On the 10th of November, Spector played their biggest headline show to date at the sold out O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire with support from LULS, Splashh and Swim Deep. All of which are worth checking out, Birmingham’s Swim Deep in particular (WE LOVE CAV).
It was clear that this was a landmark moment for the band and they wholly lived up to the occasion. Playing their best live performance I’ve seen them produce. The set covered the entire debut album, Enjoy it While it Lasts, and featured an emotional speech from Fred (frontman) before Grim Reefer. Opening with Twenty Nothing it was clear from the off that the night was going to be good, with a stage diving/crowd surfing Tom Shickle (bassist) making the most of the evening. The performance was full of energy, as was the crowd, and the usual Spector style. No Adventure saw Fred try to perfect the audiences backing vocals although not everyone caught on but from what I heard Topman will be selling a few more white suits before christmas.
Saturday Night, Don’t Ever let it End!
Friday 16 November 2012
Friday 2 November 2012
Frankenstein Fish?
Many crops and livestock are genetically modified, with the future of fisheries in murky water, the potential of genetically modifying aquatic species is being investigated with studies on a variety of species already underway including salmon and trout in the United States and Canada and even Goldfish in China. Potentially it could increase the quantity and quality of produce from aquaculture available to consumers.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are defined as ‘being essentially transgenic organisms’ (Organisms that have had foreign genes inserted into their cells) by international agreements and national legislation. By genetically modifying species grown in aquaculture you are able to make them more adapted to a wider range of conditions, anti-freeze protein can be used to increase their tolerance of cold temperatures, increasing the area that they can be farmed in and therefore the quantity produced. Growth rate and disease resistance can be increased, improving the aquatic species chance of survival as well as improving the quality of the final product. By increasing the growth rate, farmers are able to increase turnover and profitability.
Before all of this can go ahead however, there are many factors to be taken into consideration. The environmental issues raised from GM aquaculture mainly concern the effects of the GMO stock escaping. There are fears that they could pose as competition in the local habitat and disrupt the local genetic diversity, having an adverse affect on the wild stock. Despite these concerns there are few real examples of any damage being caused by escapees of current GMO populations, many proponents of GMOs state the escaped fish will be domesticated and possess poor fitness levels. Therefore they will be unlikely to survive in the wild let alone compete with wild stocks. Although there is evidence that shows escaped populations are capable of establishing new breeding grounds, escaped Atlantic salmon are now found reproducing in British Columbia.
Specific trade requirements are required by the World Trade Organisation on GMOs. There is difficulty behind labelling however as some countries are against it, claiming it to be ‘ambiguous’. The issue has received large amounts of media attention although much of the information currently available is biased, factual information is available from organisations such as the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The technology being used is said to have been thoroughly tested and safe and yet GMO opponents claim it will bring health and environmental disasters.
With many stocks in danger the use of GMO is looking like an ever more reasonable answer, globally at this moment in time there are more than a dozen transgenic fish species being developed for use in aquaculture.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are defined as ‘being essentially transgenic organisms’ (Organisms that have had foreign genes inserted into their cells) by international agreements and national legislation. By genetically modifying species grown in aquaculture you are able to make them more adapted to a wider range of conditions, anti-freeze protein can be used to increase their tolerance of cold temperatures, increasing the area that they can be farmed in and therefore the quantity produced. Growth rate and disease resistance can be increased, improving the aquatic species chance of survival as well as improving the quality of the final product. By increasing the growth rate, farmers are able to increase turnover and profitability.
Before all of this can go ahead however, there are many factors to be taken into consideration. The environmental issues raised from GM aquaculture mainly concern the effects of the GMO stock escaping. There are fears that they could pose as competition in the local habitat and disrupt the local genetic diversity, having an adverse affect on the wild stock. Despite these concerns there are few real examples of any damage being caused by escapees of current GMO populations, many proponents of GMOs state the escaped fish will be domesticated and possess poor fitness levels. Therefore they will be unlikely to survive in the wild let alone compete with wild stocks. Although there is evidence that shows escaped populations are capable of establishing new breeding grounds, escaped Atlantic salmon are now found reproducing in British Columbia.
Specific trade requirements are required by the World Trade Organisation on GMOs. There is difficulty behind labelling however as some countries are against it, claiming it to be ‘ambiguous’. The issue has received large amounts of media attention although much of the information currently available is biased, factual information is available from organisations such as the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The technology being used is said to have been thoroughly tested and safe and yet GMO opponents claim it will bring health and environmental disasters.
With many stocks in danger the use of GMO is looking like an ever more reasonable answer, globally at this moment in time there are more than a dozen transgenic fish species being developed for use in aquaculture.
Peace, Matinee Gig at The Lexington, Review
On Tuesday the 30th of October upcoming Birmingham band with one terribly anti-google friendly name, Peace played two sold out shows at The Lexington in Islington.
Both shows featured five-piece Carousels as support, with double fronted vocals they presented some interesting material but with the sound being off it was impossible to figure out a word they were saying.
Peace played a set featuring the entirety of their EP Delicious as well as Follow Baby and a few others for 45 minutes. The band all seemed very relaxed with Harrison thanking everyone for coming out when they’d normally be ‘chillaxing in bed’ at the in-between stage of four/five in the afternoon/evening. Fortunately the sound quality for these guys was much better although I found the backing mic to be a little loud. The vocals perfectly matched the EP and they were very good live in all. Admittedly we were a pretty chilled crowd, given the absence of a barrier it felt like a very personal affair. But given a night-time show perhaps and some tequila (the bar was plastered with soft drinks only signs) it would have been very easy for the place to have been rocking considering the tunes being played.
Last song Bloodshake featured a confetti canon shooting out hearts and stars and as we filed out onto the street you checked your watch and realised it wasn’t late at all and that you didn’t have to worry about catching the last train home, a strange affair but that’s the deal with matinée performances, they are a little wierd.
Both shows featured five-piece Carousels as support, with double fronted vocals they presented some interesting material but with the sound being off it was impossible to figure out a word they were saying.
Peace played a set featuring the entirety of their EP Delicious as well as Follow Baby and a few others for 45 minutes. The band all seemed very relaxed with Harrison thanking everyone for coming out when they’d normally be ‘chillaxing in bed’ at the in-between stage of four/five in the afternoon/evening. Fortunately the sound quality for these guys was much better although I found the backing mic to be a little loud. The vocals perfectly matched the EP and they were very good live in all. Admittedly we were a pretty chilled crowd, given the absence of a barrier it felt like a very personal affair. But given a night-time show perhaps and some tequila (the bar was plastered with soft drinks only signs) it would have been very easy for the place to have been rocking considering the tunes being played.
Last song Bloodshake featured a confetti canon shooting out hearts and stars and as we filed out onto the street you checked your watch and realised it wasn’t late at all and that you didn’t have to worry about catching the last train home, a strange affair but that’s the deal with matinée performances, they are a little wierd.
Current Bands To Watch
Peace, Swim Deep, Jaws, Splashh and Palma Violets. I won’t be the first person to tell you about these guys if you read NME but if you haven’t heard, you should go have a listen.
Palma Violets have been the most hyped as of late and from London these guys, co-frontman Chilli in particular, are full of character and wonderful stories. Ok, so I’ve never actually meet them but this much has become clear from their live performances and scarce interview material. Single ‘Best of Friends’ is even better live, due to the extra depth only a live show can offer. It leaves you with itchy feet, making you want to throw yourself around and pelt it out at the top of your voice. These guys are good true exciting young fun. If you can, catch them live, their set closer is a corker.
Peace, as opposed to the basement of 180 guitars have got a psych vibe that rattles and funks along in a wavy armed mini disco room with lights and tie-dye t-shirts kind of way. Their matinée show at The Lexington in London on the 30th October still hasn’t sold out and their EP Delicious is well worth a bite.
Swim Deep are a fully reclined-sofa full of laid back tunes and catchy chill choruses which are sometimes almost hazy. It’ll remind you of cycling to the coolest beach party thrown all year (If you ever actually went to one of those, do they even exist?).
Most of these bands are available to watch on tour at the minute or if not then in the coming months. Tickets for Swim Deep’s early 2013 tour having gone on sale earlier this morning.
A non-signed artist I’m really liking at the moment is Only Real, with Cadillac Girl in particular. At times there’s a tingle of Jamie T going on with the vocals and comparisons have been made with King Krule. Check him out.
Palma Violets have been the most hyped as of late and from London these guys, co-frontman Chilli in particular, are full of character and wonderful stories. Ok, so I’ve never actually meet them but this much has become clear from their live performances and scarce interview material. Single ‘Best of Friends’ is even better live, due to the extra depth only a live show can offer. It leaves you with itchy feet, making you want to throw yourself around and pelt it out at the top of your voice. These guys are good true exciting young fun. If you can, catch them live, their set closer is a corker.
Peace, as opposed to the basement of 180 guitars have got a psych vibe that rattles and funks along in a wavy armed mini disco room with lights and tie-dye t-shirts kind of way. Their matinée show at The Lexington in London on the 30th October still hasn’t sold out and their EP Delicious is well worth a bite.
Swim Deep are a fully reclined-sofa full of laid back tunes and catchy chill choruses which are sometimes almost hazy. It’ll remind you of cycling to the coolest beach party thrown all year (If you ever actually went to one of those, do they even exist?).
Most of these bands are available to watch on tour at the minute or if not then in the coming months. Tickets for Swim Deep’s early 2013 tour having gone on sale earlier this morning.
A non-signed artist I’m really liking at the moment is Only Real, with Cadillac Girl in particular. At times there’s a tingle of Jamie T going on with the vocals and comparisons have been made with King Krule. Check him out.
On The Road, Film Review
It was always going to be difficult to capture the essence of John Kerouac’s novel on film. It’s certainly got a taste of the book, as if holding onto the exhaust of the old Cadillac but it doesn’t quite hit the spot. The roles are played great with Garrett Hedlund stealing the show as Dean Moriarty and Sam Riley playing a steady Sal Paradise.
It may have seemed like a somewhat pointless venture for those that haven’t read the book and aren’t invested in the characters but as with the book it has the pivotal moment near the end in which for a minute, you feel you understand, as though you’re grasping a truth. It doesn’t have the relentless, fast, heavy pace of the book in fact it felt like one of the longest films I had ever watched. But the cinematography is very good. It shows the road way of life in its drugs and jazz and sex as told, keeping true to the novel.
It may have seemed like a somewhat pointless venture for those that haven’t read the book and aren’t invested in the characters but as with the book it has the pivotal moment near the end in which for a minute, you feel you understand, as though you’re grasping a truth. It doesn’t have the relentless, fast, heavy pace of the book in fact it felt like one of the longest films I had ever watched. But the cinematography is very good. It shows the road way of life in its drugs and jazz and sex as told, keeping true to the novel.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Dark Knight Rises: Film Review (No Spoilers)
Was it any good, should I watch it? Yes!
Will I need to have watched the previous two films to understand? Not entirely. But I would recommend that you do else you will be at a loss half of the film’s conversation.
For me it’s felt like a long wait for this installment in the Batman collection, and oh boy oh boy have things changed in Gotham, but it was a goodun’ let me tell you. Not perfect, no. Not my favourite (at least not currently) but it was a very good fix undoubtably for any masked man fan.
Knight Rises is a clever mix of the previous two films without feeling like a complete carry on. It had a new villain with a very well planned out meticulous plan that had ties with the previous films, it was these ties that allowed the plots twists, thus making it a great grand finale – should it remain so. The second half of the movie has better fluid action, the pace at the beginning I found to be a little catchy although this was understandably (most likely) intended. I was eagerly awaiting the plane scene as previewed in the trailer but I found it to be lacking something on the big screen, whether that was suffocating sound that I felt was absent or perhaps it was that the scene has, essentially, been spoiled by the trailer.
The characters I felt were all played extremely well although there was a particular moment, that I won’t mention so as to avoid plot spoilers, when I wanted a little more from Mr. Wayne but perhaps I’m greedy as that clearly wasn’t the way they felt his character would be portrayed after all this time.
The addition of a certain masked man in the high chair for the court scene, now that was clever, a great tie-in. Personally, the ending was a sweet little touch.
By Scarlet Prentice
Will I need to have watched the previous two films to understand? Not entirely. But I would recommend that you do else you will be at a loss half of the film’s conversation.
For me it’s felt like a long wait for this installment in the Batman collection, and oh boy oh boy have things changed in Gotham, but it was a goodun’ let me tell you. Not perfect, no. Not my favourite (at least not currently) but it was a very good fix undoubtably for any masked man fan.
Knight Rises is a clever mix of the previous two films without feeling like a complete carry on. It had a new villain with a very well planned out meticulous plan that had ties with the previous films, it was these ties that allowed the plots twists, thus making it a great grand finale – should it remain so. The second half of the movie has better fluid action, the pace at the beginning I found to be a little catchy although this was understandably (most likely) intended. I was eagerly awaiting the plane scene as previewed in the trailer but I found it to be lacking something on the big screen, whether that was suffocating sound that I felt was absent or perhaps it was that the scene has, essentially, been spoiled by the trailer.
The characters I felt were all played extremely well although there was a particular moment, that I won’t mention so as to avoid plot spoilers, when I wanted a little more from Mr. Wayne but perhaps I’m greedy as that clearly wasn’t the way they felt his character would be portrayed after all this time.
The addition of a certain masked man in the high chair for the court scene, now that was clever, a great tie-in. Personally, the ending was a sweet little touch.
By Scarlet Prentice
Monday 16 July 2012
The Olympic Torch Relay: Egham
On the 10th July, one of 8,000 Olympic torches was carried through Egham, a historical and olympic village in Surrey. The streets were flooded with both rain and people, more than I've ever seen in my small town.
The streets were lined throughout Egham hours before with people waiting to watch the torch procession consisting of Olympic sponsor lorries, police and a couple of joggers (and the torch of course). They waited in the rain, polite on the pavements waving flags and cheering at the sight of the relay, the vehicles came first followed after a long wait by the torch carried in turn by six individuals and former England and Chelsea footballer Ray Wilkins . Whilst all other six carriers have admittedly got an inspirational story to tell, where were the young carriers? The stars of tomorrow?
The local teams? 'Inspire a generation.' That's the slogan, I dare say they could be doing a better job.
Now Egham is, an Olympic village and a historical one to. But, it's also home to Procter and Gamble's Innovation Centre, a major sponsor of the Olympic Games, with a large workforce employed there. Three of the runners work at the site and it was these three that paraded the torch in a closed event around the office. Figure that.
The Olympics are finally just around the corner, Inspiring a generation to get out and get sporty. Inspiring them from their sofa, as it's been a killer to get tickets. Unlike the Beijing games in which many seats remained empty, the London Olympics are very much sold out. Now I'm aware it's to little to late but I believe it would have been a good idea to allocate tickets for events to relevant clubs and associations, enabling people and children with a solid interest in the sport to get up close to their champions and idols, what better way to inspire?
By Scarlet Prentice
The streets were lined throughout Egham hours before with people waiting to watch the torch procession consisting of Olympic sponsor lorries, police and a couple of joggers (and the torch of course). They waited in the rain, polite on the pavements waving flags and cheering at the sight of the relay, the vehicles came first followed after a long wait by the torch carried in turn by six individuals and former England and Chelsea footballer Ray Wilkins . Whilst all other six carriers have admittedly got an inspirational story to tell, where were the young carriers? The stars of tomorrow?
The local teams? 'Inspire a generation.' That's the slogan, I dare say they could be doing a better job.
Now Egham is, an Olympic village and a historical one to. But, it's also home to Procter and Gamble's Innovation Centre, a major sponsor of the Olympic Games, with a large workforce employed there. Three of the runners work at the site and it was these three that paraded the torch in a closed event around the office. Figure that.
The Olympics are finally just around the corner, Inspiring a generation to get out and get sporty. Inspiring them from their sofa, as it's been a killer to get tickets. Unlike the Beijing games in which many seats remained empty, the London Olympics are very much sold out. Now I'm aware it's to little to late but I believe it would have been a good idea to allocate tickets for events to relevant clubs and associations, enabling people and children with a solid interest in the sport to get up close to their champions and idols, what better way to inspire?
By Scarlet Prentice
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