aren’t doing anything different- their show stands up with some of the best of the weekend; it’s fun, full of bangers that offer hooks big enough reel you in within seconds and boasts a frontman with a stage presence so endearing that writing a bad review is a thought that never enters your head. Or maybe that’s just a girl thing. —CM
Jon Hopkins – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage Hopkins’ Saturday night headline slot is one of only a few appearances being made this year. A rare opportunity to witness 2013’s glorious, Mercury-nominated ‘Immunity’, it’s one of the festival’s more unmissable shows. The Loud and Quiet stage couldn’t have been a more apt venue, as Hopkins treats those in attendance with both his ambient, intimate electronica and glitching house-bangers like ‘Open Eye Signal’ that fill the cavernous tent. Accompanying the music are 50+ glowing beach balls bouncing through the crowd, each travelling through the colour spectrum, and in many cases, back to the tents as trophies. —JD
Charli XCX – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage It’s the set of the weekend, a triumph the music world is treated to only once in a blue moon. I’m about to wet my synth-pop worshipping pants and the rest of the crowd aren’t far off either; Charli XCX truly brings out the big guns. If opening with an on-stage appearance from Icona Pop isn’t enough, then the finale of Iggy Azalea storming her way through ‘Fancy’ is a dream come true. The crowd goes wild, the lights come up and I emerge from the tent, blinking into the sun, drenched in post sleep sweat; it’s Saturday afternoon and Charli XCX has cancelled last minute, a dream-filled nap all that can be done to numb the feeling of disappointment. —CM
Darkside – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage Closing the festival is left to electronica duo Darkside and my, are they a good choice. Jaar and Harrington are totally in sync, it’s rare that a glance is exchanged between the two; they really are a match made in heaven. Seamlessly blending tracks from the critically acclaimed debut album ‘Psychic’, there’s not a still body in the house as Beacons Festival comes to an end for 2014. Could anyone have done it better? Probably not. Would we have wanted anyone to try? Never. —CM
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage It’s half five, the afternoon of beers has knocked you into a coma and it’s looking likely that nothing can be done to wake you up. Enter The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. All of a sudden, as though a vat of ice cold water has been thrown over your head, you’re moving. Pains’ set is infectious and their ability to hold a crowd when most are busy shotgunning cans in preparation for the evenings’ festivities is faultless. They might be on foreign soil, or mud as Beacons would have it, but that by no means stop these New Yorkers from showing everyone a grand old time. —CM
Girl Band – Noisey Stage Raucous? Maybe. Loud? Without a doubt. Female? Far from it. The Dublin four-piece that grace the Noisey stage may not be quite what you’d expect, but they show wisdom so far beyond their just-out-of-college years that any sense of confusion is replaced with complete awe. This premature wisdom gathers Girl Band a hefty horde of punters despite their early billing and the torrential rain that should mean everyone is tucked up in their barely standing tents. Perhaps it’s just the hype; Girl Band certainly have enough of it. Or, perhaps, this noise-rock quartet don’t need hype – they seem to be doing just fine on their own. —CM
The Fall – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage It comes as no surprise that Mark E Smith’s The Fall bring drama from the off. Whether it’s each member’s visible fear of instantaneously losing their positions in the band or the fresh faced drummer’s confusion when an unannounced change is made to the setlist, The Fall provide a show so indeterminate that it’s impossible not to be entertained. So indeterminate that, because the tail end of Hurricane Bertha pulls a plug on the power, the set is cut short. But, in true Mark E Smith spirit, The Fall return; performing to a crowd half its original side and minus a PA system, they manage to do a tremendous job. — CM
Neneh Cherry and Rocketnumbernine – Loud & Quiet + Last FM Stage If the gale force winds that threaten the foundations of Funkirk Estate haven’t already blown the crowds away, Neneh Cherry does a good job at helping them out. She’s a vision, and bar far the highlight of the weekend. Bringing with her Rocketnumbernine, phenomenal in their own right, Neneh breezes through an hour long set with such ease that it’s hard to believe she’s been in the industry for over 30 years. Hats off to you Neneh, you put on a bloody good show. —CM
Photo: Giles Smith
SUNDAY
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An honest marketing campaign or a way to boost sales? This month, Video Games discusses the huge amount of attention some games get over others
Like any industry that receives significant media coverage, the gaming industry excels at creating and maintaining hype around new releases. This is even more prominent during the conference season with the likes of E3 and Gamescom. It may be seen as simple marketing in order to boost sales so that development costs can be recovered or even surpassed. However there are cases when a game is so grossly over-hyped that when it comes to release it is disappointing. From a consumer’s perspective, the issue is whether the hype warrants purchasing games at full price or binding yourself to a purchase through a pre-order. It is probably best to start with a positive example. Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V), released in September 2013, was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of all time. As well as the five year wait since GTA IV. Rockstar had also kept us hooked with DLC releases for GTA IV as well as their highly successful and critically acclaimed other titles, Red Dead Redemption and LA Noire. So when the first images and information about GTA V began to appear,
IN VIDEO GAMES the entire gaming community was thrown into an utter frenzy of anticipation. As a result of the hype many people, myself included, pre-ordered the game so that it could be played on release day. Many stores across the world held midnight launches with queues extending far beyond the various premises. Everyone expected GTA V to be the best game ever released. It is very easy for games to fall victim to their own hype. In those cases it is not only the consumer that feels robbed, but the developers also take a significant reputation hit – Gearbox suffered this exact fate with Aliens: Colonial Marines. However GTA V did not fall into this category. This was a game that lived up to the hype and then some. The proof is in the numbers. Scores of reviews returned with 10/10 or 100%. Many, many YouTubers and bloggers also showered it with praises. Financially, it worked out extremely well for Rockstar despite us still waiting on the release of the PC and Nextgen versions. Until Activision claimed that Call of Duty Ghosts had made $1 billion in day one sales, GTA V held that record with $800 million although the game reached the billions after only three days. However many commentators, such as Forbes, have said that GTA’s day one numbers only reflected sales to individual consumers, some 15 million people, and did not reflect the copies sold to retailers. The conclusion to be drawn from Rockstar’s example is that sometimes the hype is completely justified. That’s not to say that it had nothing to do with boosting sales, after all Rockstar is still primarily a business, but this is one of those cases where the consumer did not feel cheated at the release date and the financial success for the company comes willingly from satisfied customers. However, as with any debate, there is exists a flip side. Many, many games have not lived up to their extensive hype. The list of
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titles that unfortunately fell into this trap is extensive and cannot be fully covered in this article. However, it is only correct to use some examples to demonstrate this. Watch_ Dogs, although a financial success (4 million copies sold during the first week), was roundly disappointing given the amount of coverage it received since its initial unveiling at E3 2012. Watch_Dogs fell victim to its hype as a result of a graphics downgrade (among other issues) which made many feel that they had been induced by Ubisoft into believing that the game was something it was not. This also shows a problem amongst the consumer in that we will often prioritise graphical fidelity over elements such as gameplay and story. Games such as Dwarf Fortress show that graphics are not the be all and end all of a great game. This release is certainly a great example of the downside of hyping prospective video games but there is a perhaps a better series to use.
when it comes to the issue over hype, which of course principally concerns the consumer, CoD is far more controversial. To put into perspective, every year there are several high profile conferences where titles are presented and shown off to the world by the heavyweights of the gaming industry. Chief among these conferences is E3 which is held in Los Angeles at which a new CoD game often takes the headline. Indeed this year’s E3 was opened up by Xbox and the first game shown off by them was CoD: Advanced Warfare. The main criticism is that these games are merely a re-hash of previous titles, offering no new experiences for your money. Therefore is it right to hype the game to be something which it really is not so long as it has slightly updated graphics and some new guns? Unfortunately the numbers show that this question is somewhat irrelevant. The hype clearly works for the developers and it will continue to do so.
“NOT ONLY DOES THE
It is important to remember that CoD is not the only franchise that is criticised like this. The argument can be made for any of the annual releases such as FIFA, Madden or even now Assassin’s Creed. The fact of the matter is that hype will always remain part of the industry however advantageous it may seem. Without sales, it would be impossible for the industry to expand and evolve since that requires the developers to stay in business. Although this may come at a price since the consumer is even more indispensable than the developers. Most hype is unwarranted and is just there to fulfil a business need. The industry will not change or learn if we continue to go along with this. Therefore we, as consumers, need to make this change happen by holding back on hyped releases and lowering our expectations. Only then may we begin to see a change in the nature of the industry.
CONSUMER FEEL ROBBED, BUT THE DEVELOPERS ALSO TAKE A SIGNIFICANT REPUTATION HIT” Every year the Call of Duty franchise rolls out another boring, generic, first person shooter and being what it is, they receive much of the media attention. However many people buy the new iterations year after year. If Activision is to be believed, then CoD Ghosts does now hold the record for day one sales despite the fact that the game has been roundly criticised. The problem is that CoD receives so much attention from the press purely because it is a big money spinner. Now it is hard to blame the industry for backing a franchise worth so much because in the end it is still a business. However
- Alex Glazer
VI DEO G A ME S
T H E
F R A M E
R A T E
D E B A T E
FPS is a point of discussion among all sorts of gamers; it can make or break a player’s gaming experience. This month, we dig into it for real “The human eye only sees at 24 FPS anyway…” How many times have any of you seen this little beauty crop up during an argument on different threads on a forum or, even a YouTube comment section? The idea that the human eye only sees at 24 FPS has been hovering around quite a lot of gamers’ minds and has come from an actual fact where the information has been twisted. The human eye does not only see at 24 FPS, in fact your eyes do not see in FPS at all. That little round organ in your skull is not a camera. 24 frames-per-second is the point at which the average persons’ brain differentiates between a fluid moving picture and a set of still images. As with all facts this has been twisted and garbled by the great machine known as the internet so hopefully all of you are feeling clearer on this point. Does this really matter that much though? Your casual Angry Birds user or someone who spends his or her relaxed Sunday evenings playing Mario Kart may not care much about their FPS. Well they do, even if it is only to a basic level. Most people don’t want to see graphics that look like a 6 year old’s attempt at plasticine modelling unless it is intended. But as your average Angry Birds player gets off the tablet and is tempted by that magic hand to buy a console or maybe even a pc, they are going to begin to care.
You can ask almost any PC gamer or probably most people playing games on the current generation of consoles whether they could really stand going back to 30 FPS from 60. It is one of those things that when you try it you cannot go back, like trying to watch all of “Batman and Robin” after seeing Nolan’s trilogy. Although people probably hated it back then too. When you are going past 60 FPS and you are hitting the 120-144 Hz monitors it gets a bit funny. This here is hard-core and competitive territory. It is beyond consoles and budget gaming PCs. You’re looking at monstrous machines that cost ridiculous amounts with many questioning the very sanity of those who buy them, but that is a different point. Here we start to get extremely smooth looking gameplay maxing out native 1080p and 4k resolutions and getting all that it is worth from your monitors. But the frames are going beyond that. You’ll see a lot of competitive players having FPS counters in the corners of their screens reading numbers near the 200 mark. Wait what? Don’t their monitors cap off at 144? This is true for their monitors and their visual feedback, but the game is running and performing at these higher frame rates. The monitor cannot give out more than 144 but the game can, and this vastly improves the responsiveness of the game itself. If you are playing a game, and a shooter is a good example because most require the fastest reactions, you are going to be at a serious disadvantage in a firefight if you are running at 50-60 FPS and the other person is running their game at 100-120. Even if both of your monitors are 60 Hz monitors your game is
only responding at 50 frames-per-second but your enemy’s game is responding much faster or more sensitively. This more than likely means that they are going to gun you down before you can nail them. When you’re looking at the competitive scene this is not much of a problem as everyone plays on the same hardware. They may use different mice, keyboards or controllers but since that’s all personal preference it is about the same as a tennis player’s racket or a footballer’s boots. The people coming across this problem are the hard-core gamers playing at home on a PC because better hardware does mean that you have an advantage over people on lesser systems. This is the advantage over consoles since everyone is on a level playing field, but the truth is that FPS is key to not only visual performance but also in-game performance. If someone starts to tell you that ‘The Human eye only sees at 24-’ just walk away, please. Now to finish on a point that will be food for thought for most of you. Now that a new generation of consoles has arrived, it means that PC hardware can start stepping up to another mark. The real reason they sort of hold back is because many games are benchmarked and originally ported from console builds since that’s where the average consumer lies. So maybe in a couple years we may be actually seeing monitors that perform at 160-200 FPS and maybe further. At what point do you think they’ll stop? Maybe when the first person to see a 3000 FPS monitor starts bleeding from his eyes? Probably still worth it. - Eranan Thirumagan
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Bang for your buck? Are video games a waste, or some of the best entertainment money can buy? Rhys Johns on gaming’s relationship with spending Money makes the world go ‘round and the world of video games is no exception. The usual debates that centre around video games tend to focus on graphics, gameplay quality and the ongoing ‘console wars’, but the increased focus on paywalls for game content and increasing prices are bringing the monetary cost of gaming to the forefront. The cost of gaming is increasing, and there are many reasons for this but are the costs wholly justified? Firstly, there is the cost of the platform, be it one of the consoles or a PC. This is a rather varied component, and the cost will depend on which system you as an individual prefer to use. For example, the PS4 is actually cheaper than it’s predecessor when adjusted for inflation, and it’s online function is free to use and play online. This is in contrast with its rival, the Xbox One, which requires a monthly subscription to play online. When all’s said and done, the new generation consoles will cost anything between £280 and £450 depending on which you choose and whether you go for a new or used product. As for gaming PCs, the price is generally £450-£700, unless of course you buy a state-of-the-art custom tower, which can cost prices just shy of the £2000 mark. This choice is, of course, down to the personal preferences and income of the individual gamer, but it can be argued that standard-built state-of-the-art custom systems are too expensive to be cost effective. However, if you have the confidence to construct your own custom system, there is a great value for money to be found and high end systems can be built for around £800. Building your own system also gives you the added bonus of tailoring your system to suit the games you play for optimum performance and graphics. However, the initial cost of the platform can be eclipsed over time by the games that they run, which generally cost anything between £40 to £60 for the new generations, with similar prices for PC games. This cost has been fairly static for a long time when inflation is accounted for, but that does not change the fact that the price tag on these games is very demanding. However, most of the time, this is not the final price for the full game due to the proliferation
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of paywalls for certain content or DLC (Downloadable Content), demanding more money to unlock further content, whether it be something that enriches the experience of the game itself or simple add-on packs that offer more trivial features.
Good advice for microtransactions: avoid them like the plague There is also an increase in pre-order bonuses and collectors packs, which can reach extortionate prices for ‘exclusive’ content which will, more often than not, be sold as a separate DLC pack sometime in the future. Here, the worth of these paid expansions largely depends on the quality of the added content and what a person is willing to pay for it. For instance, to take The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as an example, the Shivering Isles DLC offers a new area to explore and some highly entertaining quest lines, while another downloadable item simply offers armour for your horse. One is clearly more valuable than the other and it would be a good idea to weigh up the benefits of an add-on carefully before buying, as well as perhaps waiting for a sale on steam if you are a PC gamer. As for the cost of game itself, It is recommended to wait a bit as prices generally fall after the first month or so. As for missing out on limited edition versions, whatever content is included in the collectors edition of any given game is usually made available as a purchasable DLC pack further down the line. As such, collectors and limited edition packs are usually not worth the money they’re asking for. This is especially true when certain limited editions command over twice the price of the original game.
Connected to DLC is the increased appearance of microtransactions in games. Microtransactions refer to paying for specific content or further progression in the game, usually requiring payment for single pieces of content that may be difficult to achieve without paying or locked entirely behind a paywall. Originally from mobile games, the financial success of microtransactions has brought them to be applied to the larger platforms and is now an increasingly familiar sight in console games and especially freeto-play MMOs. As for whether it is worth it to get involved in microtransactions, there really is one good piece of advice; Avoid them like the plague. The reason that these transactions are so effective is that the customer is not fully aware of exactly how much money they are spending as opposed to a one-off payment for a DLC, so it is very easy to spend large amounts of money over time in small installments and not realise it. As such, if your game requires a microtransaction to continue or unlock content, your best move would be to carefully consider the worth of the content or to simply stop playing the game altogether if it would be too much to pay. The extra costs involved in gaming brought about by DLC and microtransactions can make the hobby increasingly expensive, but there are ways to reduce the cost. For instance, PC gamers will find the steam sales to be a very good way of reducing costs as prices can be dramatically reduced in some cases. For both console and PC gamers, it is advised to think carefully before buying a game just after its release, as games tend to drop from their £50 price tag after a certain amount of time has passed, though more popular games experience this at a slower rate than less popular ones. Finally, as long as you are careful not to become trapped by microtransactions and selective about when you buy games and DLC, gaming can still be worth the cost as a fun way to pass time or an exciting challenge in a competitive environment. —Rhys Johns
VI DEO G A ME S
Tropico 5:
EL PRESIDENTÉ RETURNS!
The popular city builder series returns with its fifth instalment. Not always on the main radar of the gaming community, Kalypso Media’s strategy Intellectual Property has enjoyed significant success among its fanbase since it was first introduced. The latest iteration has introduced new features and mechanics that build upon the previous games. In Tropico you play as El Presidente of an illustrious island in the Caribbean. It is your job to govern the people of Tropico by providing them with food, jobs, healthcare etc. while still maintaining a level of control over politics in order to stay in office. The player provides these services by placing down individual buildings which are then built by the workers at the construction office. These buildings then carry out their desired purpose provided that there is a sufficient workforce and the pay is good of course. Tropico 5 adds a host of new features and mechanics to help flesh out what may be seen as a tired gameplay style. Now you start out as a colony belonging to the British crown. It is you goal at this point to gain enough revolutionary support to declare independence by either paying a hefty amount of money or by surviving an invasion. This leads to perhaps the biggest change in the style - the military. In previous games it was enough to have one military base and a few guard towers to deal with those pesky rebels. However with foreign powers being more
aggressive and rebels being more numerous there is a need to manage your military from an early stage. If your palace is destroyed by an enemy force then it is game over. This emphasis on military was a good move on the part of the developers since before it felt like it was merely tacked on and served no real purpose. The game then plays into the World Wars era following independence then hits familiar ground with the Cold War and Modern Eras. With this new system comes a host of new buildings and designs for you to place on your island all of which serve an individual purpose. Politics has never played as a big a part in the series as it does in Tropico 5. The addition of a constitution following your independence means that the player must think much more carefully about their actions. For example, certain options in the constitution will annoy the communists on the island but please the capitalists. The player must balance out the constitution with actions and edicts otherwise it will be very hard to win the elections that take place – if you allow them that is. Again, failure to win the election means that it is game over – and yes you can still lose even if you manipulate the results. It is actually quite hard to pinpoint any major problems with the game. The only real criticism would be that as it stands the soundtrack is not up to par with previous iterations. The music was one of Tropico’s USPs with a distinctly Latin American vibe being provided primarily by the talents of
Alex Torres y Los Reyes. However now the soundtrack is sadly lacking on this front and there is not much variety in the sound. Hopefully this is something that will change in future updates and DLC. Being mainly a PC release it is important to talk about performance. The machine that this was reviewed on is of quite a high spec but the game will still work fine on lesser systems – this has been tested. Graphically it is not the best looking game but since the vast majority of play takes place above the world there is no real need for there to be stunning graphics. The frame rate is smooth and there are no real drops even as the island expands. Tropico 5 is yet another high quality release for Kalypso Media. It serves to add to what has already been a successful series. The series’ charm and humour returns alongside fantastic voice acting, particularly for the voice of your advisor Penultimo. This is a game that is quite hard to find flaw with and to that end it is definitely worth the money and time. Coming in at a price of £35 may seem quite expensive but it is great value considering the amount of content and replayabilty that comes with it. It is also highly likely that it will be reduced in price on Steam at points as is often the case will all games on the service. For anyone who is interested in researching the game further before purchase then the videos of Quill 18 on YouTube are a good starting point. - Alex Glazer, 8/10
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A NEW DAWN,
A NEW T V
THE FLASH
ONCE UPON A TIME
The season will feature heavily on Elsa’s unpredictable powers and her lack of control. It seems there is no escape from the Frozen bubble! If a dark, brooding and twisted series is not to your personal taste then perhaps the upcoming new series The Flash is for you. Directly connected to the world of Arrow, The Flash contrasts it’s sister show quite drastically; it fully embraces superpowers, has a much lighter tone, and is not afraid to crack a few jokes. Central City Police Department’s forensic analyst Barry Allen is struck by a bolt of lightning generated by the explosion of a particle accelerator. After being in a coma for nine months Barry wakes
up to find that “lightning gave me abs?!” and that he is able to run at lightning-fast speeds. Barry has spent his life believing and looking for the impossible (a journey which led him to appear in Starling City during the second season of Arrow) but never once believed he would become the impossible. After some reassuring and inspirational words from friend Oliver Queen, Barry uses his power to become a hero, watching over his city like a guardian angel, saving people in a flash.
It is safe to say we all know who Snow White is; her dwarves who help her, the prince who saves her, and the Evil Queen who curses her. What you probably don’t know is that Snow White had a daughter, by the name of Emma. That is the premise that sets up Once Upon a Time. It is based in the fictional town of Storybrooke and follows characters from a wide variety of fairy tales who have been transported from their mythical lands into the ‘real world’ by a curse enacted by the Evil Queen, who can only be saved by Emma. What is most interesting within this show’s narrative is the way in which the writers are re-imagining the past lives of well-known fairy tale characters, and weaving them into the lives and backstories of other characters. The show, which is going into its fourth season this autumn, has introduced nearly every fairy-tale and mythical character out there. You have Snow White, and all those associated with her, Rumplestiltskin (who is also Belle’s Beast and the show’s protagonist “The Dark One”), Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood (who is also the Wolf), Mad Hatter, Dr. Frankenstein, Aurora, Prince Phillip, Mulan, Peter Pan (who is
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in fact Rumplestiltskin’s Father), Captain Hook, Ariel, Maleficent and the Wicked Witch of the West, who just happens to be the Evil Queen’s jealous half-sister, and a host of other fairy tale characters who crop up in single episodes. Some would call this mashing of fairy tales crazy, but we think it’s ingenious. It breathes new life into old tales and modernises their stories to fit with a new audience. After the adventure to Neverland and the demise of the Wicked Witch at the end of season three, we were introduced to a character from last year’s most popular (and most sung-along) film through a vase that sneaked through a time portal. The fourth season will want you to “Let it Go” wherever and with whomever it desires. That’s right; Elsa, Anna and Kristoff are set to appear in multiple episodes in the coming season, with talks that the season will feature heavily on Elsa’s unpredictable powers and her lack of control. It seems there is no escape from the Frozen bubble! No news yet if everyone’s favourite Frozen character, Olaf, will be featured at all.
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SE A SON HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
DOWNTON ABBEY (Warning: the following may contain spoilers for those who aren’t caught up with Downton Abbey. But if you're up to date, read on!) Period drama isn’t everyone’s cup of tea at the best of times. Throw in forward thinking feminists, class divides, scandalous family dramas and Maggie Smith, however, and everybody seems to love it. For the past four seasons, Downton Abbey has been at the forefront of Twitter debates and the top of people’s recorded planners. Shot on location at the stunning Highclere Castle, the show depicts the troubled and interesting lives of the Crawley family, an aristocratic bunch whose lives are held together by their live-in servants.
Shonda Rhimes is well known for her smash hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice. Rhimes’ knack for character development, intricate plot lines and shocking twists is critically acclaimed so her latest outing should prove to follow suit. How To Get Away With Murder strays away from Rhimes’ comfortable zone of the medical genre and instead offers a thrilling, suspenseful legal thriller. A group of law students find themselves embroiled in an unconventional Criminal Law 100 module: they will actively be operating within a court room, attempting to absolve a client accused of murder. Whilst
some find this approach unsettling and the process and ramifications unethical, others embrace and revel in the approach, seducing witnesses for key hidden evidence, pointing the finger in a different direction to introduce a new suspect, and burying the truth to win the case. This latter rule of Criminal Law 100, or as Professor Keating likes to call it: “How To Get Away With Murder”, will truly test how far the students are prepared to go – can they live with the knowledge that they destroyed evidence in the “only way possible”, by burning a body in the woods?
Writer and creator Julian Fellowes has created a place where historical events affect the rich just as they do the poor; an interesting look at social hierarchy and cultural injustice. Through the shows four seasons we have seen the aftermath of Titanic, the outbreak of the First World War, the Spanish influenza and more importantly social issues that also drive the narrative; the need for male heirs, the lack of female power, American versus
British values and morals. Following the explosive conclusion of Season Four, which showed us Bates’ loyalty to Anna, Edith’s heart-breaking decision about her baby and Mary’s indecision about men, the Christmas special (set in summer) showed us Rose’s debutante coming out, the ever brilliant Shirley MacLaine and Paul Giamatti as Cora’s mother and brother, a narrative involving indiscretion and enigmatic royals engaging in affairs and even a bit of hand holding between Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson (gasp!) There hasn’t been a significant character death since season three’s goodbye to Lady Sybil and Cousin Matthew, but if the rumours for season five are to be believed we may be seeing off one of the Ladies very quick into the season. We can also suspect a better exploration into the effects of Anna’s rape on Mr Bates, and the situation involving Mr Green’s suspicious death. New faces are usually a welcome sight in the beginning episodes, so look out for new characters ready to shake things up for the Crawley’s and their servants come the end of September!
The need for male heirs, the lack of female power, American versus British values and morals 35
UNDERAPPRECIATED BOXSETS AND BLOCKBUSTERS It’s that time of year again, with a new set of modules, and a new set of troubles. But don’t sweat - there is a remedy for all your worries, and our Film and TV Editors’ selection of underrated, independent boxsets and blockbusters are just the thing to help you get through these few weeks.
Dexter It is definitely an unusual premise to follow the day-to-day antics of a serial killer. It is even more intriguing that you come to identify with and often sympathise with a serial killer. But that is the draw and appeal of the series as it offers you the unique wish for the killer to evade the law.
If you’re not a fan of this show, you’ll probably know its star as Tina Fey’s hilarious sidekick. Her contemporary of sorts, when considering both their starts on Saturday Night Live, Amy Poehler is this show, just as much as the show is her. The unique thing about Leslie Knope is that she’s the person everyone wishes they had in their lives; a supportive friend, a courageous spirit and surprisingly a good government employee who just wants change to happen in her city. The rest of the cast too, are equally as terrific.
Dexter is a non-stop rollercoaster from start to finish and an enthralling one to the end (although the final season is lacklustre). It gets 9.0 on IMDB for a good reason.
The great thing about this sort of droll comedy is that though it may never have you full-on belly laughing, it is continuously funny throughout each episode in its dryness and wit.
The brainchild of writers Greg Daniels (Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, The Office U.S) and Michael Schur (The Office U.S, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Parks and Recreation was born out of renewed interest in American politics and a new venture for all involved. The show is centred on Leslie Knope, an ambitious bureaucrat in the Parks department of the
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The premise, granted, won’t be to everyone’s taste. A comedy show set in a government department? But in the same vein as The Office, its characters are what keep people hooked.
Dexter Morgan is a serial killer, but a serial killer with a code: he only kills those who escape the police system; he only kills criminals. He also has unrivalled access to these criminals through his occupation as the blood-spatter analyst at Miami Metro Police Department. He is constantly having to evade his colleagues in order to pacify his “dark passenger”, in order to satisfy his dark urges, in order to deal his unique take on justice.
Parks and Recreation
The lies take on lives of their own, feeding off the misinformed hate carried on by others
fictional town Pawnee. It details the antics of the town’s public officials as they jump on projects up and down to make the city they love better.
Parks has had a great run in America, winning Poehler a Golden Globe and several Primetime Emmy nominations for her and the show itself. However, over here it premiered on BBC Four and is in the realm of cult following (thanks to Twitter users obsessed with talking about American TV) rather than hitting a UK mainstream audience, something we’re very sad about! It’s a show that deserves everyone to give it a try.
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Zombieland (2009) Zombies. Woody Harrelson. Bill Murray. What more could you ask for? Zombieland is a bloody great zom-com and one full of blood, gore, and gut-wrenching humour. Zombies have overridden the world after someone took a bite of a contaminated burger and the most unlikely of people is one of the few survivors. Shy, paranoid and geeky student Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has survived for three main reasons: he didn’t have any close relationships or physical acquaintances, he’s incredibly obsessive and paranoid, and he has his extensive list – his rules for surviving Zombieland. “Always check the back seat”, “enjoy the little things”, “Double tap, and who can forget, “beware of bathrooms”. It isn’t long before Columbus meets Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) an eccentric character in the business of zombie killing, “and business is good”. Whilst Columbus’ mission is to survive Zombieland and find his family, in Columbus, Tallahassee is determined to track down the most important thing in the whole of Zombieland – the last ever Twinkie. With the combination of characters, the brilliant humour, and the most amazing cameo by Bill Murray, this film is enjoyable, gripping and hilarious throughout. It is a film that can be enjoyed over and over.
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) Film guides rarely include those from independent cinema. It’s a sector of the film industry that popular audiences tend to overlook when seeing an oddly-titled film on their cinema screen’s viewing list. Martha Marcy May Marlene, however, is the epitome of good independent cinema with its harsh and no holds narrative – cults and mental issues aren’t usually the stuff of movies you’ll see being given the widest of theatre releases. Martha details a woman haunted by painful memories and a never -ending paranoia as she struggles to connect with her family and life after fleeing an abusive cult. The struggle is real when she deals with living as Marcy May after living as Martha for a long period of time. It is a startling portrait of a woman, whose life is as imbalanced as the chemicals within her mind, churning and churning until she no longer knows who she is or what she is doing; an exploration in identity against the backdrop of mind trauma.
The thrill is in the unknown, not just in what to expect from the narrative but in what the narrative is exploring; not knowing where you belong, where you are going or even who you are. The deeply unsettling nature of the story, understandably, may put off prospective audiences (hence the lack of mainstream release), but we recommend viewing this for the sheer cinematic experience that this film brings, and in appreciation for what the film has taken upon itself to do. Elizabeth Olsen, the lesser known sister of the Olsen Twins, has made a huge splash in the independent film scene in the past couple of years, with titles such as Silent House, Liberal Arts and Kill Your Darlings. She is without a doubt the main attraction to this piece. She gave a stellar performance that should have seen her walking the carpets of major award shows; but like most of its independent predecessors, she and the film were overlooked, a grievous fate that independent cinema too often falls prey to.
The Hunt (2012) Volatile accusations are, at best, punishments of the worst kind. When these accusations are false however, the lies take on lives of their own, feeding off the misinformed hate carried on by others. This is the fate that Lucas falls to in The Hunt. Centred on infant school teacher Lucas, a man who takes great pride in his work, who falls from grace due to the egregious lies a student tells about him. The drama unfolds into continuous low blows that keep swinging into you with every scene, culminating into a climax that will leave you with many questions, many of which concern the why of things. Foreign film doesn’t get its dues in today’s society; generally cinema goers regard it as the weird younger brother of blockbuster summer hits – though in actual fact it can be much more developed, much more real, and much more honest than its CGI counterparts. If you didn’t catch this film, don’t be surprised: it didn’t get a wide release and only played in limited cinemas.
Columbus has survived for three reasons: he has no close relationships, he’s incredibly paranoid, and he has an extensive list of rules
If there is any reason to watch this film, it is the exceptional performance from Mads Mikkelsen. You’ll recognise him as the Casino Royal Bond villain Le Chiffre or more recently, the intense Dr. Hannibal Lecter from TV’s Hannibal. It is the strength of Mikkelsen’s portrayal that carries this film, and like most independent pictures, the lead actor hones dramatic scenes better than actors getting paid millions to do the same.
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IS STAR POWER DEAD?
With the rise of Pixar and the downfall of Depp, film and TV editor Charlie Andrews explores whether star power is truly dead and if brand power has taken its place It was only a few years ago that Johnny Depp was a safe bet. Put him in your film and you could sit back and watch the money roll in: Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd. That is no longer true. Depp’s past three films have all been box office flops: Dark Shadows (made only £90 million), The Lone Ranger (made only £50 million) and Transcendence (lost £10 million). So the question now is: is star power dead? Can you quite literally bank on a Hollywood star bringing in the money, drawing in an audience? Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood past are almost undisputably 80s heroes Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Willis’ most recent outing, in Red 2, made a meagre profit of £64 million on a budget of £84 million. The actor’s “star power” is made increasingly less powerful when looking at his breakout hit Die Hard back in 1988 which made a profit of £112 million (even more impressive considering it had a miniscule budget of £28 million). The latter two actors, Schwarzenegger and Stallone, have both starred in iconic and hugely successful franchises: The Terminator (1984) made a staggering profit of £72 million (on top of a punitive budget of £6.4
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million) and First Blood [Rambo] (1982) made a conquering profit of £110 million. However, despite the added attraction of these two actors teaming up to star in Escape Plan (2013) the film failed to make an impressive profit in the current climate of the industry. There are still exceptions to this question with the highest paid actor in Hollywood being a great example. If you put Robert Downey Jr. in a film then you will be laughing all the way to the bank: Iron Man made £440 million, Sherlock Holmes made £430 million and the latest installment of the armoured avenger (Iron Man 3) made £1.15 billion. So if star power is no longer the key to success, what is? Short answer: brand power. A lot of cinemagoers no longer go to a film because it is the latest by Depp/Willis/Stallone but because it is the latest by a certain brand or production company. One of the best examples would be Pixar. Since the release of its first full feature length animated film Toy Story back in 1995 Pixar has deservedly become associated with a pedigree of quality. The first five films in Pixar’s catalogue (Toy Story, A Bug’s Life,
Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo) made an accumulative profit of £2.32 billion and averaging 97.4% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is this pedigree of quality that draws the audience to the film, that puts money in Pixar’s back pocket because even the less critically appraised films bring in a very decent profit – Cars is rated at 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and brought in £340 million in profit, Cars 2 was critically slated and received an appalling 39% on Rotten Tomatoes and yet still brought in £360 million in profit, an improved figure from the first outing. Whilst the example of Depp suggests a downward trend in the financial capabilities of star power, Pixar emphasises the ability of brand power and regardless of critical reception, the power of a brand far outperforms the power of a star.
Whilst, for the most part, star power is dead - considering the examples of Depp, Willis, Schwarzenegger and Stallone - there are still the odd examples where star power is still an economic success. Robert Downey Jr. is deservedly the highest paid actor in Hollywood and any film with his name in the credits is a sure bet to bring in a tidy profit. However, with the evolution and expansion of the film industry star power has fallen in the notion of natural selection and has been surpassed by brand power. Pixar. Disney. Marvel. These are now the names that bring in the big bucks. But can these brands create stars? Marvel has already rejuvenated Downey Jr’s career and Chris Pratt’s stardom seems to be skyrocketing with Guardians of the Galaxy. That shall be another question for a future article.
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As far as traditional TV has been concerned, its audiences were more than happy to wait a week to see a new episode. So why are people obsessed with binging everything at once? Film & TV editor Aaron Roberts gives us the lowdown.
BOX SET BINGING VERSUS REAL TIME VIEWING Anyone with a Netflix subscription knows the hardest choice they ever have to make in the week is to decide whether to watch another episode of a series or go to sleep. Nine times out of ten, we choose the former. Who needs sleep when you can watch another episode of Breaking Bad, or The Good Wife, or 30 Rock, or Buffy? Is it any wonder the box set binging craze has taken over our lives when series are so readily available to watch, with no restriction? Recent reports have stated that binging television is killing us. More than an hour of television a day is bad for us; but hey, since when did we listen to reports of things being bad for us? We have become a society where greedy consumption is at the heart of every person’s life – we are told to want more, more
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WHEN CONSIDERING TRADITIONAL TELEVISION BROADCASTS, STREAMING IS REAL TIME TV CANCER
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and more continuously. Whether we are consuming food, television or electrical goods; the need to have everything straight after each other has permeated all aspects of daily life. Television consumption, and online TV consumption in particular, has grown in recent years – though it is still just as common to purchase DVD boxsets of your favourite shows – the advance of the internet has made it all possible. Not having to wait between episodes means the frustration of wanting to
know what happens next has been all but abolished. Shows like Breaking Bad have flourished with this sort of platform; not finding a home on any British TV channel, Netflix added it to its vast library of TV shows and so the addiction to viewing season after season began. Box set binges are the stuff of procrastination known to students; whole Wednesday afternoons off have been dedicated to finishing that season of a show a friend recommended, after they themselves sat up watching it for 12 hours straight. And then there’s that attitude of “Hey its fine, I’ll watch it on catch-up with the other episodes”; not only is binging taking a hold of our free time, playback culture is also making an impact. When considering traditional television broadcasts streaming is real time TV cancer, and I say this with the most sincerity. Streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime are offering a back catalogue of TV long forgotten on the airwaves as well as premiering new TV shows and new seasons of established shows. Weeknight television doesn’t stand a chance against the powers that be online, which offer all that’s new, wonderful and spectacular. The millions that were tuning in at the same time every week are slowly but surely dwindling down to those who only have TV access. The death of real time is also evident in the digital market; Sky’s On Demand and SkyGo services are offering its usual broadcasting with the added benefit of having shows’ back seasons ready to view at your leisure. A digital broadcaster venturing into the online streaming realm was bound to happen at some point, and it is no surprise that Murdoch’s BSkyB is there. There are several reasons people prefer to bulk watch rather than view in real time: work commitments, university schedules, lack of TV and the ability to tailor your viewing schedule around yourself. However, there is an element of this kind of viewing that can backfire for shows; binging on something can get very tedious and boring after a couple of seasons (which is exactly how I felt about Breaking Bad, but alas that is a different matter), and immediate consumption of one show just so you can move on to the next on the list
doesn’t sound like a particularly thrilling viewing experience. The sheer excitement of having to wait to watch, of being held in suspense, helps build the show and the relationship audiences can have with its characters. Real time broadcasts benefit from this sort of audience following as the obstacle that is a waiting period can be a real strength to some series. The rise of the day release series has changed the game of television broadcasting and consumption. No longer are series’ required to undergo twelve to twenty four week broadcast cycles and mid-season breaks, they can just put everything on in one go. Netflix, the place where this all started, began airing brand new complete seasons on one day instead of traditional weekly broadcast. Orange is The New Black and House of Cards both premiered their entire seasons in one day: a genius and a very risky move for new TV shows. The grace period is well and truly over for this new online form of television viewing. By airing a brand new complete season the shows lack any build up, it is up to user discretion when they watch it, and once over, it is completely over for a full year. Not just the programming itself – but all buzz created during that 13 hour long binge dies with it. Of course, there are those who have seen it will talk about it until they’re blue in the face, tweeting the show’s official handles with “why can’t the show come back sooner!” and the like. These day season releases run the risk of shows becoming completely forgotten in an industry that relies on audience viewing figures week in and week out. Sure there may be a huge social media buzz about them, but does that translate into the subscriptions bought? There’s only so much word of mouth a show can rely on, and unless you’ve got a nice friend to give you their Netflix password, you won’t be watching it all either. So the next time you see a friend on Facebook or Twitter boasting about their binging Game of Thrones, think to yourself “Do I really need to spend 12 hours watching that show myself?” – And chances are you’ll tell yourself yes, because hey it’s there, and you’ve got the time!
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Cafe 37
RISING TO THE OCCASION
Different occasions and different company often determine where you end up going to eat and with the vast amount of eateries in Cardiff, it can be hard to filter through the copious amounts of Italian chain restaurants and take your friends/family/housemates to the perfect restaurant. Here at Quench we are all about helping you out so here is our guide to the restaurants suited to special occasions
WHERE TO TAKE THE PARENTS: CAFÉ CITTA If you are starting your university experience in Cardiff this year, welcome! First, you must tackle Freshers’ fortnight. Your days will consist of Disney films, onesies, oven pizza, and relentless rain. During the first few nights, you’ll probably cross every one of the self-imposed boundaries you arrived with, make friends whose names you won’t remember and it will still be raining. Fourteen days later, if you haven’t succumbed to defeat and fled home, there’s a good chance the parents will call and arrange their first visit to your new adopted city. With Live Lounge out of the question, finding entertainment for the evening could be seen as a challenging task. As your loan will feel somewhat depleted by then, you can (hopefully) rely on the folks to fund the evening. This will allow you to look a little further afield than horsemeat ready meals
Cafe Citta
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from the freezer or the Woodville Pub for Friday night’s supper. Café Citta, hidden away on Church Street, is the perfect place for the parents to treat their favourite child to a meal out. With a chic menu comprised of authentic Italian dishes, Café Citta has the upper hand on all of its chain competitors. The wood fired oven gives Café Citta’s pizzas a smoky aroma, and they’re a steal, with main dishes averaging around £10. Other dishes are created with just as much passion and care, Gamberoni Saltati, a bowl of king prawns in a chili, garlic and red wine sauce, is exquisite in its simplicity. While the rustic décor and friendly staff are likely to avert the parents’ gaze from the bags under your eyes, Café Citta is more than a distraction. Escape the rain for a few hours, indulge in wonderful home cooked food and enjoy an evening in Cardiff ’s little Italy. — Tom Reeder
F O OD & DR I NK
WHERE TO GO ON A HANGOVER: CAFÉ 37 Amidst the grubby but lovable streets of Cathays you can find a haven of milkshakes, pancakes and fry ups. This haven is Café 37. Existing as somewhat of a landmark in Cathays, Café 37 provides countless students with that fatty, sweet goodness that they crave after one too many Zwack bombs. With student friendly prices and portions more than adequate for the food demanding beings among us, Café 37 really is the perfect alternative to lying in bed all day crying out for sympathy. The choice is vast, with a variety of cooked breakfast options to choose from including the regular sausage, beans, bacon, egg etc. as well as hash browns, fried bread and the often dismissed black pudding. The option to build your own breakfast is
also great, allowing you to truly go all out on your hangover cravings. If the fry up breakfast hasn’t quite lured you out of your hungover state, then one of the chocolate bar milkshakes is likely to help you out. With a wide range of flavours to choose from and filled with ice-creamy, sweet goodness, the milkshakes are a must. If it is one of those hangovers where you crave food yet cannot quite manage it when it gets to the table, then the café will let you take it home in a doggy bag. Within walking distance from university campus, the students living in Cathays and the first years who need some food rejuvenation before lectures, Café 37 is the perfect student café as well as the perfect hangover cure. – Emma Giles
“AMIDST THE GRUBBY BUT LOVABLE STREETS OF CATHAYS YOU CAN FIND A HAVEN OF MILKSHAKES, PANCAKES AND FRY UPS”
The Pancake House
WHERE TO GO ON A FIRST DATE: THE PANCAKE HOUSE The big day has come - you’re taking that special someone you’ve had a crush on for as long as you can remember on a first date. As exciting as it is, the dilemma of choosing the ideal romantic location can be pretty daunting, but don’t worry, we’ve got a great venue for you to try. The Pancake House, popularly named the ‘Best Pancake Place in Cardiff ’ by many visitors, is a small and cosy cafe located right in the heart of the Brewery quarter in Cardiff. Easy on your pocket and totally delicious, it offers a huge variety of savoury and sweet pancakes, with prices ranging from £4.25 to £5.50. A must-try is undoubtedly the signature caramel, banana and biscuits pancake, served with a scoop of ice cream of your choice the dish is simply mouthwatering.
Daiquiri’s
WHERE TO GO WITH HOUSEMATES: DAIQUIRI’S
What’s more there is a new selection of milkshakes each day which you can pick from: your decision lies between original vanilla, banana and strawberry and other refreshing flavours such as rose, peanut butter and cookies &cream. The milkshake range makes the Pancake House the place to be on a sunny day in Cardiff. You definitely won’t be disappointed and are sure to find something to curb your sweet tooth and appetite. Hot drinks such as comforting hot chocolates and quirky coffees aren’t in shortage either and arguably come at one of the most affordable prices in Cardiff.
The first few weeks of the new semester will quickly merge in to a drunken blur of ring of fire, rainy days in bed and take away boxes filling your tiny student room. So when you surface into a sober reality as your first assignment is due in and it’s all getting a bit too real, alcohol for once won’t be the answer. If you’re after a bit of down time with friends which doesn’t involve heavy drinking, why not gather up the house mates and go for some fantastic food at Daiquiri’s?
Overall, the Pancake House is definitely the place to be on your first date as it’s affordable, cosy, cute and delicious. Enjoy your visit & best of luck!
The Mexican eatery is one of the highlights of Salisbury Road, Cathays very own High Street, offering a range of authentic South American dishes at bargain student prices.
Daquiri’s is definitely the place to visit when your shrinking bank balance hasn’t quite stretched as far as Tesco’s. With epic portion sizes of tasty grub, you’re sure to be pleasantly full for the next few days. The massive paella is particularly delicious with succulent prawns, juicy chicken and a good dollop of sour cream to cool the Mexican spices. The colossal plates of sharing nachos are also not just tasty but a great dish to get to know your new housemates over. A warm and friendly atmosphere makes Daiquiri’s the perfect destination for a long catch-up or gathering with a large group of friends, you can even indulge in a couple cheeky cocktails if you can’t resist. - Kathryn Lewis
- Anastasia BonBon
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FINE DINING: ART OR ARCHAIC? Students don’t get many opportunities to go for fine dining - but for the rare occasions when you do, it’s hard to say whether the experience is worth it or not. We get two students to weigh up the pros and cons...
FOR The term ‘fine dining’ holds various connotations. It can refer to restaurants of Michelin Star status, but has been extended in modern times to somewhat arbitrarily accommodate restaurants with shared common features. Eccentric flavour combinations, beautiful presentation of dishes, and exceptional standards of service are to be expected. The term ‘fine dining’ has allowed restaurants to operate within a certain bracket of consumer expectation. This means that restaurants can charge more for a service that imitates, but does not necessarily replicate the work of high-end competitors. Plum Valley, a self proclaimed ‘fine dining’ Chinese restaurant in Soho, has had food described by critics as ‘inedible’.
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£125 IS EXPENSIVE FOR AN EVENING MEAL, BUT THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE IT OVERPRICED. BURGER KING IS OVERPRICED.
AGAINST
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In contrast, The Waterside Inn holds three Michelin Stars, and is widely regarded as the best restaurant in the United Kingdom. Both restaurants fall into the ‘fine dining’ bracket. Menus are generally expensive (Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester charge £125), and the portions are usually small. While it could be suggested that this approach is somewhat stingy, the law of diminishing returns must be accounted for. Chef Thomas Keller, of Per Se in New York, said “the more you have of something, the less you like it”, and creates his dishes around this philosophy. Many restaurants offer tasting menus which are not comprised of winter comfort food, nor are they for carb loading or intended to fulfill gluttonous desires. They focus on taste combinations, presentation; chefs seek to achieve culinary perfection with every dish.
In June I went for a meal at the The Clink, a charity run restaurant in Cardiff prison where the inmates cook and serve the food. While I totally agree with the intentions behind this scheme and I understand they are running what should be a 5*diner, I paid £40 for my five courses. During the main meal, I was given a single sweet potato and half a cherry tomato with my lamb, and this is something I will never understand. Even the most precious, succulent cherry tomatoes that were organically harvested on the remote plains of New Zealand under the light of a full moon cannot be so rare and expensive that after paying £40 (and that didn’t include drinks), I was only covered for half of one with my main meal.
Even though the majority of us would agree that £125 is expensive for an evening meal, it does not necessarily make it overpriced. Burger King is overpriced. Their food is tasteless, even by the standards of fast food chains, and costs almost double competing products at McDonald’s. High-end fine dining restaurants compete within a narrower bracket. Due to the capitalist society we live in, such restaurants can afford to market their food at high prices, because there are consumers happy to pay them. At the heart of restaurants like The Waterside Inn, however, there is a shared love, passion, and respect for food. An honest fine dining experience is the pinnacle of modern day cuisine. One can only hope that more people will begin to see it that way.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a Nando’s kind of girl. I can appreciate good cooking when I experience it. But my idea of a really good meal is a good pub lunch where you can fill up your plate as much as you want, or a pizza/pasta joint where you can take your leftovers home. The problem I have with high class restaurants isn’t so much the price of the food, it’s the quantity. Cooking can sometimes be an art form, and yes, some ingredients are expensive, but I do not understand why I can’t be given more than a forkful of it. If it’s that expensive, hike up the price a lot – just give me a little bit more! I don’t care how good your cooking is, if I can eat it in one mouthful you are ripping me off. If I am not being rolled out of your restaurant in a wheelbarrow, you have not done enough to warrant that amount of money.
- Tom Reeder
- Sophie Lodge
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F O OD & DR I NK
Wanting to channel your inner Sex and the City? Or simply looking to mix up your standard pre-drink procedure? Food and Drink put a student spin on cocktail classiness to bring you cheap and tasty cocktail recipes that will enable you to assume the act of a cocktail connoisseur.
D I Y : M I X OL O G Y BELLINI With only 2 ingredients, this cocktail is budget friendly and simple. All you need is sparkling wine and peach schnapps. Both of these are relatively cheap with trusty old Lidl offering variations of the drinks (including a can of sparkling wine which is an experience in itself). Fruity yet fizzy, this one is tasty to drink and remains simple for those who just
don’t have the effort to pretend to be a fancy bar man/maid. Ingredients: * 1 part sparkling wine * 1 part peach schnapps (or fake peach schnapps!) Method: Pour a shot of peach schnapps into a glass and top up with the sparkling wine. Simple!
APPLE SPICE
provided them with at the start of the year.
This fruity yet spicy concoction is deceivingly classy but surprisingly easy and cheap to make and acts as the perfect alternative to the classic vodka mixer. Comprising of vodka, apple juice, cinnamon and brown sugar, this cocktail may require some ingredient scavenging in your housemates’ cupboards but will be well worth the risk of getting caught with your hands in someone’s beloved spice collection that their mum
Ingredients: * 2 shots of vodka * Apple juice * Sprinkling of brown sugar * Pinch of cinnamon
FROZEN STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI
* 1 shot of white rum * Lime juice
Jubbly’s ice lollies: the epitome of summer in many of our childhoods, so it’s only correct that they feature in the extremely immature behaviour which occurs in the first few weeks of university, right? Quench Food have incorporated our favourite 90s treat into this cheap and cheerful version of a stylish, classic cocktail. Ingredients: * Jubbly’s ice lolly (frozen)
NEXT LEVEL SQUADKA Squadka (squash and vodka for those of you not familiar with the beverage) is a peculiar tipple which all students will be introduced to at some point of their university experience. Legends say this ‘genius’ and thrifty concoction prevents hangovers, as water is consumed alongside alcohol (we can vouch that this is not the case). So we’ve come up with a next level, bigger and better version, infusing squadka with classic flavours of cider and black, topped off with nostalgia of apple & blackcurrant juice. We cannot
Method: Add 2 shots of vodka to a glass before topping up with apple juice. For the spicy twist add a pinch of cinnamon and brown sugar.
Method: Whilst the ice lolly is still in the packaging, crush the ice with a rolling pin (or any other heavy object you can find) until it becomes quite soft. In your most sophisticated glass (this will probably be plastic) measure out a shot of rum and pour the crushed strawberry ice on top. Drizzle over the lime juice and serve with a lime wedge if you want to be super classy. promise to eradicate the dreaded hangover, but we can guarantee ours tastes a whole lot better than the original. Warning - this one isn’t for the faint of heart. Ingredients: * 1 can of cider * 1 shot blackcurrant squash * 1 shot of vodka * 1 shot of apple schnapps Method: Measure the shots into a pint glass with ice and top with a cool cider.
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Front cover photo: Robbie Jay Baratt Back cover photo: Robbie Jay Baratt