WISSUEE3 S T W O R L D campus style fix up look sharp laws of attraction features artists superfood klaxons & more
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WestWorld Playlist
Editor’s Letter
Top picks from the WestWorld team this month! Rhythm of Auld Pistols at Dawn Close Your Eyes ( And Count To Fuck) Often October Moshin In The Front Between Cans Workin’ Gal Late Show Real Rabbits Foot New Atmosphere Won’t You Tell Me Cuckoo Precious Love (Cyril Hahn Remix)
Julio Bashmore feat J’Danna Seinabo Sey Run The Jewel feat Zac De La Rocha The Weeknd Loyle Carner feat Kiko Bun Mykki Blanco feat Cities Aviv DEERS Rome Fortune Open Mike Eagle Years & Years Turbowolf NZCA Line Yoofs Raleigh Ritchie feat. Little Simz How To Dress Well
Welcome to our biggest ever issue of WestWorld! This month we’ve got loads of treats for you; reviews of the best things happening in Bristol, exclusive interviews and of course an insight into some of the incredible work that UWE artists are producing. We also welcome the return of Campus Style this month, flick to that feature for some inspiration on keeping warm stylishly this winter. As ever this magazine is only a tiny bit of what we’re doing so get online to see loads more at westerneye.net.
Editors Dulcie Horn westerworld@westerneye.com Mădălina Ciobanu assistantwestworld@westerneye.net Christian Northwood music@westerneye.net Portia Lyons musicassistant@westerneye.net Contributors Paul McQuay Maddy Lidster Danny Cozens Hannah Rooke Emma Farr George Gamble Maximillian Malone Dace Kruger Stephen Levene Rosie Porter Milly Tillson Tom Carter
Dulcie x @WestWorld_UWE Creative Direction & Graphic Designers
Listen to this playlist and more at soundcloud.com/westworld-uwe
Kelly Yeungw kellyyeung15@gmail.com Elly Novick ellie-novick@hotmail.com Cover by Maximillian Malone, flick to page 7 to see his feature!
Is the profit in the popcorn? By Auguste Chocianaite
O
n 22nd October Mark Cosgrove, a cinema curator at Watershed, gave film lovers an open lecture about the most thought-provoking ins and outs of the big screen industry. How to make it to the top of the Hollywood hill? What does it take for a film to be shown at the most eminent cinemas? Who dictates the trends of contemporary cinematography? By sharing his rich experience with UWE students he has answered all these questions in a subtle and humorous manner.
BARRY PAUL MCQUAY
Mark Cosgrove grew up in a bohemian atmosphere. “My dad is an artist. My brother is an artist. And I earn the money,” jokes the independent cinema promoter. After starting his career as a security guard he is now one of the most influential figures at the cultural cinema and digital creativity centre called Watershed. After years of gaining experience in the field of independent cinema, Mark’s knowledge of the industry is perfect. Statistics show that only 7% of the UK’s screens are dedicated to the non-mainstream product. Why is that
THE WATERSHED AUGUSTÉ CHOCIANAITÉ so? Are we being blinded by the glittery American film industry or is the nonmainstream product too bizarre for us to fully understand? “There is the creative side and the industrial side in the film industry,” claims Mark. People behind the screens show what we, the general public, want to see: romance, drama, action. Ideally it works best when supply meets demand. However, we do not have much to choose from. Cosgrove argues that there is someone who makes decisions about the film culture that is about to be seen in the cinemas; whilst we blindly follow the trends and watch whatever is shown on the big screens.
Eventually, movie theatres do not get much profit from the films they show. Most of the cinemas get their income from the snacks and beverages people buy. “Profit is in the popcorn,” says Mark. Would people pay for popcorn as much at the independent film session as at the Hollywood one? Doubtful. One of the most relevant questions that Mark gave an answer to was on what should one do to get the product of his creativity shown at the cinema? “In the film industry everything is negotiation. Getting yourself noticed is difficult. Everyone has a degree of selfbelief. But you have to be prepared for a no.”
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Photography Danny Cozens Madeleine Lidster Assistants Leila Mead Jack Tyler Words Mădălina Ciobanu
Campus Style
Crisp breeze blowing, leaves crunching - it’s that time of year again, when woolly scarves and heavy knit jumpers are making a comeback. We’ve rounded up some autumnal inspiration from our stylish UWE students in this month’s Campus Style section… Alex, BSc Bio Science, 1st year Sweatshirt, Obey. Hoodie, Element.Tweed jacket, River Island. Shoes, Pull&Bear. Autumn staple:Tweed coat.
Simran, BA Drama, 3rd year Shoes, Doc Martens. Leggings, Zara. Jumpers, Zara. Autumn staple: Ponchos.
Betsie, BA Photography, 2nd year Shoes, Vans. Jeans, Topshop. Jumper, Charity shop.Earrings, Primark. Scarf and coat, ASOS Marketplace (Gone Retro). Autumn staple: Oversized coats.
Jasmine, Science, Foundation year Coat, ASOS.Top, Topshop. Trousers, Primark. Shoes, COS. Autumn staple: white knitted jumper.
Jordan, BA Graphic Design, 3rd year Jumper, Supreme. Jacket, Charity shop. Jeans, Levi’s. Trainers, Nike. Autumn Liban, Banking and Finance, 2nd year Outfit, Charity shops. Autumn staple: Jacket.
Vanessa, Journalism and PR, 3rd year Jumper, Forever21.Skirt, H&M. Bag, The Cambridge Satchel Company. Autumn staple: Scarves.
Lakis, BA Fashion, 1st year Jumper, Primark. Jacket, Primark. Jeans, Zara. Shoes, Nasty Gal. Autumn staple: Oversized coats.
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Still Sailing to the Near Future J: Not really, we were overjoyed about the success of that album, but it was completely unexpected! I think the most important thing is releasing an album you love and we do love every track on the album, hence why they’re all on there! Whilst I have the chance, I’ve got to ask, how did you come up with the intro for ‘Atlantis to Interzone’?
THE KLAXONS LIVE NATION
Interview with Klaxons By Hannah Rooke
It’s been four years since Klaxons last graced the UK music scene, but now they’re back with a brand new album. I spoke to Jamie Reynolds about their upcoming tour, his plans for Halloween and his dog, Wilbert.
Hey! It’s been a long time since we’ve heard anything from Klaxons. What have you been up to? Jamie: Well, we haven’t stopped touring or anything like that and we haven’t taken a break. We’ve just not done a lot in the UK recently. We’ve been touring abroad and for the last couple of years we’ve been working on the new album. Your new album, Love Frequency was released on June 16th. Do you think it differs from previous albums? J: Definitely, in the sense that the instrumentation has changed and this album is much more nu rave than electro indie rock. It’s an exciting album. I can’t believe it’s been 13 years since you released your first album, Myths of the Near Future. It won the Mercury Music Prize and the following year you won the NME Music Award for best new coming band. Was there any pressure to make this album as successful?
J:Well basically, when I got to the new studio it had the same keyboard that I used to use in school. A: We already had a bass line and a top line, then one night I was drunk and messing around with the keyboard and thought, this sounds pretty cool. Let’s keep it in the track. I remember seeing you when you played the White Rabbit years ago in Plymouth. It was actually one of my first gigs (God I’m feeling old).Have you been back since? J: I remember that gig! Yeah, we were there a couple of months ago actually. It was a good gig, people from Plymouth know how to have a good time! Your tour starts on the 25th October and on the 31st of October you’re playing the newly refurbished, Thekla. Are there any dates that you’re particularly looking forward to? J: Yeah, I mean Thekla should be good because it’s Halloween, but we’ve also got some dates coming up in Mexico and Japan. It’s been 7 years since we last played Mexico so it will be nice to go back.
DISCOVERY
Here at WestWorld, we want to bring you the newest, best and most exciting new Bristol bands. So come with us on a musical journey and make a discovery...
Kahai
Mr Wolf’s 16th October By Stephen Levene
F
orming late last year, Kahai have been steadily gearing up for the release of their debut EP and on the 16th of October I was pleasantly graced with the band’s “dancy folk rock” (their words, not mine). Mr Wolf’s, for those of you who have not been, has a dark, almost claustrophobic vibe, but works perfectly in drawing crowds and performers into the same mental space. Kahai were supported by two very different acts. The gig was kicked off by the stunning voice of Sophie Griffin and her guitar. Although she did not match the rest of the gig musically, her smooth and powerful vocals were able to dispel any thoughts that she was out of place. It was clear to see from her crowd interaction between songs that Sophie Griffin was nervous. Nevertheless, she more than made up for it once she started singing. Her guitar skills were reasonable, making it clear she needed a band behind her. However, with that being said, she still delivered a strong performance and the crowds’ response is a testament to that.
KAHAI AT MR WOLF’S SAMMI FAITHNATION Following Sophie Griffin was Verity Park. The band had a good array of styles, playing a range of songs from upbeat guitar driven tracks to the slower jams. Their songs were developed and their crowd interaction was cheery and light-hearted, perfect for keeping the steadily merrier crowd on board. This created renewed interest in the music whenever a new song played, a flaw many bands seem to have. Verity Park was a snug fit for the spot before the headline act and were able to galvanise the crowd and prepare them mentally for Kahai. Finally, Kahai were on. I don’t say ‘finally’ because the support acts were bad or boring, but because Kahai were who everyone was there to see, and boy, was it obvious. Coming on to a roar of applause, the band kicked off to a great start. It was clear that Kahai had put in the hours’ practise. They were tight and had a fiery
energy about them. Their setlist was versatile and consistently highgrade, funky numbers woven between guitar solos and powerful vocal sections. The vocal team, consisting of a male and female vocalist, worked with great synergy delivering sweet harmonies to the ears of the crowd. Each member of the band was very musically talented in their own right and judging from the crowd’s response, everyone else agreed. The encore came naturally. Considering I’m a massive hip-hop head and I had no idea what to expect, I left feeling that getting time off work to check these guys out was an excellent choice. Kahai are a band to watch out for.
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HOW DID I GET HERE?
Sammy Maine
[Journalist]
By Christian Northwood
mini Single reviews JESSIE WARE PIECES
By Portia Lyons I was completely mesmerised the first time I heard this song, guided through the first verse by the outstanding use of the cello. This intro shared similarity to M83’s ‘Midnight City’ but uses it to create a completely different musical piece. October has been definitely been a successful month for Jessie Ware with yet another ballad from her album Tough Love.
RALEIGH RITCHIE CUCKOO
By Christian Northwood What to know what Raleigh Ritchie’s day job is? Playing Grey Worm in Game of Thrones. Yup, you read it right. He shakes off all hints of medieval fantasy with the brilliant sparse R&B slow burner. His smooth voice would pacify a Dothraki hoard.
WESTWORLD OLD AND NEW DULCIE HORN If you want something, you definitely have to work hard at it. And if you want to be a journalist, you have to work really really hard. Sammy Maine, WestWorld editor 20092010, is no stranger to this at all. Having graduated from UWE in 2010, she has worked hard to get to where she is now - writing for a selection of great music blogs, including Drowned in Sound, Line of Best Fit, Bust and Rookie Mag, whilst having a day job of writing for design magazines. Having left UWE with not just her English Literature degree, but also skills as both an editor and radio DJ, thanks to Western Eye and Hub Radio, Sammy didn’t exactly go into her dream job straight away; “When I graduated I was working at HMV as head of audio”, she told me over a pint, “and then they laid me off in January so I was screwed.” Not exactly the perfect start to ‘the real world’ then? “I was on the dole for a year and it was a really crap time. I’m not going to dress it up for you guys”. Obviously being jobless is not ideal at any point. Luckily for her, she had a stroke of luck in her career advisor. “The woman who was my advisor used to be a journalist. I told her I really wanted to be a journalist so she would give me good prospects and lots of email addresses.” Finally, after a year of searching, Sammy was able to get a job as a staff writer on a design magazine. She told me that when she got it, she “sobbed down the phone at them.” Having a writing job, although not in an area she knew about, was a huge relief. However, music writing is Sammy’s passion. Even whilst jobless, she still kept writing the occasional article until she met the Bristol 24/7 culture editor, who gave her some more opportunities. “She said ‘do loads of bits for me’ and so I did lots of little bits for her, for no money, but it gave me a routine.” From there she started writing for other blogs and started to build a portfolio, something that she thinks is important for all new writers to start acquiring. She was eventually picked up by someone considerably bigger than blogs. “A couple of years ago I wrote something for a local zine and a guy from The Guardian liked it and found me on Twitter. He was the reviews and music editor. He emailed me and said he was really interested in me doing club reviews for The Guardian.” She still has no idea how he found the article.
Music writing is still very much a hobby, with very few blogs paying writers, but Sammy thinks that you can find rewards elsewhere. “I’ve got so many opportunities. I’ve met so many amazing people, musicians and journalists.” When I asked her who her favourite person she’s met is, her eyes light up: “I got to interview Perfume Genius recently, which was a dream come true. I was so nervous. I walked out the back and he was sitting there in his jumpsuit, red heels and red nails, just smoking. I was shaking and had to apologise for being unprofessional and he was like ‘It’s fine, don’t worry about it.’’” She met him at OFF Festival this year, which she was sent to review, all expenses paid. “We stayed in this hotel where all the bands were staying and got drunk with Belle and Sebastian”, she giggles. Not all hard work then.
PULLED APART BY HORSES MEDIUM RARE
By Christian Northwood Possibly the most subdued Pulled Apart By Horses effect to date. Well, only in the screeming and riffing departments. The lyrics as dirty as ever, bassline as seductive and drums as driving. Try not to squirm when singer James tells you you’re a “medium rare, prime cut”.
ELLIPHANT ONE MORE
It’s not just meeting heros and going to festivals that make it all worth it, but just the people in general, especially those in Bristol. “Bristol’s got a great scene and the community spirit is amazing. It’s really inclusive”. Bristol is much better than London, she thinks, “Whatever you want to do, you can find it in Bristol and I know you can say that about London, but you can walk to wherever in Bristol.” As we were getting ready to leave, I handed Sammy a little present I had dug out for her - a copy of WestWorld she had edited a few years ago. “Oh my god, I haven’t seen this for years!”, she says thumbing through the pages. “I remember this one, my housemate did the illustration”. She tells me that whilst at UWE, she was happiest either running the paper or doing her radio show. The skills that she learnt are still key in her career now. “I learnt to manage a team, juggle a degree and other stuff, and developed interview skills and stuff like that. I think working at the paper is the best thing to do if you want to follow journalism as a career.” I ask her if there’s anything aspiring writers should keep in mind. “It’s going to be tough, but if you really want it, don’t give up. I know how cheesy that sounds...”
By Christian Northwood What happens when you combine two Scandinavian pop queens on one track? Magic, that’s what. A brilliant subdued hip hop beat allows the two to half rap, half sing, an ode to getting your other half to stay out becuase you still got cash. A bit like two Nordic Drakes.
BEN HOWARD CONRAD
By Portia Lyons The slow melody in this musical masterpiece just soothes your soul. This new material from Ben Howard differs from his previous work in ways which are obvious- avid Ben Howard followers may be unnerved by hearing this- however, I feel it still complies with his usual and pleasant sound.
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George Gamble
M
y name’s George and I’m from Coventry, home of The Specials and once a great hub of industry. I’m one of the first in my family to go to university which is a fact my mum is always very keen to mention to everyone. I was born with an extra ear growing off of my right ear but unfortunately had it removed at an early age.
My earliest memory of creativeness was being a little git and drawing on my bedroom wall, much to my mum’s dismay. You could say things never really changed from that moment as I still love to draw on walls, I’ve just gotten taller. We lived in an area at the time where I wasn’t allowed out of the house much which led me to discover colouring books and other such tools available to an aspiring doodler of nonsense. That first wave of imagination has fuelled my work ever since. I was never pushed to be an artist or anything, it was just something I’ve always enjoyed. I was never hugely academic and I think that’s why I found solace in art and in my sketchbooks, a form of escape as I’m sure it is for many. I’d say my most preferred mediums are spray paint, markers and generally any pens I can get my hands on. I remember the first time I came down to Bristol, for the Banksy Vs Bristol museum exhibition back in 2009, and I just fell in love with this city which I must say heavily influenced my choice when it came to university. Just how vibrant and alive everything was, I pretty much knew then I’d end up back here at some point. From a young age I’d always been interested in graffiti, which obviously was a huge selling point for me when considering Bristol. Now that I’m here, I feel blessed to have made it to uni as I’ve met so many amazing people, not just great mates but people who also inspire the way I work. I get a fair bit of inspiration from my mates, especially the guys I get to paint with.
something that I’m still trying to develop my own personal style within. It’s starting to take shape now but it will always be something I’ll be working on. I’ve lost count of the amount of artists who have influenced me in some way but I’m currently loving the work of James Jean, who a friend recently put me on to. Also some of my favourites are artists such as Will Barras, Jeff Gogue (art nouveau tattooist), Jamie Hewlett and Takashi Murakami, to name but a few. Also some great local artists I’ve had the pleasure to meet and sometimes paint with are SPZero76, Loch Ness, David Blatch and of course Miller. There are literally too many to even mention! What does the future hold for me? I’d be lying if I said I knew. Hopefully it will involve staying in Bristol for a while longer and carving out some kind of path here and then travel and get my work out there. If not, I’m moving somewhere cold and getting back to my Viking roots! See more of George’s characters on his blog at bigtripleg. tumblr.com.
A lot of my ideas and sketches seem to have minimal outside influences. I just think of something and try drawing it out. Half the time it’s worked, the other half it’s still kind of worked but not how I imagined at first, which can be a good and a bad thing. A lot of my current work, especially since I’ve been living in Bristol, has been influenced by masks, specifically a lot of tribe’s masks and their uses. One of my main subjects to draw are faces, whether it be a character-based sketch or a large scale painting, it’s
[Featured Artists] Emma Farr
I
’m Emma from Reading and I’m a third year DAA student. I have always enjoyed drawing as a form of therapy and expression I suppose, it’s being creative with ideas which is the hard part! I’m pretty sure I have always wanted to be an artist and when I was little I would copy the guys on Poke’mon cards for my friends. My dad was a technical illustrator and graphic designer so he always encouraged drawing, painting, making and of course Photoshop skills from an early age.
Bristol was my first and only choice, my mum used to live here while my partner’s family live here now. My interview went well, they just judged me purely on my artwork, which I was very grateful for. Bristol’s such an amazing city with plenty of opportunities, kindness, community, public art and activism. It’s such a great idea to have lots of public art and murals on the walls, in my opinion, as cityscapes can be so depressing to look at. I love living near Gloucester road, a veritable hub of independence and community, i find it so refreshing that I can get my fruit, veg, clothes and vinyl on the same street where I go out to party. Drawing is for me the purest way of getting my ideas down. My mediums vary but I really like a good old HB, felt-tips, pen and ink, charcoal, plastics, and mixing together all of these. In the last couple of years I have also become interested in photograms, chemigrams, stone lithograph and etching. My work has grown from the combination of having a passion for drawing, being very visual to the extent of not listening, always looking for pattern and composition and also wanting to share my views on the world. Marks are based on my mood, outlook, pace and thought process at the time; I try to let my intuition run free while still making some conscious gestures. Recently, my work’s been generally fast-paced but I’m trying to slow down to control the marks more. But I do love the element of chance. I like immediacy in art creation and strive not to be perfect or to tailor things.
Things that inspire me tend to be about what’s around us and what goes unnoticed. There’s so much anguish and depression in our modern world, if only it could change. Other things that inspire me are textures and layers, science, nature, unusual animals, consciousness but these don’t necessarily filter into my own work. I’ve always been inspired by the great old artists such as Henri Matisse, Pierre Cordier, Van Gogh and think that many of their styles are still as relevant today. Some contemporary artists I am inspired by at the moment are Swoon, Armsrock, Emma Stibbon, Laura Oldfield Ford, Lucinda Rogers, William Kentridge, Lando, Joe Graham and Anna Atkins Next I’m working on large-scale cut outs to go outside on walls, and to document their deterioration. I’ve always liked the layered posters and peeling paint effect on many buildings in cities. I think it’s a nice statement about environment and impermanence. I also hope to be layering up the same area with more cut outs once they have deteriorated enough, or after set amounts of time but I will see how it turns out first. I believe art is for sharing ideas and should be affordable. My plan is to make small cheaply made books and posters that anyone can buy rather than aiming to make money. I want those people who can’t afford art to be able to, this stems from being one of these people! After uni, my boyfriend and I are planning to start a zine that we print ourselves, hopefully save up for a printing press. Make posters, books and t-shirts and story books or graphic novels that we’ve published ourselves. See more of Emma’s drawings on her website emmafarr. tumblr.com.
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Maximillian Malone T
ell us a bit about yourself... I’m Maximillian Malone, I grew in Southampton but from a young age I knew I wanted to move to Bristol. It’s where a lot of my family are from. My Aunt who is a brilliant ceramicist studied at Bower (as I do now) and my great grandmother also lived here until she was one hundred, she then moved to Spain! What do you do? Overall I’d have to say paper is my medium. As a child I loved to cut and paste and not much has changed since then, I’ve even started a Collage Club here in Bristol because of this obsession.
What does the future hold? When it’s eventually time to say goodbye to Bower I hope to take Collage Club on a summer festival tour. I’m also planning another trip through Europe with my brother on our longboards. The past two summers we’ve travelled to both Berlin and Stockholm using no money for transport or accommodation. With backpacks and boards we set off each summer for six weeks, with a motto of ‘Keep On Rolling’. I still don’t know what’s happening after summer adventures but as long as I’m following my passions I’m sure I’ll land on my feet.
Where does your inspiration come from? Over the summer Car Boot sales were very rewarding as a hungry artist. Rummaging through people’s junk, finding hidden treasures as starting points for new exploration. I love rubbish; it’s a strange zone between culture and nature. Transforming this and presenting what we already have around us in different ways is at the heart of what I’m trying to achieve. What are you working on at the moment? As a team of designers we’ve been working on a Zine focusing on Turbo Island in Stokes Croft, which is to be exhibited at the Arnolfini. It’s been very entertaining gathering research from this strange little piece of land; the characters you meet there have been from all walks of life.
MAX AT WORK
Collage Club The Collage Club run by Max is a creative social aiming to stick paper and people together. Located in the heart of Stokes Croft, Collage Club is a sticky blend of collaborative art, music, DJ’s, games, guest speakers, prizes and much more. Using discarded print material they re-imagine and transform reality with paper and scissors. It is always a night to remember and enjoy for all, regardless of skill level and artistic background. Materials and tools are provided, all you need is to get the beers in! Collage Club runs regularly at The Crofters Rights, like them on facebook.com/CollageClub to keep in the loop.
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By Dace Kruger
T
he exhibition consists entirely of film works, created in the past five years. The viewing process resembles a trip on a conveyor belt; the positioning of artwork allows the viewer to move around the gallery space in a full circle. Everything is repeating, constantly looping; this is physically present in the chosen media (16mm film reels and digital video projections) and also in the depicted content (carousels, wheels, levitating magician’s platforms). The audience is being immersed into a sci-fiesque world ruled by machinery. A mechanical drone and flickering orange lights intensify the post-human atmosphere. First stop on the route around the show is the 16mm projection It’s all about light and death (to Joseph Plateau) (2011) – a pan shot of taxidermy animals illuminated by flashes of light, visually reminiscent of the pre-cinema animation device – the zoetrope (composed from Greek words for ‘life’ and ‘turning’; in inventor William F. Lincoln’s version it means ‘wheel of life’). This is an essential feature of Francheschini’s practice. The principle of a zoetrope is to activate still (dead) images. Thus, the artist’s film reel has acquired supernatural power and created zombies: the stuffed animals have regained the semblance of life. In the same vein, mechanical objects are animated in the later pieces. The visitor follows the trail to The Stuffed Shirt (2012), where, playing on the intersections of life-death and nature-artifice, mannequin torsos in a dry cleaning factory are being blown up with air – disembodied human parts are being stuffed, a sight not far from one found in a taxidermist’s
Laws of Attraction Currently at Spike Island in Bristol, from 4 October until 14 December, Italian filmmaker Anna Franceschini is making visitors’ heads spin with her first solo show in the UK, Laws of Attraction.
ANNA FRANCESCHINI. THE STUFFED SHIRT (2012) 16MM FILM TRANSFERRED TO DIGITAL
workshop. Another prominent theme is entertainment. The artist reflects upon leisure as just another manufactured product. In addition, the intensive use of moving image suggests a selfreferential take on film as a major medium of the entertainment industry. Spiralling forward, Francheschini captures various items commonly seen at amusement parks such as souvenirs and magician’s props. Amusingly, these have been presented in a fruit machine format; looping permutations of three screens which display the previously mentioned objects spinning on an illusionist’s levitating disc (Before they break, before they die, they fly! II (2014)). On the opposite side of the gallery there is a single screen video The Player May Not Change His Position (placed in the middle of the room to allow access to the back construction) that depicts dizzying shots of twirling carousels. The fun rides are vacant, just like the other apparatuses featured in the show; independent of human control with a mind of their own, the machines exist in infinite continuance. The title of the exhibition is a straightforward tool for decoding Francheschini’s vision of causal sequence: like attracts like. Laws of attraction brings to mind the film The Way Things Go by Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss, that demonstrates a chain of events – a continuous cause and effect relationship between everyday objects. All of these works throw the viewer into a timeless state; when almost having reached the finish line, you are pushed back to the start.
T
he ‘Sister Act’ opening night at the Hippodrome truly raised the spirits of everyone in the audience. The BLOC Productions amateur theatre company certainly added their own spin on the gospel, nun-singing classic that we all know the film for.
A true ‘Sister Act’!
By Rosie Porter
As I sat impatiently in my seat, I longed to see who would be taking over the famous Whoopi Goldberg character that I loved in the film. Along with the audience I was greeted with the surprise of Emma Watkins playing the iconic Deloris Van Cartier. The opening “Take me to heaven” boasted the power of the lead vocal and displayed Emma’s ownership of that role. But it cannot go without mentioning that BLOC have taken a different angle with this production; rather than homing in on some real gospel soul, the interpretation presented a more ‘white trash’, 70’s groove. It wasn’t what I expected, but it worked.
It has been said before, that the beginning of this musical does start off quite slow. The hilarious disco loving Deloris witnesses her AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP club owner boyfriend, Curtis, murdering one of his gang members and is then ordered to hide in the local convent for protection. Praise the Lord, literally, this is where the fun begins. The obvious friction between the Mother Superior and Deloris is the best ‘un-match’ made in heaven. When the thigh-
high-booted, mouthy diva swans in with her demands and un-nun like behaviour, Faye Banks’ comic facial expressions and characterisation of the Mother were astounding throughout, adding a great contrast to the joy of the nuns. The whole nun chorus were hilarious to watch and their voices together blew the audience away, with their power and fantastic harmonisation. The point in the plot when Deloris gives the convent choir singing lessons was the catalyst for success, they all “raised their voices” and at this point the show was no longer an amateur production. All the characters really brought their own to the stage, especially Grace McDonald who played Sister Mary Robert and Vicky Hartland who played Sister Mary Patrick. The duo were comically heart-warming and blew the audience away with their voices. Who wouldn’t find joy in watching a bunch of nuns singing and dancing around the stage in glittering habits? Which I might add, got more colourful and fantastic as the show went on, along with the set. With a rapping elderly nun and even the presence of the Pope joining the audience, the production ended with glitter canons and with all the glitz and 70’s glamour that ‘Sister Act’ should have.
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By Rosie Porter
F
ix Up Look Sharp’s launch night at Hamilton House was a perfect display of both their unique products and the amazing work that they do. The up-cycling brand turns old garments into fashionable products and all its profits go to CLIC Sargent, which helps young cancer patients and their families across the UK. They began in 2012 as a fun side project for Ruth Strugnell, the deputy manager of CLIC Sargent’s Charity shop on Gloucester Road. “I just started buying bits from charity shops and cutting them up and seeing what I can do with them”, she said. By using donations from the shop, Ruth, with the help of volunteers, has been able to progress from what started as a small rail in the charity shop to having an online outlet to sell products. The pieces are purely made from up-cycling old bits of fabric and clothing to
Fix Up and Look Sharp with Up-cycling! FIX UP LOOK SHARP ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY MILLY TILSON create individual and one-off items; “turning things like curtains and bed sheets into clothes”. Not only are they able to keep costs down by recycling fabric, but Fix Up Look Sharp are working to help the environment. Ruth said that “we don’t waste anything… we even use scraps for scrunchies!” Their slogan is “every garment is as individual as you”.
fashion world would just be really boring otherwise, I couldn’t tell you what’s on the catwalk...but I make clothes because I love clothes and I love fabric…It’s like, you find a pretty bit of fabric and think ‘what I could I do with that!’ There’s more history behind it.” “You’re buying into a much better brand with Fix Up Look Sharp because you know that the money is going to charity”, she added.
Fix Up Look Sharp pioneers the importance of supporting local and independent brands. Hayley Robinson, one of the lead voluntary designers for Fix Up Look Sharp, said: “I think the
The launch night signals the success that they’ve achieved so far and a chance for Fix Up Look Sharp to celebrate with all the people who’ve supported them and CLIC Sargent. With a brand
Something to whet everyone’s appetite
Superfood Don’t Say That By Christian Northwood
I
t seems like Birmingham have a nearly endless conveyor belt of talent these days. Just when you think the buzz surrounding the city has died down, another fresh band comes and blows you away. Although Superfood aren’t exactly new (their first demos surfaced
nearly 2 years ago now) they bring yet another new sound deep from within the West Midlands. Like all their Brummy counterparts the one thing that the band, and debut album Don’t say That, possess is a sense of fun. Every song slinks along with a wry smile, bass making your hips shake, honey dripping from lead singer Dom Ganderton’s tongue. Opener ‘Lily For Your Pad To Rest On’ is a playful, simple sing-song, the band chanting “I got hands, I got feet, I got brains, I got something to eat” in a blissfully nonsense way. Guitars, bass and bongos mix in the background creating rhythm upon rhythm. It’s this kind of eclectic, chuck-things-together attitude which makes the record so much fun. There’s elements of the spiky indie-punk that Peace peddle on the brilliant rerecord of early single ‘Superfood’, flashes of psychedelia in the messy wig out in ‘Mood Bomb’, and huge choruses dropped all over the place. If there’s one thing you can say about the band, it’s that they know how to write a fun guitarpop song. No matter what they’ve thrown into their song making cauldron, it comes out catchy as hell.
new website and another launch party in London this month, Fix Up Look Sharp are paving their way into a larger market. Also, with a regular spot at Glastonbury festival, turning up in their red double decker bus filled with vintage, they certainly are finding their way to success. Fix Up Look Sharp are always looking for volunteers who are keen photographers, models or designers. You can find out more information at: fuls.clicsargent.org.uk.
If the band try not to take themselves too seriously, then ‘TV’ is their perfect anthem, a song brattily complaining about the inability to fall asleep not in front of a screen. ‘How am I to ever dream without the TV on?’ they scream, brilliantly petulant, before giving up all together and just shouting nonsense. If Beavis and Butthead had taken their musical cues more from Primal Scream than Metallica, I’m pretty sure they would have written ‘TV’ about 20 years ago. Obviously I mean this as the highest of praise. Other highlights on an album, where anything could be a single, include the funky ‘Pallasades’, the dark and slinking ‘Don’t Say That’ and the clear stand out ‘Right On Satellite’. It’s a song that represents the whole album, bringing in so many elements, the driving bass, the constantly weaving guitars and tight drums. INFECTIOUS MUSIC It’s escapism to the max, with you falling asleep ‘on an aeroplane’ the moment the track starts and being transported up into space with the band. It shimmers, it slinks but you never lose it. Don’t Say That shows a band totally in their own, brilliant world but one their completely ready to share with you. If you immerse yourself in the weirdness, you’ll be rewarded.
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Not so Simple Things from Bristol’s best one day festival Simple Things Festival 25th October
By Tom Carter
DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 MAKING A TRIUMPHANT RETURN JAKE DAVIS
N
ow in its fourth year, Bristol one-day festival Simple Things has snowballed in popularity. Now a permanent fixture on the festival calendar, much of its success is down to the broad variety of artists on show. With an eclectic mix of DJ’s and well established guitar and electronica bands, this OUR BUDDING REPORTERS TAKE A QUICK BREAK HARRY LEATH year has seen more than 60 acts play 12 of the best music venues that Bristol has to offer to its wealth of aficionados. Boasting an incredible wealth of talent, both home-grown and international, the line-up this year is as audacious as any you will see over the course of one day. 17 hours in fact. Jack Bauer himself couldn’t fit this much action into one of his days. Our first set of the day was at Colston Hall to see Chicago’s How to Dress Well, and they did not disappoint. The multi-layered venue has serious acoustics, becoming the perfect space for Tom Krell’s wounded voice. How To Dress Well make agonisingly earnest and tender music. Krell’s smooth R&B vocals mix with well with crafted beats, creating layers of sound that transfix his head-nodding audience. The set was seamless, culminating with ‘Precious Love’, a track from 2014 release What Is This Heart? The track provides an engulfing and majestic climax, undercut with echo-chamber reverb, and illuminated by the seductive purple glow from the stage lighting. This is an experimental take on mainstream R&B, but in this case the experimentation works to create a split identity of pop-potential and moody weirdness. Moving through the day we see Dublin based rapper Rejjie Snow perform an energetic set at The Old Firestation. With a disco-ball the size of King-Kong’s testicle dangling from the ceiling, the dance-floor was lit-up with reflecting orbs of light in truly camp and non Hip-Hop fashion. The set was short and sharp, with Snow preferring to provide a mixture of full tracks with sample choruses from his newer material. It mattered not. The hip-hop heads were out in force, and beer-can filled hands were raised in the air for the duration. This midpoint of the day saw Bristol’s own Idles clash with another local act, the beat obsessed due Pardon My French. Loyalty to local acts is an important foundation to a festival that refuses to forget its roots. Moving into the evening another Bristol band Turbowolf prepared to take the stage at the O2 Academy. A thick cloud begins to hover above the stage
BLACK LIPS AT THE O2 JAKE DAVIS as frontman Chris Georgiadis strolls out to welcome the crowd. Some bands are made for live performances. The moustachioed Georgiadis’ stage presence is a key part of the band’s infectious display. Animated constantly with boundless energy, and waging war on ears with hard-edged vocals, he seems determined to provide a spectacle to his devoted audience. They tear through tracks with style, mixing hardcore punk energy with high-octane classic rock and thunderous riffs, before finishing with crowd favourite ‘Let’s Die’. Addictive and accessible: add this band to your list under the heading of ‘must see’. At this point a brief yet honourable mention has to go to Black Lips. A set of the highest order was just what the doctor ordered. It’s been over 10 years since debut album Black Lips! was released and this band she seem to refuse to lose their passion. With such an extensive back-catalogue these days, I have no idea how they managed to cram every great track into one hour. But they did. And it was awesome. Following two fantastic performances would be a difficult task for some bands, but luckily Death From Above 1979 aren’t a band who need to worry about such things. Having sold hundreds of thousands of records worldwide and drawn endless acclaim for their 2004 debut, You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine, they seemingly vanished from the radar. Now reformed, and back with a new album, this was a highly anticipated appearance. The O2 was full, bodies pressed against other like sardines in a tin. Opening with debut album track ‘Turn It Out’, the squealing bass forces the crowd immediately into a surge of head-banging momentum that continues throughout the set. The band have perfected the art of balancing intense levels of noise with energetic synth and heavy looming beats; the performance never loses its energy, staying constantly fresh and exciting. New tracks, such as chart-friendly anthem ‘Trainwreck 1979’, mix seamlessly with more established tracks. The pure energy on show ensures that they all sound raw and rabid. Music certainly has been worse-off without DFA. The battle of this year’s one-day festivals has been a close contest. Simple Things has won. Sorry Dot2Dot. You were a close second.
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Event Listings
Bristol’s German Christmas Market
By Emma Farr, Portia Lyons, Mădălina Ciobanu
7th November – 22nd December Central Bristol Get into the Christmas spirit and take a wander around the German market of Bristol. With 38 chalets you will find traditional German decorations and gifts, including wooden toys. Enjoy some delicious festive food whilst you explore the Christmas market. This could be your chance to nab a handcrafted Christmas gift and fill your bellies with Christmas grub! Make sure you try some Munich beer!
Bulb presents Woomb with ANKLEPANTS After Party Preview Exhibtion December 5th at 7pm Centrespace Gallery Afterparty with Anklepants 10pm onwards Start the Bus Prepare to see the “most effed up shiz you’ll ever witness”... The Howling Owl R ecords and No Need To Shout team up once again to present Bulb’s ‘Woomb’ preview, an art show running until December 10th. As well as an eclectic mix of mediums, the private view will feature exclusive performance from Arrington De Dionyso, the highly acclaimed and ever evolving performance artist and musician. Most importantly, the after show party, taking place at Start The Bus, headlines Anklepants with his first Bristol appearance. Combining a vast array of hardware and instruments, he comes armed with self-built electronic instruments such as his Facé_control_2 microphone (a wireless physical computing delight) and a colourful sensor laden wardrobe. Expect distorted mutated vocals, disassembled musical blurbs, glitches reflecting a diverse range of influences and an animatronic cock nose. Utterly insane. facebook.com/events/291571231032049/
Scribble&Scratch November 27th The Big Chill Bar
RWA Annual Open Exhibition Until December 7th Royal West of England This exhibition is one of the largest Open Submission exhibitions in the UK and has been a major date in the artistic calendar of the region for over 160 years. Like the summer exhibition at London’s Royal Academy, the RWA’s Annual Open Exhibition, now in its 162nd year, is a key event in the art calendar. Attracting leading artists from throughout the UK, it is open to all, and often includes work by previously un-shown exhibitors alongside well-known names. All the work is for sale attracting art-lovers and buyers from far and wide. If you are interested in submitting your work for the Open exhibition, please visit our website for details of the Online Submission System (OSS). rwa.org.uk/whats-on/events/2014/11/162-annual-open-exhibitionevent/
Reflections on the Aftermath: Lydda Airport Until January 24th Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Award-winning Palestinian artist Emily Jacir’s film uses archive black and white photography to reflect on the period between the wars when Palestine was under British rule. Reflections on the Aftermath is the third in the Global to Local series of exhibitions presenting the new collection of contemporary art developed by Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, in partnership with Arnolfini and supported by the Art Fund and Henry Moore Foundation. bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/ reflections-aftermath-lydda-airport/
The Scribble and Scratch boys, Bristol’s finest illustrators and turntablists, are back to battle it out once again. Come and see some of the best local MCs showcasing their talents and be ready for some head-nodding creative madness. wearebigchill.com
Winter Art Market December 6th , 11am-5pm The Trinity Centre Situated in the iconic Main Hall, Fyfe Hall and Graffiti Room, and only a 10 minute walk from the city centre, Trinity Centre will provide a unique opportunity for local artists to exhibit and sell their work to the public. The artisan food and edible gifts room, together with treats such as mulled wine and cider, mince pies, cake and hot food will be accompanied by live acoustic music. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to shop a wide range of crafts and styles! 3ca.org.uk
Exhale Exhibition Until November 24th 10am-5pm The Paper Gallery A collaboration between 2 artists, Veronia Gayle and Tina Selby, Exhale explores the subject of evolving nature and form, employing different techniques to create abstract compositions which encapsulate texture, movement and colour depth. Through screen printing, Veronia assembles collages to recreate the illusion of a flow of moments, focusing on the human form contours. Tina uses a laser cutter as a drawing tool, exploring three dimensional forms and nature from an aerial perspective. The exhibition’s aim is for the viewer to stop, look closer and ‘exhale’. bristolcolab.com
Afrika Eye Film Festival November 7th – November 9th / Prices depending on event Various venues To commemorate 20 years since the end of apartheid in South Africa, the festival will showcase the best film productions in South African cinema from the past two decades. Taking place at a number of venues across the city, such as Hamilton House and the Watershed, the festival will also feature a ferry boat choir and a talk from UK film production company Purple Field Productions, which discusses the importance of local communities’ use in films to stimulate debate. afrikaeye.org.uk/programme-2014/
Synecdoche’s Winter Wonderland December 2nd – December 28th Christmas Steps Gallery The Synecdoche Collective have all studied Drawing and Applied Arts at UWE and these exhibitions will showcase the collective’s distinctive approach to making art led by concentrated interactions with materials, yet concept driven. Synecdoche investigates the boundaries of mark making with each artist adding his or her own personality and sense of play to their work. This reflects the name [si-nek-duh-kee]; each artwork represents the whole and the individual pieces would not exist without the influence of the collective. Following the success of their recent exhibition debut in London, the collective will set up a series of three consecutive exhibitions and a Christmas shop, selling an eclectic selection of Synecdoche’s whimsical and provocative art work to suit every budget and taste. All in the historic and vibrant Christmas Steps Quarter; where better to go Christmas shopping? christmasstepsgallery.co.uk/project/synecdoche-art-collective/
Wildlife Photographer of the Year November 29th - February 22nd Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Encounter the rich array of wildlife on our planet in this worldrenowned exhibition from the Natural History Museum. Celebrating its 50th year, the competition provides a global showcase of extraordinary images celebrating the drama, beauty and splendour of the natural world with astonishing, creative and sometimes humorous wildlife photography. This exhibition co-owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide. bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/ wildlife-photographer-of-the-year/
Winter Wonderland 13th November - 11th January The Mall Cribbs Causeway Celebrate the festive season at Bristol’s very own Winter Wonderland! With the chance to take a swirl on the largest ice rink in the Southwest this winter, whilst indulging in some festive treats. Tickets cost £4.50 and include skate hire, sessions last 45 minutes. mallcribbs.com2014/