Quench - Issue 122

t h e

Speed issue

CONTENTS ISSUE 122 APRIL30, 2012

t h e

Speed issue

@Quenchmag

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

4 5 6 12 17 20 24 26 28 32 36 46

Editor's Note Putting together the Speed issue has been a social experiment into the manic effects of modern life itself. The amount of times in the last three or four days I have lambasted the poor quiet Apple Mac's in front of me for supposed foibles and crashes as if they disobeyed my will is tragic. Poor things. It's been an equal mixture of frenzied editing and collating, differing between power-hours where ing some things could just write themselves.

But now with some distance, looking at the features on screen, it's nice to see the care and detail on the issues at hand - we have articles on Slow-living, Instagram photography, street food among a plethora of others which explore the unrelenting speed of the media and commercial world we live in. Hopefully, like the longexposure image adorning our front cover, the issue will serve to artfully give a bit of distance and perspective on the Speed at which culture, news and fashion is produced.

Enjoy.

(Issue Editor)

quench@gairrhydd.com

4

Do or Die

When Quench caught wind of the quarterly it immediatedly appealed to our considered (or is that apathetic?) attitude towards news. comparatively digests fast-food news and current affairs of the more ruminative kind.

Do or Die

I have to admit to being something of a Twitterwhore over the last 6-9 months or so. While at times it can be gratifying, and even make news feel like an exciting event (I'd love to see the reallife pub, bar or social space where pithy puns about Newsnight would be re-gurgitated), more often than not it feels like you're shouting into a self-perpetuating reverse-abyss of news, the only occasional interaction mediated and valued by nothing but the speed by which you can furiously mash your keyboard alongside current events.

Occasionally, one stumbles across an accidental door out of the abyss and into excellent news, arts or other journalism. Alas, when one walks back to share it, your larynx nearly gets ripped out as your voice gets violently subsumed by whatever trend is being shouted the most apoplectically.

So as something of a social experiment, I decided to eschew daily/hourly/minute-by-minute

look over the purposefully created infographics and authoritative writing, I almost feel like I'm reading History made by Hipsters - only feeling slightly guilty that my perception of events such as Occupy were so easily moulded.

"Delayed Gratification is proud to be ‘Last to Breaking News’. [Ours are] Considered rather than kneejerk opinions" Rob Orchard, Editor

Particularly salient is an article on Associated Press' pre-emptive setting up of CCTV opposite Nelson Mandela's home - all for the noble cause of catching potentially 'hot' coverage of his last hours. The problem being, of course, that Nelson Mandela is not dying. I mean okay, in the Tibetan Buddhist sense he is, but so is Brian Cox and Jack Black - why aren't we preparing to record their last breaths?

It becomes obvious after only light reading of the magazine that a lot of people's media consumption is just that - consumption of journalism rather than dissemination of events. It struck me when reading on Occupy that the paramount importance of making news on both sides that the original motives behind the movement become forgotten in a frenzy to be heard the most - obscuring or ignoring the reality beneath. Rather than the detecting the self-obsessed and self-indulgent shocks of events (The orange pepper-spraying of protesters almost seemed as if it fell out of The Day Today or The Thick of It), the stories are immediatedly engaging, because rather than characters in an endless soap opera, they seem like actual human beings. I'd tell you more about the story, but then again that might just be bit hypocritical, right? @ dgquarterly.com

quench@gairrhydd.com

which, as well as sounding like an obscure Dutch self-fellatio technique, is the name of a recent addition to Stack Magazines, a quarterly news mag that chews on the events, contexts and history of news stories rather than regurgitating them straight back at us.

The issue I choose to cogitate is October 1 December 31. Looking at those dates, it seems hard to necessarily fathom what happened in the time, was it something to do with Syria? Was there a war? There's always a war, right? And someone stole Hugh Grant's phone? I don't know.

The news creates it's own speed, regardless of the heft or importance of events and gives us little

5

Features

Everything’s Pop-up With creative neighbourhoods becoming one the coolest and sought after places in the world, the artists and creatives that helped create them are being forced to uproot and move elsewhere to escape commercialisation. What the go-to place for artists, designers and musicians was yesterday, is somewhere else today. Has everything become temporary?

“London has failed to regenerate the East End for the last 200 years, and this is a last shot at that,” -

quenchfeatures@gairrhydd.com

6

"Shops and restaurants catering for tourists and Manhattan yuppies are the antithesis of our lifestyle. It inevitably kills our businesses".

“Now that Brooklyn is going crazy commercial, Bronx time is nigh,”

-

-

"Pop-up shops keep the otherwise predictable

Features

commercial world unpredictable: where will the next shop be and what will be the theme?"

"Right now, the economy demands that we think up alternative ways to be positive and innovative, which gives pop-up shops like the Pop-Up Play Shop an opportunity to appear and gather support. We think pop-up shops will carry on popping up around the UK, bringing with it a whole network of support for temporary projects in empty urban spaces."

-

-

if East is dying...go West

"Inevitably the hope is eradicated for the pop-up community that relied so heavily on generous rent prices and the liberty that comes with a forlorn neighbourhood."

quenchfeatures@gairrhydd.com

Alexi Gunner

7

Features

We are not rats and life is not a race: the benefits of living slowly.

The more people she speaks to, the more people seem to share the feeling of hurtling towards something at a terrifying pace; but have no idea what that thing is. Victoria Seabrook discusses the value of slowness in a society travelling at hyper speed.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

quenchfeatures@gairrhydd.com

8

Features

-

-

-

Victoria Seabrook

quenchfeatures@gairrhydd.com

-

9

Features

Tweet, To Who?

The ephemereal appearance of Twitter's fluxing trends and content puts users in touch with more news, culture and art than ever before, but also gives users an apparent sense of anonymity. Kate O'Connor investigates whether Twitter necessarily makes moderating our words so difficult.

Have you ever heard the old adage ‘look before you leap’? Or maybe, on saying something daft as a child, you’ve been told to think before you speak?

Without meaning to make a sweeping generalisation - and fully acknowledging that there are vast swathes of exceptions - as a rule, people tend to think about the effect their words may have before they say them. This is especially important in a society such as ours where ‘political correctness’ is the order of the day and being accused of making slanderous allegations can land you in some very hot water indeed! But this idea of choosing when we add a computer screen to the mix. Why is it that modern technology is making us less and less capable of moderating our own words?

We live in a world where the ways in which we communicate with one another are continuously evolving. Once upon a time communication was a laborious process. The time spent setting

quenchfeatures@gairrhydd.com

10

of homing pigeons gave the messenger ample time to consider the content of their memo. Today, however, the advent of texting, Twitter and Facebook means we can, and do, send each other messages almost before we’ve even engaged our brains. The following contains a few rules of thumb that I think people should follow in order to get around this problem, prevent blushes and potentially even an uncomfortable night in a cell.

Take for example the tweet posted by Labour MP Diane Abbott, at the beginning of the year.

Ms Abbott, in making reference to her displeasure at the repeated use of the term 'black community leaders' by the media when reporting on

the case of Stephen Lawrence, tweeted: “White people love playing 'divide & rule' We should not play their game #tacticasoldascolonialism.” Having been told in no uncertain terms by senior is unacceptable, Ms Abbott went on to apologise for causing any offence, but also stated that her words had been taken out of context and it was never her intention to make generalisations.

No intention of making generalisations? Does she even understand the nature of Twitter? All of the 175 million registered members of the site had the potential to see the tweet, which, on being posted, appears as an isolated comment.

Only on opening the wider conversation does the context become apparent. First rule of Twitter Use 101: If it is not your intention to make a casually racist sweeping generalisation, don’t send a tweet that is a casually racist sweeping generalisation. The lack of immediate visibility of context surrounding tweets can be very unforgiving.

Rule #2: Sarcasm is not always readily apparent in text – be careful! Without a universally employed punctuative mark to denote irony, it’s sometimes not entirely clear whether a person is being serious in their comments or not. In 2010, Paul Chambers tion, he jokingly tweeted: “Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together; otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!” Mr Chambers was subsequently arrested under the terrorism act. Failing to see the funny side of the Tweet, the authorities declared that it was “menacing” and ordered Mr Chambers to pay a

Features

Twitter Controversy Timeline March 10th 2011 Caerphilly county councillor Colin Elsbury fined 53,000 pounds for falsely tweeting that an opponent had to be "removed by police from the polling station"

14th April 2011

year, pending a disciplinary hearing. So, due to his stupid, racist, drunken actions, Stacey has managed to acquire a criminal record, gain himself a reputation as a racist, potentially prevent his graduating and possibly spoil his in one foul swoop. #impressive…not. He should have adhered to rule #3: Don’t drink and tweet.

In essence, fair student, there are some things we just wouldn’t say to each other, so why is communicating horrid messages via the internet any more acceptable? The fact that we’re typing rather than speaking doesn’t take away from the gravitas of our words. And communicating via a screen, rather than face to face, doesn’t provide anonyma bit too quick to wonder to the return key, remember the golden rule: Think before you tweet!

Kate O'Connor

"

Apparently, though, CTB's lawyers have not heard of the Streisand effect.

Kashmir Hill, Forbes Online

"

27th March 2012

Swansea Uni student liam stacey jailed for 56 days for breaking the racially aggravated public order act. Commentators disgaree on the sentenceit isn't illegal to be a stupid bastard. Maybe it should be , but that would be terribly impractical Victoria coren, Guardian

24th april 2012

several twitter users arrested for revealing name of rape victim of footballer, ched evans.

Teammate connor brown suspended for comments on victim, including calling her "money-grabbing".

quenchfeatures@gairrhydd.com

the Nottingham airport. Mr Chambers has also lost his job as a result. Quite a high price to pay for an, admittedly misguided, joke. If only he’d written those three little, all-forgiving letters – LOL...

Finally, and perhaps most seriously, we should consider the twitter-based actions of a Mr Liam Stacey. The student was arrested after the racist tweets about footballer Fabrice Muamba he had drunkenly posted, were reported to the police by hundreds of his fellow Twitter users.

Initially tweeting, “LOL, Fuck Muamba. He’s dead," after the Bolton Wonderers footballer suffered an on-pitch collapse, Stacey was heavily criticised by other users, prompting him to tweet a string of offensive messages in retaliation, including labelling his detractors “wogs.”

Stacey has been sentenced to a 56 day jail term for his tweets, and has also been suspended from Swansea University, where he would

Soon after Ryan Giggs successfully files a super-injuction, Twitter begin to gossip about his reported affair with model Imogen Thomas.

11

Hello basics. goodbye throwaway fashion.

In a world where trends seem to come and go faster than you can say “jegging”, it has become evident to most girls - myself included - that the majority of items in your wardrobe won’t last longer than a maximum of two seasons. Those Aztec leggings you bought last season, which seemed like such a great ‘investment’ at the time, have somehow lost their shimmer. Or think about that cheap (but not very cheerful) dress you got from Primark, which has now ended up at the back of your closet, never to be seen again. Ladies, the time has come to reject this fast-paced and throwaway fashion culture, and to invest in some basic pieces that will last you for many a fashion season to come. Live by a new fashion mantra, which Yves Saint Laurent so eloquently summed up with the phrase: 'Fashions fade, but style is eternal.' Versatility is key; if you endless. Furthermore, the phrase ‘quality before quantity’ is central to this notion! You might have to spend a little more than your usual high street budget, but buying one fashion item which will last you forever beats forking out for a new cheapy version every season. So, what are these basic pieces?

Leonie Roderick has selected a few of the best items, so you too can take the fashion sustainability pledge.

2. The Jeans

It’s the one fabric that has never fully gone out of style. Unfortunately, denim can be very tricky. However, once you get it right you can stick with it forever! This is especially important when it comes to jeans; your exact body shape, so you can dress accordingly. Denim connoisseurs Levi’s have created an online test, which takes various factors into consideration; from the size of your bottom to common problems which may arise such as the waist being too tight, or not having enough coverage (read: sporting a builder’s bum). Voilà! The test will then provide you with your shape and a variety of jeans that will ber: it’s about shape, not size!

1. ThE LBD The LBD, also known as the ‘little black dress, is a bit of a no-brainer really. Ever since Audrey Hepburn sported that Givenchy frock in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the LBD has become a closet staple for every woman. The beauty of the LBD is that they can vary in style or shape, meaning that there most certainly will be one which suits your taste.

This beauty from Ted Baker is a prime example of effortless stylishness/style. Pricey it may be, but it will last you a lifetime.

fashion@gairrhydd.com

12

LBD, Ted Baker, £119

Jeans, Levi's £70

3. The Blazer There are so many varieties to the blazer become a little bit confusing. Stay away from go for a more classical shape. Your best option will be one that sits comfortably on your waist, and has long sleeves. After all, you can always roll them up for a more casual look.

This beauty from ASOS will transform your wardrobe; wear it with your LBD (see what I did there) on formal occasions, or combine it with some cut-off shorts and a simple tee for a casual/chic look. It simply cannot go wrong.

Blazer, ASOS, £60

4. The Sunnies

Got any items you'd like to add to our list, general comments on this week's content, or just want to say hi, tweet us at @Quenchfashion on Twitter

No one has to know about your night out!

An added plus: they always add a dash of sophisticated glamour to any look. Therefore, every girl needs to invest in a great pair of sunglasses. Ray-Bans are such a staple piece, and will be fashionable for decades to come.

fashion@gairrhydd.com

Sunglasses, Ray-Ban, £89

Lastly, I picked an item that is every fashionista’s best friend on a bad day. Having a really horrible hangover? Don’t feel like putting

13

Fashion

5 Minute Make-Up Suffocated and drained by looming deadlines, the last thing you need to worry about this month is make-up. If you want to look like you’re not living in the library, Quench Fashion shows you how.

3 minutes to spare...

4 minutes to spare...

Bronze and highlight. Bronze just under Instead of layering foundations or having to fuss over which shade suits your mid-season skin, try a foundation that adapts and offers full cover in one easy swoop. Try Bourjois 10 hour sleep effect, and remember to blend at the jaw line.

5 minutes to spare...

Sunscreen. Yes it’s grey this May, but your skin still needs protecting.

If you have dry skin, try a moisturiser with SPF already included, while if your skin's greasy, try an oil-free alternative. Don’t waste time applying powder, especially when you’ve just woken up, your skin will just look cakey and the powder will fade in any lines, emphasizing wrinkles or bags. If you are naturally prone to shine, try some blotting papers like The Body Shops Tea Tree version to absorb the oil.

fashion@gairrhydd.com

14

your cheekbones in light layers (what looks subtle in the morning light may look oompa-loompa under the neon library strip lights). We recommend Hula lighter (though you can get many surprisingly similar looking highlighters for cheaper on the high street which all do the job). There are 4 places to highlight: underneath your eyebrows, the top of the cheek bones, down the middle of your nose, and a tiny bit on the middle of your lower lip to make them look fuller.

2 minutes to spare...

A little blusher on the apple of your cheeks. Dusky pink blush will warm up any tired skin tone, or try giving your cheeks a “spank” (yes that’s what the pros say) to reveal the colour you’ll natuthat matches. We swear

by Maybelline dolly pink dream cream blush, or Mac pinch o' peach if you’re feeling fancy.

1 minute to spare... eyelashes and set with great mascara. Try Mascara False Lashes Effect, and use your (mascara) wand to create magic. Now even if you feel like a sleep-deprived library zombie your face won’t show it.

Do you want to be a fashion editor for next year's Quench?

Drop us an e-mail at Fashion@ to apply!

Hat, Topman, £14

Sweatshirt, H&M, £14.99

Nike hi tops, Office, £66.99

fashion@gairrhydd.com

Unisex Tennis shoes, American Apparel, £28

Sports Holdall, River Island, £35

Swim Shorts, Reiss, £45

Vest, Urban Outfitters, £35

T-shirt, Zara, £17.99

Maxi Skirt, New Look, £19.99

Belt, H&M, £12.99

Halter midi dress, Warehouse, £45

Coral Sweat Pants, Urban Outfitters, £40

Wedges, Topshop, £50

Swimsuit, Topshop, £32

Watch, New Look, £44.99

Alexander Wang S/S 2012

Skater dress, American Apparel, £39

get physical with sport luxe Fashion

Love sport and fashion? Never thought the two could collaborate? Well this season, fashion goes the extra mile. No longer does getting fit consist of a shabby outfit you usually wouldn't be seen dead in; with the Olympics edging nearer, fashion (always ahead of the game) accelerates full-speed into the world of sport.

Hannah Davies explores the hottest trend of the moment. Say hello to sport luxe...

GIRLS

GUYS

15

Fashion

Shopping Joy Killer

Is our fast-paced world affecting the way we shop? Hannah Davies explores how online shopping could affect our shopping experience.

Shopping is my favourite past time. There is something satisfying in dressing up in loads of ing rails of unique vintage pieces, and looking through millions of classic records to add to your but I haven’t yet succumbed to online shopping.

I know it’s unbelievable that I have never bought anything from an online store in our technologyobsessed world (not even ASOS), but I haven’t shopped this way. Yet. There are more people shopping online than ever before. This raises the question whether the whole experience of shopping is becoming a chore instead of leisure? And is the world of online shopping offering us a much quicker service that suits our fast-paced culture? ping online; I don’t have enough time to walk around shops anymore, the fact that a store may not have my size is depressing, and the thought of dous price to park is enough to make me gag. Online shops provide a great, fast-paced service that sends the clothes directly to your home, and you get the garments delivered to your door without having to step foot in a store or move from the couch.

While I like the idea of getting quick service right to your home, I enjoy the actual experience ably wouldn’t have discovered with the limit-

fashion@gairrhydd.com

money to spend), but I treasure being able to feel the beautiful fabrics of clothes before I buy them and trying them on before buying. The spontaneity of going into a store and falling in love with a dress I tried on for fun is thrilling, and an experience I wouldn’t get with online shopping.

A lot of my friends shop online and say it’s like getting a new present everyday, especially if place. I have no objection to getting presents (who would?), but not when I get the bill for them.

16

This is another reason why I won’t shop online. Handing money over stops me from going on a huge splurge because I know I actually have to pay for it, but there is something about the act of entering my pin that makes me think I have more than enough money to cover the fee because I can’t actually see how much money I have (or don’t have) in my account. I also fear adding too much to my ‘basket’ without realising and would probably decide at the 'checkout' that I need them all, so end up forking out much more than I can material isn’t what I was expecting? I have to pay to send it back, which eventually ends up costing me more money and ends up taking more time I fear that with the surge of people shopping online, stores will begin to close down and be entirely online. What will happen when we have a weekend where we want to shop? We would have to then we wouldn’t have the great array of clothes future of our stores, perhaps fashion will become like 'fast-food'. Imagine going to a drive-through, but instead of a cheeseburger ordering a dress: 'white, no sequins please,' then driving to the next window to pick it up. We are already over halfway there; Warehouse now delivers within ninety minutes of ordering online or via phone (Dominoes Pizza style). While this may be great when you haven’t had time to shop before a night out, there is This method of rapid impulse shopping could become a reality one day. Macdonald’s challenges us shove as much trash down us as possible, does fashion have the same future?

Maybe it’s time to resist online shopping. I urge you to go to your favourite shop, feel the clothes, spend an hour choosing what you like and try them on before you buy them. You never know, shopping may not be such a chore anymore.

Hannah Davies

Photos

spotlight on

Roisin Alldis Roisin is a 2nd year Exploration and Resource

quench photos@gairrhydd.com

students

17

Photos

Instagram:

the new polaroid?

Recently smartphone apps like Instagram have meant people are now posting their snaps with super speed. Some believe sharing photos as soon as they've been taken harks back to the good ol' days of polaroids - except this time round we've gone digital. Photographer Peter Hong talks about his experience blogging this way.

I'm a portrait photographer who believes in the best camera is the one you have with you. My workhorse camera sits on my shelf and only sees the light of day when I need the precision and quality offered by a professional system.

Why use it for everyday photography when it churns out 20MB day will ever get shown? That is where my favorite camera comes in, my beloved Apple iPhone.

I love sharing photos and the iPhone allows me to do so As photographers, we obsess over with ease. I take a photo, se- technical details such aperture, blurry backgrounds, quality and sites I want, instantly sharing sharpness way too much. Seriwhere I am and what I am do- ously, on photography forums ing. I don’t want to be dealing and online communities, evewith settings, aperture, shutter ryone is a critic. “Out of focus” speed, importing, post processing, exporting and uploading. “Don’t like the editing”, etc.

quenchphotos@gairrhydd.com

18

"We live in a society that demands speed.

Check out Peter's website: www.peterhongphoto.com

Photos

It kinda takes away the fun out of photography.

I think the fact that you can’t obsess too much with a simple camera device makes it appealing to me. All you do is press the ‘take photo’ button on the iPhone and that is it.

That vintage/retro vibe is hot right now and my favorite apps to use are Instagram and Snapseed. Instagram offers that cool retro vibe that takes my photos to the next level. Snapseed offers Photoshop like controls in a quick and easy way. Instagram also allows you to connect to people who have similar interest. Tag your photos with the Twitter style hash tag “#” along with the word associated with your photo. I’m a huge fan of food, café, coffee and Japanese décor my interests.

To sum it up, speed photography allows you to look past the imperfections of a photograph and just appreciate the moment that was captured.

It is all about sharing that moment in your life with others. So really the imperfections make it perfect.

My advice is to stop obsessing over gear and use what you already have. I’ve seen some people’s iPhone only photography that looks better than 99% of the photos out there taken with professional systems.

Peter Hong

"speed

quench photos@gairrhydd.com

photography allows you to look past the imperfections and just appreciate the moment that was captured.

19

Ar ts

C ly t e m n e s t r a How do you bring a Greek myth up to speed for a 21st century audience? Take the Sherman, a National Poet of Wales and a post apocalyptic world, of course. Katie Brown goes behind the scenes of the Sherman’s new in house production Clytemnestra and chats to director Amy Hodge.

Since its reopening in February, there hasn’t been a dull moment at Sherman Cymru. The season began with a brand new, Welsh language in-house production, Sgint, followed by a wide variety of highly successful visiting shows. Not content to rest on their laurels, the team at the Sherman have been hard at work recently creating another new in-house production, Clytemnestra (running from 18 April-5 May). The Ancient Greek tale of betrayal, murder, revenge, desire and despair has been adapted by former National Poet for Wales, Gywneth Lewis, who has transferred the action to a post-apocalyptic not-too-distant future.

I was lucky enough to be invited into rehearsals and was struck by just how much effort goes into every minute of the production. The hour I watched, was spent perfecting just a few minutes from Scene 8, as every single movement

arts@gairrhydd.com

tape and music stands marked out the furniture, while the walls were plastered with timelines of the play’s action, yet the story was already coming to life – a credit to the very talented cast.

After the rehearsal, I discussed the production process with the director Amy Hodge.

20

So, Clytemnestra is an ancient Greek story in a futuristic setting. Has it been quite a challenge to update it?

I think Gwyneth has done a good job. Most importantly, you don’t need to know anything about the Greek myths to know the play. It’s very clear and very simple storytelling. Lots of the themes of the myths are ever-present, but you can come to it knowing nothing and still be able to track it all. It was very important for us that the story stood on its own in the current climate.

"When we've killed all the animals Men will be next.

Arts Origin of CLYTEMNESTRA : Latin, from Greek Klytaimnestra First Known Use: 15th century

There are a couple of characters in the show called furies, and they are the subconscious of our two main characters, driving them towards revenge.

They’re constantly in the play and they are physically represented, so that has a very movement focus. So there is that language but there’s also a very rich language of poetry, and also a very classical, ‘normal’, dramatic angle. It has all the different all of those right and making those all sit together neatly within the context of the bigger picture.

Have you given the cast lots of room for improvisation?

The name of the game from my point of view is to get lots of talented people in the room and let’s tell a story. I think as a director you always have a vision or a version of what it is you want to do that is shaped and inevitably changed by the people you are working with, but the bottom line is you’re trying to tell a story, and I think that’s what drives me on this, to be really clear and imaginative and exciting within that story-telling.

Were you asked to direct Clytemnestra or was it a show you were particularly drawn towards before? fore. I used to work here as Associate Director for about three years, so it was one of the plays that I’d been working on with Gywneth as a commission, and I was keen to direct it as I think it’s brilliant.

It’s a really beautiful piece of work. It’s saying important things, it’s exploiting the potential of the theatrical form in a really rich way, it’s hugely ambitious and it’s a really great, exciting story.

Katie Brown

arts@gairrhydd.com

Definition of CLYTEMNESTRA : the wife and murderess

From watching the rehearsal, it seems like a very physical performance. Is movement and choreography at the heart of the production?

21

Ar ts

Reviews

Muscle, Sherman Cymru Expecting a play fuelled by soaring testosterone levels and oil-slathered bodybuilders, the powerful and poignant production of Greg Cullen’s Muscle shattered my preconceptions, and fully immersed me into its message: 'men are more than the sum of their part.'

The Shock n Awe Performance Company responsible for Muscle, seeks to break down the barriers between music, dance, text and imBoth aims were successfully undertaken in this multi-faceted performance, which explored the many layers of ‘man’ whilst skilfully integrating a range of theatrical mediums (dance,

arts@gairrhydd.com

22

the diversity of men and their experiences.

The play opened with a physical demonstration of the evolution of man, displaying somewhat clichéd associations such as wrestling, urinating and playing sports. It became increasingly clear that Muscle endeavoured to challenge (notably varied in ethnicity and age) went on to

perform a series of individual stories based on real interviews with 30 men across Wales. Each narrative confronted societal concerns such as race, sexuality and family, and at the end of this emotive journey, the audience couldn’t help but sympathise with the fragile interior of the men One particularly evocative scene shaped the childhood turmoil of Barry (Brendan Charleson) and his siblings, abandoned by their parents and forced to grow up too quickly.

In an intensely thought-provoking moment, Barry comments that it is ‘sometimes fragile’ when asked, ‘what’s it like to be a man?’

The minimal set allowed for creativity and improvisation (especially with the use of narrow screens, wheeled to create locations), and the male-only cast played both the women and children in their stories. All this simply added to the overriding idea: not all is as it seems. There is more to men than mere muscle.

Lia Martin

Arts

Wasted, Sherman Cymru Kate Tempest puts pen to paper for her debut play, Wasted, and she couldn’t have asked for a more receptive audience than that at Sherman Cymru.

Wasted follows three friends, who each make a resolution to change and ‘feel something’ having lost all exhilaration for the experiences of life.

Ten years has passed since the death of a close friend, causing them all to reminisce over their care-free, pilled up, alcohol fuelled pasts, when ‘living’ was still a big part of life. The character of Danny desperately clings to this life, while Ted and Charlotte gave it up in order to pursue the monotonous but necessary path of adulthood.

Yet, it’s not all about soul-searching, rather the authenticity of their lives is related through the lively, witty narrative, in par-

ticular the scene at a Warehouse rave in Peckham where, acting like typical drunken fools, it is only natural to laugh at their antics.

Throughout the play, the characters break away from the narrative in order to deliver rousing lyrical soliloquies. Tempest’s lyrics explore the wider dimensions of life to deliver raw and powerful speeches. “We stopped believing we can remake the City,” says Charlotte in one of her poetical rants, outlining the main thrust of the play; an encouragement to rise up and take control of their lives, so that they don’t look back and wonder about another ten years of insigAsha Verma

On the second leg of his Svengali tour, Derren Brown was back in Cardiff over the Easter weekend, wowing audiences with his tricks and mind games.

Brown gives strict instructions not to give away anything that happens in the show, and I'm not going to spoil it for anyone who is yet to see it. The fact that audience members keep quiet about the performance is a testament to his abilities and the value of a surprise. Although, anyone who has seen him live before will know what to expect.

The evening has a similar format to his other tours, which leaves the audience double guessing how he is going to astound us next. A true entertainer, Brown's incredible showmanship is reiterated by the audience's reactions of a mixture of shock, laughter and surprise after each sequence.

The show relies heavily on audience partici-

pation and noone is safe from the mentalist's abilities, even if you are the type to shrink in your seat when one of his frisbees comes in your direction. The gig also sees Brown explaining the name of his tour and the origins behind it, which then forms the centrepiece of the evening.

As always, Brown ends the night in a spectacular fashion, leaving the audience wondering how on earth he could achieve the outcome. Whether you believe that he can read minds and hypnotise the audience or are more sceptical, it cannot be denied that what he does is undoubtedly entertaining.

Kayleigh Chan

arts@gairrhydd.com

Svengali, Derren Brown, Wales Millennium Centre

23

Books

interview

Alice Hughes catches up with National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke.

Your work has been translated into many different languages. What are your feelings on translation, do you feel that the original meaning is lost somewhat?

The meaning’s not lost, but obviously the particular music of the language has to be abandoned.

I’ve got a whole book coming out in Italian – the language is Italian – she will make new poems of the old poems. But I believe deeply in translation, it’s terribly important because each language expresses the culture of the country that it’s in.

Without translation we wouldn’t have the Bible, the Koran, Chekov, or any of the great Russian novelists. Now I know those are all prose, but poetry’s more tricky. You lose, you gain.

that your writing style is informed by the Welsh language at all? following each other in my work as it is in Welsh it’s cynghanedd (Welsh sound patterning). An Anby the fact that I hear it in Welsh poetry.

books@gairrhydd.com

Andrew Motion has said that becoming Poet Laureate was damaging to his work because the pressure to write to order gave him writer’s block. Have you experienced anything similar since becoming National Poet of Wales? energy of the fact that there’s lots to be done for

24

poetry in Wales. The poems just come anyway.

When I’m asked to write a new poem I research the subject, and think about it. If you research something you get a new vocabulary, loads of new words come to you, and it’s actually really exciting. I’ve written about 40 commissioned poems with no problem, although some are better than others! Some are thoroughly ‘me’, and I rather like a deadline anyway.

Nowadays we see a lot of song lyrics included in poetry anthologies – what do you think of this and do you have any particular favourites?

Leonard Cohen really is a poet and some of the things in his songs are incredibly wonderful poetry. Van Morrison often says some things that I think are very poetic, but the best is Leonard Cohen as far as the poetry’s concerned. On the whole, music and language are different things, but they are in the same world. I’m beginning to write songs myself for various purposes. For example, I wrote a new ‘Ode to Joy’ and a composer set it to music. There’s another wonderful musician that I’m really keen to write songs with at the moment, but I won’t say anything about that now. But yes, there’s a very close link.

Finally, which writers do you consider to be Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, R. S. Thomas, Yeats and all the old, great dead men like John Donne, and the incomparable Shakespeare.

Books

Book

(REVIEWS) Need a revision break? Look no further than these new releases.

Various Pets Alive and Dead by Marina Lewycka Anyone who has an interest in economics, politics or current affairs will enjoy this book. From tagonist Serge, a mathematical genius who works in the city, doing the exact job his hippie parents detest, all the while hopelessly chasing the girl of his dreams.

The story is told through the eyes of the three main characters, and the way their lives differ and intertwine makes an engrossing tale about the mechanics of this unique family. The fascinating battles between both ends of the political spectrum are endlessly enthralling and the impeccable morals of ageing bohemian parents, Doro and Lucas, are equally intriguing. They yearn for absolute equality, peace, harmony, but their utopia is to be achieved at all costs, including the destruction of capitalism.

After a brilliant start, the story somewhat loses its way just towards the middle, with slightly absurd digressions, but the ending is an appropriate culmination of the main theme – about if, when, out his true occupation.

Rhys Clayton

3/5

at times, but Kinsella counterbalances this with the grounded, realistic Sam. Kinsella also makes hilarious use of footnotes, which add a unique

ers - a little unrealistic and over the top; I highly doubt such things go on in the houses of our lecturers.

All in all, I think chic-lit fans will be entertained by Kinsella’s latest offering.

Katie Bennett

3.5/5

Never Coming Home by Evonne Wareham the tragic death of 5-year-old girl Jamie in a car accident. Just as her mother, Kaz Elmore, is beginning to put her life back together, Devlin wanders into her life. Having been at the scene of the accident when Jamie died, he wants to tell Kaz of her daughter’s dying moments. Their meeting reveals something much more sinister, however, and when Devlin’s account of that terrible night doesn’t match what Kaz has been told, they realise that Jamie may still be alive.

The unravelling of layer after layer of this story had me burning the midnight oil, desperate and heart wrenching, Never Coming Home will have you reaching for the tissues. My one complaint is the love story, which was developed too early. I think Kaz would be too distraught about from that, I recommend this book for all readers.

Katie Bennett

4/5

books@gairrhydd.com

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella Sophie Kinsella’s latest is about a woman named Poppy Wyatt who loses a very expensive engagement ring. Not only is it priceless, but also the family heirloom of her soon-to-be in-laws, who do not want her to marry their son. In a blind panic she ‘acquires’ the phone of the PA of businessman Sam Roxton. The ditsy, dramatic Poppy has no idea of the journey she has begun, one that will bind her and Sam’s future together in one simple phone.

I found the main character, Poppy, to be an-

25

LGBT+

T E L E V I S I O N :

T H E

F I N AL

FRONTIER? Watching television is an opportunity to “switch off ” as we switch on: TV is considered by many as a sedative and herein lays its power. Whilst we unwind, television works overtime as a wholly underestimated agent disseminating a continuous stream of ideas. Television can act as a night school for the masses but can also prop up reductive notions that linger on in society, as an insidious haze that obscures our vision and locks us in ideological stasis.

America, hours spent gawping into the cavernous depths of widescreens actually outnumber hours spent in school. So, given the authority wielded by television, what messages are being transmitted It is revealing, and disturbing, that television has been rather resistant to ideological evolution; like an indolent and maladapted organism, it continues to languish in its own ignorance and therefore has had to be forcibly wrenched into the present. In only 2008, a Heinz Mayonnaise advert was pulled following more than two hundred complaints due to its “offensive content” - two men by many as a tentative peck consciously drained

lgbt@gairrhydd.com

26

years have passed and LGBT+ relationships in the media arena still possess the somewhat dubious faculty to bewilder prudish audiences. The kiss shared by Nick and Todd in Coronation Street in garded the scene with distaste, asserting that it was inappropriate subject matter before the watershed. It would be amusing, were it not so alarming, the vast hypocrisy shamelessly enjoyed by a medium characterised by the proliferation of por-

nographic imagery when faced with the seemingly menacing prospect of gay scenes.

Feminism in the media, however, has no such landmarks to plot its stilted progression into representation and is thus often neglected.

Women in the media are often reduced to consumable goods, like products in an assembly line made more palatable and appealing. We long for multi-faceted female protagonists that interrogate stereotypes embroidered onto our social fabric and are frequently disappointed by the fairly uniform representation of women: the fatale, the bimbo and the witty female often condemned to a peripheral role due to wielding no

ity or by their absence: over half of viewers are female, yet in TV drama for every female character, there are two male characters (36.5% female roles to 63.5% male roles). Leading male roles are dominated by actors over 45, whereas it is at this age that female actors begin to vanish from view.

It seems that subsisting inequalities that have riddled society are abound in television media, so taking into account the media’s status as a barometer of social change and given our control as viewers over what we watch and our right to titions; is it television that is resistant to change, the last bastion of the bygone days of chauvin-

Charlotte Walmsley

LGBT+

Is there time to be this

fabulous?

Thomas Leeming questions where the high-paced nature of our lives is taking us

our lives are evolving. We're growing up, moving away from home and creating a new life for ourselves. For some of us, we're coming out and many LGBT+ people, the scene can seem a scary and intimidating place. ing up with all this change and new environment.

There is the social pressure to be the best, achieve the perfect grades, have a good circle of friends, a partner, a life. It can be so easy to feel as though we don't measure up and we can be left feeling outcast whilst the rest of the world whizzes around us. We can go to a gay bar or club and see other people supposedly having a good time and it can leave us feeling very alone.

It's no wonder that social networking and internet dating sites have sprung up over the last ten

highs – it's not surprising that we drink, smoke and even take drugs.

The media portrays gay people in a certain light and it can be very one-sided and stereotypical: gay men are camp and lesbians are butch. The internet has made us painfully aware of homophobia throughout the world. For those of us who are still working out who we are, seeing all this can make We need to slow down. Running around the

community can be too much. We need to take a step back and realise that being single is no bad thing. Staying in is perfectly acceptable. You don't need to drink to have a good time. Yes, we’re all part of the LGBT+ community, but we are all different.

Thomas Leeming

"It's time to slow down, one. Society seems to tell us that we're not quite

chill out, and have a

We need to have lots of friends and be out every night in order to feel as though we're living; stay-

good time"

lgbt@gairrhydd.com

people to see and places to go. We have course-

27

Travel

Find your hotspot

The dreaded exams and essays will soon be over, and a well-deserved break will undoubtedly be at the forefront of our tired minds. But planning a

can sometimes seem impossible. Here is a handy guide to 5 destinations that are cheap, within a speedy reach, and most importantly of all: perfect summer hotspots.

Barcelona, Spain Barcelona is a great place to visit for a short city start from as little as £60 through June to September. The city boasts beautiful museums, churches and cathedrals but if that isn’t your thing, the beach is just a ten minute walk from the city centre. There is also a great nightlife, with dozens of bars and clubs offering anything from live music to cheesy classics. Don’t forget summer festivals like Benicassim, which is just a train journey away.

Copenhagen, Denmark Flights are ridiculously cheap to Denmark’s capi-

travel@gairrhydd.com

for just £40. Tivoli Gardens is a must; an enchanted world of theatres, open air stages, restaurants, and even an amusement park! There’s also the old Carlsberg brewery, an observatory and some great places to eat and drink in the unique old port of Nyhavn (New Haven).

28

Dubrovnik, Croatia around £100 throughout the summer months. If you want a little bit of everything, this is the place for you. The city offers the perfect mix of sightseeing, relaxing on the beach and partying when the sun goes down. Eating and sleeping is pretty cheap too so it’s a great choice if you’re on a tight budget.

Zurich, Switzerland are around £55-70 throughout summer. This city is great for art enthusiasts and museum-goers but that’s not all this glorious city has to offer. You can spend your time swimming in Lake Zurich, hiking, touring the waterfalls, or checking out the bustling nightlife of Zurich West.

Marrakech, Morocco Although getting there may be a bit more expensive (around £150 - £200 for a return ticket), it’s when you’re actually there. Spend a day bartering in the souks of the Medina, before relaxing at one of the many hammams (public steam baths). If you are visiting in July, be sure to visit the annual Marrakech Popular Arts Festival which attracts folk Bryony Parry

Travel

All by Hannah Alderson Top Left: Belgrade, Serbia, Top Right: Bristol, Bottom: Ireland

travel@gairrhydd.com

Travel Photos of the Fortnight

29

Travel

flash Bastard Put the private-jet on standby.

Quench is going flashpacking, darlings...

Flashpacking is a relatively new term circulating around the backpacking community and I’ll be honest, until I wrote this article, I wasn’t really sure what it meant. A little research revealed to me that the only real difference between a backpacker

by someone who has a larger disposable income from a long-term job or career unlike those backpackers who have just come out of university or earn their money whilst they travel. They also tend

it’s not surprising really, with hostels worldwide offering WIFI and laptops becoming a commodity rather than an extravagance, why not take one with you? It makes it easier to blog experiences and stay in contact with family and friends as well as researching places to stay and things to do. Flashpackers also tend to travel independently and stay in private rooms so electronic accessories offer a good source of entertainment away from the crowded dorms of the altogether younger backpacking

more and more people in their 40s and even 50s are ditching their briefcases for a backpack, if only for a couple of months. Flashpackers still maintain a backpacker’s mentality: they opt to stay in hostels or budget hotels, travel cheaply and dine locally; spending their extra cash on activities and experiences a typical backpacker may not be able to afford. The content of their backpack also differs

from their backpacking peers is that as well as getting involved in various global communities whilst on their travels, they are also able to offer help in terms of donations and getting involved with volunteer projects as they have the spare cash to cope with a few weeks unpaid work. It’s an interesting concept, and one that is bound to keep on growing; after all, although a person may grow tired of an overcrowded hostel and a lumpy mattress, it doesn’t mean they’ve grown out of travelling.

and high end digital cameras to capture their expe-

Bryony Parry

DEFinition:

Flashpacker travel@gairrhydd.com

30

"A flashpacker is defined by someone who has a larger disposable income from a long-term job or career, unlike backpackers."

Travel

WALES IN A DAY: Soothe itchy feet without paying for a visa With summer fast approaching, some of us will be grabbing our passports, checking out Ryanair deals and day dreaming about holidays abroad. But, why?

Right on your doorstep is an array of home grown activities. Wales’ small size becomes a blessing when you wish to speed around and enjoy novel day trips. Heather Arnold looks at some of the best speedy trips on offer in the Principality.

STEAMY SOUTH WALES

Get a beautiful view of a national park from the carriage of a steam train on the Brecon Beacons Mountain Railway. The train journey takes you through mountains, past castles and around quarries. Not only is a stream train the perfect place to pretend warts but, unlike Mr. Potter and his friends, you can also get off the train at various stations and explore.

Find out more at: www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk

Cardiff ’s living museum, St Fagans, offers a walk around Wales with Celtic huts, 1960’s terrace houses and even a 16th Century manor house. You can also explore the vintage shops and hang out at the working men’s club after a hard day’s work at the mill. Just like the many Cardiff sight St Fagans has free entry and constantly has exciting and varied events. This June there is a special exhibition for refugee week where member of Cardiff ’s refugee and asylum community will create a ‘house’ that represents their experiences in wales.

Find out more at: www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/

SOFT PLAY IN SWANSEA

VINTAGE CARDIFF

In the coastal city of Swansea, less than an hour’s train ride and third Friday of every month this soft play centre chases out all its usual customers and opens its doors for over 18s.

The café sells alcohol as well as snacks and offers you the perfect opportunity to get drunk and spend a night slipping down Find out more at: www.theplayzone.co.uk

travel@gairrhydd.com

31

Food & Drink

StreetFood I love street-food. It’s super-quick, no-fuss grub which, unlike its fast-food counterpart, doesn’t leave you compromising on quality. And of course, there’s never this ‘queue for a table’ malarkey, because quite simply, there are no tables. Whether you’re pulling up to a roadside stall in North ThaiTabasco and lemon juice at Borough Market or being hankered at from left, right and centre by street-food sellers in Marrakech’s main square for ‘the best tagine in town’, there’s always enough street for everyone to enjoy their food.

But something which, without trying to sound too cliché, positively blew me away on my recent mosey around Cardiff ’s thriving street-food scene, is how ethical and sustainable it is. food frenzy is Deri Reed. He’s a local trader who works in Cardiff and surrounding areas to bring better, more sustainable and ethical food to the Welsh public. His pseudonym, ‘The Ethical Chef ’, is one you can’t step into a vegetarian restaurant without hearing.

During the week, Deri goes by his Christian name and works on Blaencamel Farm in South Wales in exchange for produce to supply his food-stall at Riv-

food@gairrhydd.com

32

stall in Wales to be accredited by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) and it is here that he becomes ‘The Ethical Chef ’, cooking up food that is healthy (albeit -the Beetroot and Chocolate Cake is a slice of gluttony), vegetarian or vegan and sourced within a 50 mile radius. Deri’s next step, he told me during our longer-than-intended Skype session (we didn't want to over-indulge our carbon footprint by meeting halfway by train), is to go mobile. By travelling to his customers, he’s generating much less waste and emitting fewer greenhouse gases than if they were all to travel to him. Steve Garrett, Riverside Community Market Association’s (RCMA) chairperson, also plans to deliver ethical and sustainable street-food to more and more people in and around Cardiff. I didn’t realise that when he said ‘deliver’, he meant it in its very literal sense. Like ‘The Ethical Chef ’, Steve and his team have plans to create a travelling street-food van, that distributes not only fresh fruit and vegetables, but ready-meals made from organic ingredients, sourced from Welsh farms and local businesses, which can be parked at the end of just about any street in Cardiff.

His vision is to create a real movement towards street-food in Cardiff, similar to the one which has already begun in places like Los Angeles, where street-food is not only celebrated at its annual ‘LA Street-Food Fest’, but has become an everyday affair.

The task, Steve says, is really very simple: "all our community needs to do is reclaim public spaces. Think of St Mary Street in the city centre. The whole place has recently been renovated and would be perfect for a collection of streetfood stalls. And that’s what RCMA plan to do."

Food & Drink

Ethical Chef at the Riverside Market, held every Sunday opposite the Millenium Stadium Food and festival goers at LA's street food festival

"Street food is superquick, no-fuss grub which, unlike its fastfood counterpart, compromising on

food@gairrhydd.com

What the Dickens Trio, due at the street food festival at Bristol's Cabot Circus in May

33

Food & Drink And my ventures into the street-food world lead me to discover that there’s a whole host of vendors not just in Cardiff, but further, all doing something a little different. British Street Food Award winners Café Mor, for example, dedicate themselves to supplying seashore foraged ingredients and fresh local seafood from the Pembrokeshire coast at markets and festivals, across the country. They’ll be at the Abergavenny Food Festival this year, which is taking place on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September and is well worth a visit if you love food or have been dying to try your hand at a cooking workshop.

A good way to sample some street-food stalls from across the country is at the FREE street-food market taking place in Quakers Friars in Bristol’s street food vendors from London to Manchester will be there, including Big Apple Hot Dogs, Jalopy specialising in vegetarian Asian street food and What the Dickens – a stall run by a trio of charismatic gents, offering traditional British dishes, from devilled kidneys to kedgeree. Alongside the street-food fest, Colston Hall will be hosting a live stage, showcasing some of Bristol's best new music talent from local folk to world and acoustic.

Cafe Mor serving up fresh local sea food from the Pembrokeshire coast.

For more info on the free street food fest at Cabot Circus, visit cabotcircus.com And for the rest... ethicalchef.co.uk, riversidemarket.org.uk, cafemor.co.uk, abergavennyfoodfestival.com, bigapplehotdogs.com,

food@gairrhydd.com

34

Food & Drink Review

Simone Miche challenges her

preconceptions about fast food and discovers the delights that this Portuguese palate tickler has to offer...

makes it a place you wouldn't be embarrassed to take your parents to when it comes to their annual Easter holiday pick-up visit. Or, dare I say it, even your partner on a date. I recently stopped in at the Nando's in St David's 2 with my beau and did exactly that.

For those of you who haven't had the Nando's experience before, it goes something like this: you arrive, you're shown to your table by one of their friendly staff and given a menu. Then comes the choosing. If you like your chicken you'll be in heaven: the Portuguese restaurant's signature dish is their peri-peri chicken which comes in the form of breast, wings, 1/4, 1/2 or even a whole chicken, marinated for 24 hours and then chargrilled with your choice of mild lemon and herb or mango and lime seasoning, or medium, hot or extra hot spice. Yet, despite being a meat-eaters paradise, if you're a vegetarian or just fancy something different to the infamous grill options, you'll also, equally, be spoilt for choice. As well as chicken wraps, burgers and pitta's, substantial salads and specials like their 'Prego Steak' or 'Chicken Livers' Portuguese Rolls, there are plenty of vegetarian dishes and a rather inviting selection of sides such as 'Spicy Rice', 'Corn on the cob' and 'Macho Peas' - a tasty mash made with whole peas, parsley, mint & chilli.

Once you've chosen, you order and pay at the bar. Simple. And quicker than it takes to collect -

tomless' soft drinks at the self-service counter, your food arrives, along with, once again, a wide smile from one of their waiters or waitresses.

Being the resident veggie, I had the 'Beanie' pitta with some ‘Macho’s’, but could quite easily have devoured the Roasted Portobello Mushroom & Halloumi Cheese Burger in a fresh Portugese roll or the 'Veggie'- a spicy soya and tomato burger seasoned with spring onion, green chilli and cayenne pepper. My carnivorous date, on the other hand, had ½ a chicken A little too full for the bottomless frozen yogurt, I asked for the bill which, with a salad to share, two rounds of beer and wine and some roasted nuts on the side, came to just over £30 for two. A price I think anyone, whether after fast, fancy, meat or veggie, would agree is 'periperi' good. Regardless if what you're getting isn't 'haut cuisine'. But nevertheless great tasting, good quality grub served in a charming setting that will have you coming back time and time again.

Keep up to date with Nandos St Davids: @Nandos_StDavids Simone Miche

food@gairrhydd.com

Nando's could be the most anomalous restaurants I've ever eaten at. And for all the right reasons. Its quick service and world-wide popularity suggest that it's a fast-food chain.

But unlike the usual plastic top tables, squealing children and moody staff that characterize places like McDonalds and Burger King, Nando's classy atmosphere (imagine warm

35

MUSIC

Cardiff has a bustling and vibrant music scene, with something going on every night; whether it’s a chilled out gig in Milgi or a foot-stomping extravaganza at The Full Moon, there is plenty to satiate the thirst of music enthusiasts.

So we thought this issue we would feature a selection of some of the talented bands Cardiff has to offer to speed up

Hullabaloo

Formed in somewhat of a frenzy in order to compete in the Live Music Society’s 2011 Battle of the Bands competition, this Cardiff University six-piece, have come on leaps and bounds after placing second. With their upbeat, infectious rock-pop, it is unsurprising that they provide some of the most entertaining shows around. They have just released their anticipated debut EP, Landslide, a fusion of rock n roll coupled with piano and brass, displaying their maturing as a band with tight and ridiculously catchy songs such as Landslide and All Shapes and Sizes. Describing themselves as having the ability to “cause a commotion and get you dancing,” their music does just that. Expect to hear a lot more from this talented bunch.

Check them out at http://www.facebook.com/HullabalooBand Emma Wilford

The Sound Of Cardiff

Horizon

Horizon have been playing the circuit for a while now and with the release of new EP We Are The Callow Ones are soon to make an even bigger impression on Cardiff ’s evergrowing folk scene. A unique blend of acoustic moments suffused with a taste for alternative rock that wouldn’t be out of place on a 90s Dylan record, it’s melodic, smooth and at times powerful stuff. Recorded in The Machine Rooms and produced by Cardiff University Student, Skip Curtis, be sure to catch their EP launch on May 6, down

music@gairrhydd.com

36

it is not to be missed.

E.Ps will be avaliable to buy at the launch as well as from Spotify and Itunes.

Matt Tilling

Why don't you tweet @QuenchMusic and let us know who your favorite local artist is...

Music

Buried in Alaska

Say the words, ‘metalcore’, and many will instantly be turned of. Yet I have to say as one of those the Battle of the Bands competition this year and they instantly stood out as the most tight and entertaining band. With their captivating riffs and animated presence, it is no wonder that they took

Having formed in Cardiff ’s very own Talybont-South halls back in 2009, Three Pairs of Shoes have come to be somewhat of a well-known name on the local music scene.

From winning Battle of the Bands to playing at last years’ Beach Break, their second self-titled E.P comes widely anticipated. Released on May 14, Three Pairs of Shoes off at Glamorgan’s Atrium.

Exploring a more mature sound than their previous release, their songs are beautiful, at times haunting, displaying a unique take on folk-inspired music. Intricate instrumentals are set off by striking harmonies and the whole assortment of instruments, from violins to mandolins, makes for a rich sound.

For those who haven’t heard them before I would strongly recommend giving them a listen or watching their music video directed by Quench Film's very own Fraser Isaac.

For more details head to threepairsofshoes.co.uk and download their E.P at threepairsofshoes.bandcamp. com Ralph Martin

Joshua Caole

Having frequented the Cardiff scene for years in ua Caole now steps into the South Wales limelight as a solo artist. April 16 saw the release of Caole’s debut album Moon Palace, recorded at Cardiff ’s Musicbox Studios, produced by Llion Robertson and released on Bullo Pill Records. The album features twelve tracks of quality musicianship and emotional energy, as Caole displays a delicious combination of tender acoustic guitar and raw, heartfelt vocals. Highlights include opening track Pleased To Have You, painfully honest Caught In Two and the beautiful piano ballad Make Any Friends.

The talented singer-songwriter began playing music about the age of ten, and has been compared to the likes of Elliot Smith and Conor Oberst. Having supported The Wave Pictures locally, he has also just completed a UK tour with Christian Webb, and details of his forthcoming shows can be found at www.joshuacaole.co.uk.

Jo Southerd

music@gairrhydd.com

Three Pairs of Shoes

2011’ in the Amped Wales Awards, this Merthyr Alpha Omega. So for something a little bit different why not download their music from iTunes.

Emma Wilford

37

Music

INTERVIEWS:

lostprophets George Dugdale and Dionne Dakhoul hang out with Ian Watkins and Stuart Richardson Your last album The Betrayed was quite a dark album. How does Weapons differ?

Stu: It's lighter.

Ian: It's more positive in outlook, more vibrant but still resilient.

How excited are you to play the Motorpoint back in Cardiff ?

to put across on the last one, and even Liberation Transmission guess it’s more honest.

And you’ve also played at Solus, how’s that compare?

After Stuart produced The Betrayed, what made you decide to bring in Ken Andrews for this record? Was he the next logical step?

I know you’ve always wanted to headline Reading, but you're not there this year?

How much fun was making the video for Bring Em Down?

are incredible. We’ve done the main stage, 80,000

music@gairrhydd.com

So what’s the reaction at home to see you getting the crap beat out of you?

Ian: I’m singing through it like it doesn’t even

38

Weapons

Music

DRY THE RIVER Rosey Brown chats to guitarist Matt Taylor and drummer Jon Warren ahead of their gig at Clwb Ifor Bach Dry The River have a lot on their plate. Looking at their tour schedule is headache inducing – after touring extensively whilst supporting Bombay Bicycle Club last year, they are now headlining their own tour and have dates booked until November this year. With their new single New Ceremony currently enjoying its second week as Number One in the NME charts, it’s clear Dry the River are becoming something big. But they certainly don’t act like it. Backstage, the band seems pretty humble, and their rider consists of two big bags of crisps, a few beers and some water. Matt and I discuss how he could connect his Wotsits into one giant Wotsit. Of course, we talked about more serious matters too...

I saw you guys supporting Bombay Bicycle Club in Cardiff Student’s Union in October. How was it touring with them?

Do

you

have

any

crazy

tour

stories?

You have been all over the country, and all over America for the last couple of months.

You must be shattered!

Jon: We are, but it’s so exciting, it’s all like one

Your music’s big and orchestral, it has a are

from

London.

What’s

that

about?

Mark Beaumont in the NME said you’re the “Everyband of 2012”. How did you react to that?

You seemed to come out of nowhere.

How are you dealing with all the hype?

music@gairrhydd.com

Jon: No.

39

Music

allo darlin' Jo Southerd catches up with frontwoman Elizabeth Morris ahead of the release of their new album, Europe.

Really like the new single Capricornia; What else can we expect from Europe?

I guess the songs are more introspective than on Are there any new bands that you’re rating at the moment?

Europe I took

a little more sombre in tone.

A bit darker, then?

You’ve toured all over, you’ve done the UK, the US, Europe; where do you think is your favourite place to play?

cinematic. There’s something about America that

music@gairrhydd.com

You’ve cited Kirsty MacColl and The Go-Betweens as the sound you’re aiming for. Who else inspires you as a musician?

40

Europe

WE'RE GIVING AWAY TWO TICKETS FOR...

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS WITH SUPPORT FROM

KNEBWORTH PARK

SAT june 23 A) TICK

B) FLEA

C) THE EDGE

music@gairrhydd.com

JUST TELL US WHO IS THE BASSIST OF THE RHCP? IS IT....

TWEET YOUR ANSWER using THE hashtag #XPRESSRHCP to @xpressradio BEFORE 6PM ON THURSday MAY 3, WHen the winner will BE ANNOUNCED LIVE ON PRESSRADIO.CO.UK

41

Music

ALBUM REVIEWS Soko I thought I was an alien

10/10

brilliant experimental side to Lostprophets, and despite Weapons being less experimental, Track

Top Tracks:

good enough to have it printed in large print on the this song as I do.

I Thought I Was An Alien

sions. A particular highlight is the album's title

Yasmine Canga-Valles

LostProphets

timental, almost romantic, element to the album

Weapons music@gairrhydd.com

42

7/10

Top Tracks:

ing as prominent in the mainstream music scene, the band have been able to create an album that

Weapons haven’t been as prominent in the music scene in

or

Start Something Rebecca Willson

Music Electric guest

White Rabbit

Mondo

Milk Famous

6/10

Top Tracks:

4/10

Top Tracks:

to be a

album is a little too slick. Soul music is supposed ing on this album. This becomes more apparent neither seems to grasp the ambient melodies it

Kit Denison

music@gairrhydd.com

Phil Kenny

43 45

Music

sing les Django Django storm

Ammel Semmace

7/10 The Heartbreaks Delay, Delay

Kit Denison

Last dinosaurs honolulu

music@gairrhydd.com

44

Phil Kenny

7/10

2/10

Music

LIVE REVIEW seye Great Hall

mystery jets the gate

beat.

ing in Texas.

vana imitation on stage. Their amazing vocals danceable combination.

Someone Purer, a contrasted blend

Victoria Davies

music@gairrhydd.com

mature level and united the band members more than ever. There is a lot to discover in this record to be released on April 30.

Amel Semmache

45

Film

film

news

Bourne baby Born The rights to Allen Zadoff’s new young adult novel, Boy Nobody, has been snapped up by Sony Pictures with teen sensation Jaden Smith tipped to play the “brainwashed teenaged assassin” lead. The project is said to have no director or writer attached but brings along Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment company to produce. Said to be focused on a young soldier trained not to feel; who could function in every situation without fear, sympathy or anger, Boy Nobody is being hailed as a Shyamalan’s After Earth alongside his father, but we are keen to see how Baby Bourne pans out.

Lionsgate offer Catching Fire to Francis Lawrence Lionsgate have offered the second instalment of The Hunger Games series to I Am Legend’s ’s Francis Lawrence. The studio has had to move

release. Should Lawrence accept, he’ll be under extreme time pressures as leading character Jenifer Lawrence needs to wrapped by January to shoot the X-Men: First Class Catching Fire will do astronomically well as its forerunner was the third best opening weekend of all time. #TeamPeeta.

Viral Success for Ridley Scott Fox have scored viral victory with Prometheus’ clever online short rate video about a ‘cool new product’, himself; an extremely advances android robot. The video begins with the ominous statement, "At Weyalmost indistinguishable from mankind itself." The online campaign Prometheus, inthat has designed the impressive robot.

Home alone again Home Alone Fox TV Studios are reviving the franchise with Home Alone 5: Alone in the Dark. Set for relesase later this year, Home Alone 5,



Determined to catch the ghost, Finn sets up a series of traps but, in true Home Alone style, the traps end up catching a group of thieves who try to break in while Finn and his sister are left home alone with their parents trapped across town.

FI

46

Film

trailer trash

Dark Shadows Release: may 11

ghoullish, chalk-faced Johnny Depp surrounded by gothic battlements and thunderstorms, the name of Tim Burton in a twirly typeface. This time, though, the formula recieves a

crat, is cursed into a vampire and buried alive by a witch - yes yes, all very Burton - but his accidental revival in faced with lava lamps, VW buses and a veritable Addams family of descendents occupying his once decadent, now derelict manor house. It all makes for a surprisingly mirthful twist on

pleasingly unpredictable clash of cultures that looks to be thrilling and funny in equal measure. MA

A B C D

Start your engines...

Put your film knowledge to the test and identify in which films these speedy cars have staring roles.

E

ď€

F 47 47

A) Back to the Future B) Pixar's Cars C) Dumb and Dubmer D) Grease E) Pulp Fiction F) The Dark Knight

Answers:

Film

Déjà View Morten Wright measures the speed of unoriginal and unimaginative sequels.

It’s Friday night and you’re at the cinema watchreading the news that a sequel has been commissioned. A year later you’re back at the cinema watching the second effort and surprise surprise it’s an absolute turkey. Sound familiar? This was not always the case. There once was a time when words demanding that it be exactly the same but “bigger” or “darker”, and the end results were so much more than just tired, paint-by-numbers

the writers of the original had departed, leaving Todd Phillips to try to come up with a new idea.

Bangkok, changed a baby for a monkey and an high as audience expectations but the disappointment of an identical plot will probably result in a massive dip when the third helping sullies our screens next summer.

speed is the name of the game, not originality.

It would be ridiculous for me to try to actually reminisce about the old days with the likes of The Godfather Part II seeing as I wasn’t alive, but I for one will always remember being blown away Terminator 2: Judgment Day on TV. Unfortunately, I’ll I watched Spider-Man 3 and spent the next few utes of my life back.

Last year was one of the worst years for se-



were expected to laugh at an old man, a monkey and a tattoo, but it appears that nobody behind The Hangover hadn’t entertained the idea that got very annoying. Without trying to sound like I’m ranting, The Hangover Part II was the most put in to it whatsoever. What didn’t help was that

48

It would be easy to criticise the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise just on the basis of the sec-

simple charm of by falling into the pitfall mentioned earlier of aiming for something bigger and darker, but the only thing epic about them was the how convothe release of On Stranger Tides, which promised a return to the roots of the franchise with a simple tale of pirates doing what pirates do best, namely backstabbing, tricks and treachery. What we actually ended up seeing was a thinly disguised mixtape of the highlights of the previous three efforts. There was nothing new to see and it was obvious to even the least

The Dark Knight be aiming to match with the release of The Dark Knight Rises later this year, and the Toy Story franchise which has led the way in terms of demonstrating how to keep animated sequels fresh. Stellar sequels are not a thing of the past, Morten Wright

Stellar sequels are not a thing of the past, they are just harder to find these days.

Other shockers on the sequel scene from last summer included Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Cars 2, both providing more proof

See for:

While the world of cinema may be dominated by the likes of the Saw and Paranormal Activity franchises, and Vin Diesel will probably still be jacking cars when he’s on a Zimmer frame, sequel need not be synonymous with rubbish.

Just because we’ve liked characters before doesn’t mean we will enjoy seeing them doing



classes in how to make a good sequel include

49

Film Film

FILM Reviews The Cabin In

So it’s fun and deep. It questions why we like seeing good-looking young people killed, as the

The Woods Dir: Drew Goddard Cast: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams This surprise horror hit is a success for many reasons, not least for its playful, inventive take on the a great effort to be enjoyable; it doesn’t take itself particularly seriously and remains consistently, surprisingly witty.

It starts out with that familiar group of all-American college kids spending a drunkenly outrageous, libidinous weekend at a remote cabin in the woods

looking. It pokes fun at the obsession of the genre, the makers and the audience to repeatedly indulge in mindless, gory slaughter, while indulging in mindless, gory slaughter. And, for the real moviebuffs, there is a horde of references to The Evil Dead, , The Shining and more to spot.

"A sharp satire on the entertainment industry, audience's thirst for violence and older people's love hate relationship with youth."

Innovative? Yes. Entertaining and audacious? with

and turns into a sharp satire on the entertainment industry, the audiences thirst for violence and older people’s love-hate relationship with youth.

I won’t spoil the twist, which is part of the minutes of the opening credits, the twist spoils itself. This is a major oversight because for the



help but feel a bit cheated. You just have to sit back and enjoy the ride, though it is quite a ride.

You see, doesn’t just tors have been given a decent script to really get their teeth into and it shows. Their interaction proves that it isn’t necessary for horror clichés before proving their worth with the onset of excessive slashing to qualify as ‘horror.’

50

. It isn’t quite scary

could easily have been a pulp classic and a complete reinvention of the genre but as it is, it just falls short of its promised potential. It’s very good, but it could’ve been much, much better.

Anna Hickman

8/10

Film

The Hunger games Dir: Gary Ross Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

-

ing style. In particular, the slummy palette of is a suitable antonym for the technicoloured

the Easter break getting in the way of our opinions on the latest big young adult novel turned jugview - even if a little belatedly...

-

all, and force each to compete in a sadistic annual

saturated falsity and gluttonous arcitecture.

sombre, determined, frustrated and moral - relievingly, this is pulled off admirably, making for a decent argument against anyone jumping Twilight!" bandwagon. On the other team, a host of reality TV stereotypes -

Fans should be pleased that the narrative universe is visually respected then - the main probbe its main focus - the games themselves. Anticipation is built to unprecedented levels as Katniss prepares herself for almost certain death, and yet the action within the arena feels dissapointingly slow-paced; the deaths themselves almost skimmed Overall, this is an intelligent and enjoyable adaptation that maintains its integrity far better than

ď€

7/10

.

Matt Ayres

51

Titanic (3d) Dir: James Cameron Cast: Leonardo Decaprio. Kate Winslet It’s a rare occasion to leave a screening feeling you’ve got your money’s worth but it’s fair to say both in time and emotional gusto, leaves you feeling you’ve experienced more than enough for your cash Having seen Titanic countless times, I was dubious as to how much I would enjoy myself in terpiece doesn’t fail to disappoint as I found

is that, in light of explosion laden, Armageddrama holds its own in terms of enjoyment and intensity. It was refreshing, experiencing chaos based on a real life account; one which doesn’t have the future of mankind at stake.

If you’re a fan of the original, the opporscreen again is one worth not passing up.

Fraser Isaac

years ago. In leading roles, Kate and Leonardo’s chemistry is every bit as epic as I’d remembered and the drama that ensues every bit as enthralling. Though over three hours long, the audi-



beginning all the way to its catastrophic end.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing as I found ing one of the world’s deadliest maritime disasters in history is powerful enough without needing to add a third dimension for effect; I even found myself taking my glasses off to glimpse the crisper,

52

8/10

Film

Best Film For...

12 angry men (1957) ...educating in the art of persuasion This classic legal drama is often considered as one of the best

over. The level of involvement you feel when watching is quite as angry as the title suggests, the performances are of such a high quality that you go on the same journey as each and every one of the cast, in an example of real-time storytelling that came long before Jack Bauer and co. hi-jacked it.

rat race (2001) ...demonstrating the positive side of immorality too many times in one weekend could destroy the very medi. A who’s who of comedy actors from acters so unbelievable they will be permanently imprinted thing into an opportunity for gambling, an awkward visit to the highlights in this comedy classic that teaches every viewer a valuable lesson: if someone offers you a squirrel, buy it!

LA Confidential (1997) ...modern film noir Los Angeles: the city is synonymous with the movie industry,

It’s a setting and set-up that has been used many times in cinema LA . The labyrinthine plot of dirty cops, following the

actors to grace the screen in the modern age take it to the next straighter than normal as a Hollywood reporter aided along the way by celebrity policeman Kevin Spacey, all in all making for

Morten Wright

ď€

2/10

53

The team Issue editor Lloyd Griffiths Executive Editor Gavin Jewkes Features Alexi Gunner, Camilla Flint food Simone Miche & Chloe Slade books Alice Hughes fashion Leonie Roderick, Hann Davies, Lucy Trevallion travel Clare Baranowski & Lia Martin

t h e

Speed issue

photos Tom Armstrong & Lucy Chip lgbt+ Hector Roddan, Laura Gwilliams arts Asha Verma & Kirsty Allen music Emma Wilford, Jo Southerd & Phil Kenny film Fraser Isaac, Matt Ayres, Morten Wright

Cover Photo - Ben Channon