Sunday 28 April 2019

Eurovision 2019

Eurovision 2019

Dare to dream? It seems Europe is in the grip of a nightmare. From sombre ballads to political statements and an all-out screaming apocalypse, this is a particularly downbeat Eurovision year. It's certainly reflective of the prevailing mood of the continent.

Where many countries have gone back to their roots with a modern twist, The Netherlands offer the pick of the ballads with a contemporary song and are currently odds on favourite. But the likes of Italy and Iceland are delivering more interesting atypical Eurovision songs. Expect to see these three riding high at the top of the voting table.

In a sea of ballads, there are still some uptempo positive songs, a handful taking their cue from last year's should-have-won, Fuego. Czech Republic are funky fun, Spain bring the party and where the other Nordics disappoint, Sweden have entered a song of pure joy that's obvious Eurovision stuff.

Yet with so much bleakness this year, those positive pop songs may come off as insincere and out of touch. It's clear that this year's competition will be a serious, sometimes melancholic and very intriguing week of music.



Albania
Jonida Maliqi - Ktheju tokës

"Return to your land," sings Jonida Maliqi in this return to Albania's roots. The lyrics are more than a little fatalistic ("one day you live, the next you die / so much nostalgia, so little hope"), but the traditional melodies, thundering drums and flutes make for a dramatic entry.



Armenia
Srbuk - Walking Out

X Factor Armenia runner-up Srbuk delivers dark gothic pop on Walking Out, complete with this year's most dramatic key change. She's got some big notes up her sleeve, let's hope she can deliver them live.



Australia
Kate Miller-Heidke - Zero Gravity

On paper this is winning Eurovision: opera meets dance pop, styled as a Scandi ice-maiden in a big dress. In actuality, her voice sounds like a car horn that could break glass.



Austria
PÆNDA - Limits

Austria did very well last year and are looking to do similarly with another serious entry. Limits is a vulnerable tearjerker of a ballad that may be a little too subtle, but PÆNDA's delicate voice is quietly haunting.



Azerbaijan
Chingiz - Truth

For a country with poor LGBT rights, Azerbaijan surely know how to deliver for the Eurovision audience (even if Chingiz isn't topless in the live performance). Yet right from its moody, pulsing opening this is polished synth-pop with a traditional twist, an intoxicating mix of old and new.




Belarus
ZENA - Like It

ZENA has performed at Junior Eurovision on multiple occasions (coming third in 2016) so could be popular with the Eurovision crowd. Like It, though, is pretty standard 90s inflected pop that doesn't do enough to stand out.



Belgium
Eliot - Wake Up

Belgium have a tendency to do either really well or not qualify at all, despite delivering some interesting, moody pop over the last few years. This year Eliot is set to continue that trend, not least because he wrote their 2017 entry. Here he delivers twinky synth pop (that's not quite Loïc Nottet) - let's hope he can qualify.



Croatia
Roko - The Dream

The lyrics of this year's Croatian entry are a little on the trite side ("I dream of love," sings Roko in the soaring chorus), but there's enough cinematic flair here to make The Dream stand out.



Cyprus
Tamta - Replay

Let's be real: we all know Fuego should've won last year. Clearly annoyed, Cyprus have this year entered a song that is essentially a second rate rip-off. Lightning does not strike twice.



Czech Republic
Lake Malawi - Friend of a Friend

Lake Malawi have performed on BBC London as well as at Brighton's Great Escape festival in 2015. There's certainly a British flair to their indie-pop that's all funk guitars and glittering synths - a rare ray of fluffy positivity in this year's competition.



Denmark
Leonora - Love Is Forever

Leonora sings in four different languages on Love Is Forever, presumably courting favour with each country. But the pizzicato strings and cutesy vocals make this irritatingly twee. Bring back last year's vikings.



Estonia
Victor Crone - Storm

Hoping for some Scandi magic, Estonia have put forth a Swede for their entry. Victor competed in 2015's Melodifestivalen, but finally makes Eurovision with Storm - an uplifting country dance-pop track with a strong hook. Enjoyable, but he needs to work on his guitar miming.



Finland
Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman - Look Away

Yes that's the Darude of Sandstorm fame. But Look Away is a disappointingly bland dance track that will have you walking away for a cup of tea.



France
Bilal Hassani - Roi

Bilal is a major YouTube star in French-speaking territories and here delivers an emotional ballad of self-acceptance. Let's see if that fanbase pick up the phones.



Georgia
Oto Nemsadze - Keep on Going

This will never make it past the semis.



Germany
S!sters - Sister

Sadly this is not a cover of the Sister Sister theme song. Instead it consists mainly of screaming "SISTER!" down a microphone.



Greece
Katerine Duska - Better Love

Katerine has a rich, raspy timbre to her voice that stands out amongst the pack. Yet although the song has a Jessie Ware / Lykke Li kinda vibe, it's just not memorable enough overall.



Hungary
Joci Pápai - Az én apám

Joci brings Hungary's gypsy roots to this year's competition, all folky melodies and a whistling hook. But how the hell is he playing guitar with leather gloves on?



Iceland
Hatari - Hatrið mun sigra

This is the one everyone will be talking about. Eurovision songs aren't meant to be political (though they often secretly are), but Hatari singing apocalyptic lyrics like "hate will prevail / and Europe's heart impale" isn't exactly subtle. Screaming vocals, buzzsaw synths and bondage costumes ensure it will get plenty of attention, but the slick production and key change bely a pop sensibility beneath it all. Brilliantly bonkers.




Ireland
Sarah McTernan - 22

Nope, not a cover of the Taylor Swift classic (22 is a house number here, not an age). Vocally reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, this is a soulful ballad that's sweet if a little vanilla.



Israel
Kobi Marimi - Home

Let's just say Israel won't be winning two years in a row.



Italy
Mahmood - Soldi

Egyptian-Italian Alessandro Mahmoud has already courted controversy with Soldi. Chosen to represent Italy at this year's Sanremo competition, he's described the song as "Morocco pop", and sings an interlude in Arabic, at odds with Salvini and his right-wing government. Who said Eurovision wasn't political? Beneath all that though is a song that sounds like nothing we've had at Eurovision: a cool and clever R&B infused track with Middle Eastern flavour exploring estranged fathers and familial divides. It's suave and sophisticated and perfect for an Israeli competition in 2019. Can we please make this win?




Latvia
Carousel - That Night

This stripped back lilting ballad is pleasant enough but it just doesn't go anywhere. Another tea break.



Lithuania
Jurij Veklenko - Run With The Lions

This spacey electronic ballad has potential and the falsetto vocals are lovely. But the chorus doesn't quite have the intended punch - those clipped drums are weak.



Malta
Michela - Chameleon

Another Fuego wannabe here. The chorus is enjoyably weird but it's basic overall.



Moldova
Anna Odobescu - Stay

A typical emotional power ballad that's ultimately forgettable.



Montenegro
D mol - Heaven

Performed by a group of six singers, Heaven mixes traditional instrumentation with modern pop. The vocals are impressive, but the song is just on the edge of saccharine.



North Macedonia
Tamara Todevska - Proud

Formerly F.Y.R Macedonia, the country doesn't have a good track record at Eurovision. But perhaps that's set to change with the new name. Proud is an intense ballad with a feminist message and a big belting voice.



Norway
KEiiNO - Spirit in the Sky

Norway frequently have success with gothic techno. The eccentric KEiiNO here mix dark electronica with Nordic folk, treading a fine line between cool and amusing. It's certainly memorable.



Poland
Tulia - Fire of Love (Pali się)

Bringing back memories of butter churning with their traditional dress, Tulia are a far feistier proposition. Their fiery folk-rock has a love it or hate it appeal that could split voters.



Portugal
Conan Osiris - Telemóveis

Portugal's 2017 win was hailed as a win for "authentic" music. Conan certainly takes himself seriously, with a track heavily influenced by Egyptian culture. It's experimental and far removed from anything else in the competition, as weirdly compelling as it is an interesting composition. And that backing dancer is SERVING.




Romania
Ester Peony - On a Sunday

The lyrics to On a Sunday is pretty depressing - a breakup song of loneliness, nightmares and the unfairness of life. Yet Ester gives a sultry performance, perhaps to lure back her missing lover. It certainly works.



Russia
Sergey Lazarev - Scream

Russia's golden boy returns after narrowly missing out on a win back in 2016. This time he's swapped pulsing synths for downbeat orchestral strings that lacks the same winning energy. Yet if the theatrical video is anything to go by, we're in for some extraordinary staging.



San Marino
Serhat - Say Na Na Na

San Marino are sending over your embarrassing uncle singing karaoke over some funky disco. It's definitely entertaining.



Serbia
Nevena Božović - Kruna

Another previous Junior Eurovision entrant, Nevena sings a beautiful ballad here that builds from a gentle acoustic opening to a soaring rock chorus with a little Slavic twist. But in a sea of ballads, does this do enough?



Slovenia
Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl - Sebi

Sombre synths and clipped beats make for a Slovenian entry of bleak ennui. It's an intriguing song but unlikely to win over voters.



Spain
Miki - La Venda

You can always count on Spain to bring the party. Ska rhythms and blaring trumpets bring some much needed sunshine to this year's competition. There's Spanish guitar, "la vida loca", enough energy to have you jumping in your seat, and a cute singer fronting it all. When much of Europe is in seeming despair, I'll have whatever Spain are having.




Sweden
John Lundvik - Too Late For Love

John Lundvik's song is perhaps the most obvious Eurovision winner this year, though that's to be expected from a country with one of the best track records. Bold melodies, gospel backing, and vibrant production ensure this is a sheer joy to listen to. It's ironically perhaps too Eurovision to win the competition, but it's a brilliant little pop song. He also wrote our entry, but clearly kept the best for himself.




Switzerland
Luca Hänni - She Got Me

From a country with one of the best track records, to one with one of the worst (at least in the last couple of decades). Luca won Germany's Pop Idol equivalent and on She Got Me does a passable Justin Timberlake impression. It's all worth it for that filthy bass though.



The Netherlands
Duncan Laurence - Arcade

Currently the odds on favourite, and not just because he's naked in the video. Sorrowful and moving lyrics (the repeated "loving you is a losing game"), a tender vocal and carefully balanced production make this the best of the ballads (and there's stiff competition). Expect this to win the jury vote, but other songs are perhaps more likely to capture the voting public.




United Kingdom
Michael Rice - Bigger Than Us

The Lamest Showman.



Saturday 27 April 2019

New Music Friday 26/04/19

Taylor Swift feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco - ME!

Taylor Swift feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco - ME!

It's Taylor Swift's big return after the ill-received 'Reputation'. And it sounds like the soundtrack to a straight to DVD Dreamworks film. Critics wondered if this new song would be a return to her country roots, a continuation of the synth-pop from '1989', or perhaps a more political take following on from recent posts and interviews. Instead we've got a spelling bee in song, together with Brendon Urie to complete the 'Greatest Showman' carnival theme. This is sugary bubblegum pop at its most insipid and childish. Even Shake It Off was better.

Don't bother.



FKA Twigs - Cellophane

FKA Twigs - Cellophane

"Didn't I do it for you?" questions FKA on this comeback track. It's one of those simple lyrics that's loaded with sentiment, her yearning falsetto quivering with emotion and vulnerability. As with the music of her debut album, the production is minimalist - as much about the space between as the sounds themselves - but Cellophane is an intimate, achingly beautiful ballad that takes us beyond the fierce voguer. Stunning.

Add to playlist.



Lauv - Drugs & The Internet

Lauv - Drugs & The Internet

Drugs & The Internet is Lauv's first new music since the release of his debut album last year. It's a song about anxiety and social media, which feels like a very 2019 topic for a song. Yet from Lauv it's a potent and personal exploration, following his own struggles with mental health. "I traded all my friends for drugs and the internet," he quips in the chorus over squelching production, while his verses are all too relatable.

Worth a listen.



Bastille - Doom Days

Bastille - Doom Days

This is a short one, but it packs a punch. Taken from their forthcoming album of the same name, Doom Days is a two minute apocalyptic take on today - a world of echo chambers, online horror shows, and fucking up the planet until it burns. It runs like a stream of consciousness, an acoustic start hurtling inevitably to its urgent, electronic end. The final sentiment to put our phones down and fall into the night seems rote, but really what else can we do?

Worth a listen.



ionnalee - SOME BODY

ionnalee - SOME BODY

For all her eccentricities, SOME BODY is a more straightforward disco synth track from ionnalee. It, too, is apocalyptic - "come on bring the age of sorrow," she sings in the second verse - but in the chorus she asks us to "remember the good times...[before] the end of humankind" as the production (from long time collaborator Claes Björklund) swells and struts. The effect is intoxicating.

Worth a listen.



Zara Larsson - WOW


Zara Larsson - WOW

This doesn't quite make your jaw drop as Larsson implores in the chorus, but it's a fun time all the same. The downbeat verses bely lyrics loaded with sexual tension, before bursting into an ecstatic, otherworldly chorus of shifting vocals, blaring horns and infectious beats. Less jaw drop, more slut drop on the dancefloor.

Worth a listen.


Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame

Don't worry, this review will be spoiler-free. As was the script for much of the cast of this climactic film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's been widely reported they were given dummy and blacked out scripts. It means Endgame has been somewhat pieced together, disparate individual scenes that eventually come together to complete the puzzle.

Of course, that could be said of every film. But it makes you question how the actors can develop their characters when they don't know what the...endgame is (sorry). Then again, the Marvel films are rarely about anything more than heroic characters saving the world. And on that, Endgame surely delivers.

In fact, this is the most meta of all the Marvel films. The whole franchise has been a collection of puzzle pieces. Now Endgame provides that in microcosm. It is at once nostalgic yet new, a look back at the past 21 films and a forward-looking conclusion. The plot is essentially an opportunity to revisit the best bits of the previous films, allowing each character to have their moment in the spotlight. It's full of references and fan service that will surely reward repeat viewing, though the story is simple enough to entertain as a piece of popcorn cinema.

With so much to wrap up, it's no wonder the film is three hours long. But that whips by and doesn't feel bloated. While it starts off slowly and takes itself a little too seriously (though that's perhaps to be expected given events in Infinity War), the pace soon picks up. There's a clear structure and a clear goal, with little need for exposition or introductions of fantastical alien races or magic MacGuffins. We've had 21 films of that - now we finally get the pay-off and it undoubtedly satisfies, while leaving just enough tidbits for future films.

That clarity is true of the action sequences too. The visual design, CGI and choreography is everything we've come to expect from the best of Marvel - intense, exciting and easy to follow. And for all its melodrama and operatic scope, there's still time for moments of comedy (even if some are unintentional thanks to the cheesy script), as well as more tender, intimate moments.

How much you care for the latter is almost entirely based on your enjoyment of the previous films. Individually, they may not be the most original or well done. Many of them are flawed. Yet the cleverness of these interlocking narratives is extraordinary, resulting in an overarching saga with a fitting conclusion. Really, these films should be judged together as one incredible achievement. The whole is greater than the individual parts - rather like the Avengers themselves.

4/5

Watch: Avengers: Endgame is out now.


See-Through @ Camden People's Theatre

See-Through @ Camden People's Theatre

What do you need to become a YouTube star? A camera, an internet connection and an opinion. Or so it seems. But what is the impact of becoming a vlogger? Not on the internet, but on yourself?

Performer Claire Gaydon decided to test that out and the result is this new piece of smart experimental theatre, See-Through, at Camden People's Theatre. It's equal parts documentary and performance, though the line between the two is blurred. Gaydon performs with her back to the audience as we watch the narrative play out on a projected screen - she's right in front of us, yet she's intangible, a personality on a screen. Vloggers aim to be relatable, but do we ever really know them?

Over the course of the short hour, we watch Gaydon as she researches, creates a logo and a theme tune, and begins to upload her videos. She does challenge videos and storytime videos, gets her mum involved, and projects a friendly, charming and amiable persona, all in the name of content. This is all somewhat a parody of actual vloggers - a funny performance...that's also real.

Tellingly, her first success is a ridiculous video about smoking weed and having sex. Of course, it's the crazy ideas that are most likely to go viral - resulting in both views and shocking, negative comments. More of these types of video build up, until the climactic video of a horrific revelation - but is that real, or just part of the performance in the endless hunt for clicks and likes?

It's clear that being a vlogger takes its toll on Gaydon's mental health and her relationship with her family. The moment she finally turns to the audience to sing is quietly haunting. The show is an eye-opening look behind the screen, yet we never really discover what she learned from this experience, or what the potential positive impact was. As a documentary, See-Through doesn't fully get to grips with the vlogging experience. But as a narrative, its clever ambiguity keeps us questioning long after it ends.

3/5

Watch: See-Through runs at the Camden People's Theatre until 27th April.


Thursday 25 April 2019

Ain't Misbehavin' @ The Southwark Playhouse

Ain't Misbehavin' @ The Southwark Playhouse

It's all glitz and glamour in this musical revue of Fats Waller's music, that sees Tyrone Huntley in his directorial debut pair up with Strictly star and choreographer Oti Mabuse. It's the first London revival of the show in almost 25 years and the all black cast certainly do justice to the 1920s jazz legend.

There's no narrative, though Huntley finds the story in each song and ties them together with smooth transitions. The shimmering set from takis, the on-stage band and the beautiful period costumes together create an authentic mood that swings from exuberant through steamy, sultry and seductive.

That extends to Mabuse's lively choreography. Charleston and jive dancing predominate, all flaps, kicks and cheers. Though the cast is only five-strong, they assuredly use the entire stage and solo dances are full of character. More than the technical dancing, it's the sheer enthusiasm of the performers that bowls over the audience. They are hugely energetic, their joyful emotions infectious.

It's the music, though, that's the star of the show. Waller's piano playing was hugely influential and the show cherrypicks his best songs, from the title song to 'Honeysuckle Rose', 'You're A Viper' and more. The band are great but sound imbalances prevail, which is sadly often the case at this venue.

The singing isn't always as authentic as the setting - riffs, trills and soulful tones sound a little too modern - but the standard remains exceptional. Renée Lamb in particular stands out for her delicate voice and subtle delivery, while Carly Mercedes Dyer gives bags of zeal with her comedy and dancing. Indeed, the ongoing competition between the three female performers hints at unheard stories both on and off the stage.

Ain't Misbehavin' is at its best, though, when it all slows down. Ballads are richly sung, but the real showstopper is 'Black And Blue', for its racial commentary as well as its stunning harmonies. The song soon leads into more lighthearted material, but its spell lingers over what is overall a glamorous and fun celebration of black entertainment.

4/5

Watch: Ain't Misbehavin' runs at the Southwark Playhouse until 1st June.

Ain't Misbehavin' @ The Southwark Playhouse

Ain't Misbehavin' @ The Southwark Playhouse
Photos: Pamela Raith

Saturday 20 April 2019

New Music Friday 19/04/19

Madonna - Medellín (with Maluma)

Madonna - Medellín (with Maluma)

This is hardly the first time Madonna has pinched from elsewhere. Vogue took a dance from New York's underground scene; Hung Up sampled ABBA for a disco reboot. Yet, where in the past she's been at the forefront of discovery and trends, the last few years have seen Madonna playing catch up. Medellín, from her forthcoming album 'Madame X', is no exception. It's as if she and her label execs had a board meeting to discuss what's hot right now. Reggaeton was the inevitable conclusion, complete with feature from Colombia's (misogynistic) Maluma, clichéd lyrics about "a cartel just for love", and breezy melodies that float away into non-existence. There's still room for the album to be a worthwhile listen, but put your expectations in check and slow down papi.

Don't bother.



Carly Rae Jepsen - Julien

Carly Rae Jepsen - Julien

Jepsen stated on Instagram that Julien taught her the heart and direction of forthcoming album 'Dedicated'. It's certainly got heart - its lyrics depict raw heartbreak, honest and haunting - but the production is all squelchy disco, breathy melodies and spacey club sounds. This is funk to get you out of a funk, paving the way for another brilliant pop album.

Add to playlist.



Kygo & Rita Ora - Carry On

Kygo & Rita Ora - Carry On

Next month sees the release of the Detective Pikachu film, a weird, bizarre and hilariously real world take on Nintendo's franchise. Why, then, has this generic track been chosen to lead the soundtrack? All Kygo songs sound the same and Rita is phoning in the vocals (originally meant to be Charlie Puth). A bland and soulless cash-in.

Don't bother.



SZA, The Weeknd, Travis Scott - Power Is Power

SZA, The Weeknd, Travis Scott - Power Is Power

Speaking of cash-ins, this track is taken from 'For The Throne' - music inspired by Game of Thrones now that its final season is here. Fans will recognise the title as a reference to a conversation between Littlefinger and Cersei from season two; non-fans will at least appreciate nods in lyrics like "I was born of the ice and snow with the winter wolves". Sonically it sounds like an cast-off from the Black Panther soundtrack - not necessarily a bad thing, but not overly original either.

Worth a listen.



Au/Ra - Assassin

Au/Ra - Assassin

Jamie Lou Stenzel, better known by her stage name Au/Ra, is still best known for her hit Panic Room thanks to its Camelphat remix. But her unique gothic pop is as much a reflection of the younger generation as, say, Billie Eilish. Panic Room was a comment on anxiety, while on new track Assassin she moves on to self-sabotage and reflection, underscored by seductive electronica.

Add to playlist.



No Rome - Cashmoney

No Rome - Cashmoney

This is the latest track from The 1975 collaborator, who recently appeared with the band at Coachella and will continue to tour with them. There's certainly a similar vibe to his music, but on Cashmoney No Rome luxuriates in sharp production: laidback, twinkling, and polished. Which is fitting for a song about money and designer brands.

Worth a listen.


Friday 19 April 2019

Tumulus @ Soho Theatre

Tumulus @ Soho Theatre

Back in 2016, Stephen Port was convicted of serial rape and murder after luring in young gay men using the app Grindr and drugging them to the point of overdose. Christopher Adams' thriller Tumulus takes this as its inspiration.

This is a queer urban nightmare that plays with noir tropes. At a basic level it's a murder mystery that weaves through chemsex parties, London streets and the impenetrable darkness of Hampstead Heath. A ghostly figure from the past demands justice; an unsuspecting nearly-thirty-three year old man is compelled to uncover the truth.

Ciarán Owens' Anthony is a suave, charming and unreliable narrator. A librarian at the British Library, he pursues a not-so-secret life of sex and drugs in London's gay underworld. And, like all the gay characters, he's haunted not only by the death of previous lover George but by a strange tinnitus-like sensation in his mind. Drugs are the only answer.

Together with Ian Hallard and Harry Lister Smith, the three strong cast present a twisted vision of homosexual life. An early scene depicts a horrifying dinner party that magnifies stereotypes into a grim fantasy, but the play as a whole bristles with danger and tension. In this context, murder seems tragically inevitable.

Further atmosphere is delivered through live foley sound and chiaroscuro lighting, while Adams' script, narrated by Owens, swings from the poetic to the bleakly humorous. It ensures that this intrinsically gay mystery remains compelling through to the end, with all its gut-wrenching twists.

Beyond engaging storytelling, Tumulus is equally a comment on the anxiety of modern gay life. It's a cautionary tale that delivers riveting fantasy based on shocking reality.

4/5

Watch: Tumulus runs at the Soho Theatre until 4th May.

Tumulus @ Soho Theatre

Tumulus @ Soho Theatre
Photos: Darren Bell

Wednesday 17 April 2019

Night Of The Living Dead Live @ Pleasance London

Night Of The Living Dead Live @ Pleasance London

Back in 1968, George A. Romero released his masterpiece film that became a major influence not only on horror cinema, but the likes of video game series Resident Evil and the comic/TV series The Walking Dead. Now Night Of The Living Dead has made its way to theatres in the only stage adaptation authorised by the Romero estate.

Except here it's not quite how you remember. There's a fine line between horror and comedy - what was once horrifying now seems laughably tame - but in distancing itself from the original film, this production veers so far into the latter as to be unrecognisable.

It's starts off faithfully enough, following the general plot of a group of disparate people holed up in a rickety house as they try to save themselves from the roaming undead. The production design is stunning, with all set, costumes and lighting presented in strict monochrome mimicking the black and white of the film. Jump scares and tension abound as the audience are kept on the edge of their seats.

There's comedy in the over-the-top acting, the exaggerated "yee-haw" accents, the cartoonish physicality. Particularly amusing are Mari McGinlay as the hysterical mouse-like Barbra and Marc Pickering's bumbling coward Harry. An eerie weasel and crunchy sound effects add to the irreverent horror vibe.

Romero's film has since been analysed for its criticism of 1960s America, Cold War politics, racism (the film's lead is a black man who's tragically mistaken for the undead in the final moments), and other tensions of the time.

Here, though, the play's multiple writers and director Benji Sperring nod to that "political bollocks" with the looping structure. It whips through the plot swiftly in its first half, before playing out various "what if?" scenarios. This might toy with a political agenda - sexism, racism and more - but it's only ever played for laughs. Soon the play descends from send up of the film into all-out slapstick farce, full of crass humour and silly antics.

Audience members can pay extra to be on-stage in the "splatter zone", which ends up as a simple marketing ploy - the play's gore is overhyped and these audience members simply prove distracting. Coupled with the amount of merchandise available, it all seems at odds with the consumerism Romero sought to critique.

It makes you wish a little more thought had gone into wrestling with that intriguing grey area between horror and comedy. Night Of The Living Dead Live is a fun night out in itself, but it's far removed from its original source.

3/5

Watch: Night Of The Living Dead Live runs at the Pleasance Theatre until 8th June.

Night Of The Living Dead Live @ Pleasance London

Night Of The Living Dead Live @ Pleasance London
Photos: Claire Bilyard

Saturday 13 April 2019

New Music Friday 12/04/19

Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc - SOS

Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc - SOS

SOS is typical Avicii. That's to say, it's a catchy club bop with hooks galore and an Aloe Blacc vocal feature after their work on Wake Me Up. But of course, the song is underpinned by the sad death of the Swedish DJ last year, the first posthumous release from a forthcoming album. As such, lyrics like "can you hear me SOS, help me put my mind to rest" take on a truly heartbreaking new layer of meaning.

Worth a listen.



Ellie Goulding - Sixteen

Ellie Goulding - Sixteen

Ellie Goulding's latest is an ode to her teenage years and a reminder of the innocence of youth. It's lyrically simple but the choppy, fizzing chorus is an exuberant joy, even where the verses are a little generic. After the recent release of morose ballad Flux, Sixteen is a welcome return to vibrant pop.

Worth a listen.



Mark Ronson feat. Lykke Li - Late Night Feelings

Mark Ronson feat. Lykke Li - Late Night Feelings

On paper this is a dream collaboration. Ronson himself has described his forthcoming album as a collection of "sad bangers", so pairing his slick disco production with Li's yearning vocals makes total sense. "My heart keeps pulling in the wrong direction," she sings over funk bass and orchestral fluttering. The cumulative effect doesn't quite live up to the billing though - it's sad and polished but doesn't hit banger status.

Worth a listen.



Anna Of The North - Used To Be

Anna Of The North - Used To Be

Before I lose you to the dog grooming video, know this: Anna Of The North's latest single is a nostalgic take on life before social media, with languid synth and saxophone melodies. It's a reminder to step away from our screens and appreciate ourselves and each other a little more. With that said...go watch the dogs.

Worth a listen.



Yeasayer - Fluttering In The Floodlights

Yeasayer - Fluttering In The Floodlights

The New York band's 2013 single Henrietta remains a heady, intoxicating listen, but they're back this year with their fifth album and two new tracks. Let Me Listen In On You is a ballad with a slightly creepy vibe, but Fluttering In The Floodlights is the band on fine, weird form with its jittering production. 'Erotic Reruns' is due out in June.

Worth a listen.



Tame Impala - Borderline

Tame Impala - Borderline

Psychedelia and soft rock blend effortlessly in this new track from the Australian band. Only Tame Impala could merge pan pipes, harpsichord, conga drums and whirring synths into such a transportative mood, while Kevin Parker sings introspectively of a relationship on the verge of collapse.

Worth a listen.



Robyn @ Alexandra Palace

Robyn @ Alexandra Palace

Catharsis. After eight years of mourning the loss of friendships and relationships, Robyn's 'Honey' was a moment of catharsis, a musical release of tension, love, loss and joy. Performed live, that catharsis spreads over a crowd of thousands, all willing to dance and sing their hearts out.

White fabric billows from the ceiling and envelopes the staging, monochrome and ethereal. Robyn stands statuesque in the centre to the mostly instrumental beats of Send To Robin Immediately, eyes closed, soaking up the moment. It's clear we're in for a class act.

Robyn has always been at her best delivering heartbreak over euphoric club beats. "It's gonna be all heartbreak, wistfully painful and insanity," she sings early on in Hang With Me as if warning us of what's to come. It's that juxtaposition of emotions that's made her career and it's what the majority of the crowd are here for.

But it's not all heartbreak. There's a joy and playfulness in the dance tracks of 'Honey', but when the likes of Beach2k20 and Between The Lines break up the set into long experimental interludes there's a drop in momentum that feels self-indulgent. These sultry, muted tracks don't translate so well to a live performance, feeling at times more like a DJ set. That continues with the lengthy techno Love Is Free, a nod to her EP with La Bagatelle Magique. When she sings the exultant 'Honey' closer Ever Again, it doesn't quite hit as hard as it should.

Yet Robyn remains a transfixing stage presence throughout. She's a surprisingly quirky and eccentric performer, twirling across the stage, screaming, crawling seductively, while maintaining pitch perfect vocals. She dances for herself as much as for the audience.

When those sad bangers eventually arrive, the effect is transcendent, far outweighing any earlier lulls. Early on the swirling spacey synths of Indestructible send shivers down the spine. Later, the throbbing Missing You and Call Your Girlfriend have the audience enraptured, followed by an encore of the fizzing Stars 4-Ever. The pulsing Every Heartbeat lifts us with its wash of strings before we crash on to the dancefloor, tears in our eyes. It's in these moments that Robyn delivers phenomenal pop songs like no other, artist and audience collectively exorcising relationship demons.

Dancing On My Own remains Robyn's biggest hit and it's here that she's finally as stunned as we are. The music drops out as the crowd takes up the chorus, singing back every word of her own heartbreak. "Thank you so much," she screams, visibly emotional. It's a standout moment in a night that's full of them: exhilarating, impassioned, sublime.

A second encore beginning with Human Being ends the evening on a downbeat note, followed by the lesser known Who Do You Love. It's an unexpected finale, but Robyn proved with 'Honey' she's an artist not afraid to confound us. As she repeatedly questions "who do you love?", there's only one name on everyone's lips.

5/5

Robyn @ Alexandra Palace

Robyn @ Alexandra Palace

Robyn @ Alexandra Palace

Friday 12 April 2019

A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) @ The Vaults

A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) @ The Vaults

The title is a contradiction, but the juxtaposition of happiness and sadness is at the heart of this musical about depression from Silent Uproar. Written by Jon Brittain, the Olivier award-winning writer behind Rotterdam and Margaret Thatcher Queen Of Soho, this performance at The Vaults is just one leg of a long tour across the UK.

And so it should be. A Super Happy Story... is a timely and vital production that needs to be seen. It's a musical that's as funny as it is serious, knocking you back with a sucker punch just as you belly laugh.

That juxtaposition is also a reminder that depression is an invisible illness. There's a contradiction between internal and external, between what we see in others and how they really feel. The show takes us through one young woman's struggle with depression from her teens to her mid twenties as she slowly recognises the illness and learns to cope. It presents a visceral portrayal of living with depression, how it eats away at you even in your best moments and turns you into someone else. Even those who haven't suffered can still relate to the central character of Sally.

That portrayal relies on the enthusiastic and energetic performance of Madeleine MacMahon. She brims with excitement and delivers the songs with gusto - written by Matthew Floyd Jones and heightening both the happy and sad sides of the plot - but is equally capable of steering the mood in new directions. It's an endearing and honest performance.

She's aided by Sophie Clay and Ed Yelland playing a variety of roles, both twirling on to the stage in different costumes and with instantly recognisable physicality. Their singing and dancing is also excellent, ensuring the musical is a joy to watch.

A Super Happy Story...is a lovable and charming new musical that packs a lot into its short runtime. Self-help cards are handed out after the show and it's sponsored by the charity Rethink Mental Illness, further emphasising its importance beyond the theatre walls.

4/5

Watch: A Super Happy Story... runs at The Vaults until 3rd May, before continuing the UK tour.

A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) @ The Vaults

Friday 5 April 2019

New Music Friday 05/04

MARINA - To Be Human

MARINA - To Be Human

Surprise! Marina has released the first half of her forthcoming album 'LOVE + FEAR', of which To Be Human is set to be the big single. It's probably her most political song as she references worldwide events, before singing "we're united by our love, we're united by our pain" in the chorus. It certainly captures a global mood, though give Enjoy Your Life a go if you're after more of a banger.

Worth a listen.



Hot Chip - Hungry Child

Hot Chip - Hungry Child

Hot Chip's last album was released back in 2015 (and it's been over ten years since Ready For The Floor, still their highest UK charting single). The band's forthcoming album is called 'A Bath Full Of Ecstasy', so it makes sense that its lead single is a pounding club anthem. Hungry Child takes dance clichés - the big house vocal and piano, the melodic bass - but wrings them through a Hot Chip filter, producing a floorfiller like they've never quite done before.

Add to playlist.



Ariana Grande - MONOPOLY (with Victoria Monét)

Ariana Grande - MONOPOLY (with Victoria Monét)

Does Ariana ever stop? Yet another new track released from her this week, this time featuring singer and songwriter Victoria Monét who also wrote Thank U, Next. This is Ariana in playful hip-hop mode, comparing her life to a board game of money, high stakes and investments. With this partnership she's clearly on a roll. And the bisexual line? Who cares.

Worth a listen.



Jonas Brothers - Cool

Jonas Brothers - Cool

It's nice that the Jonas Brothers are feeling cool, even if this song isn't. The song references everything from James Dean and Jane Fonda, to a cheeky nod to Game of Thrones over a laidback beat. It's all a bit on the nose, but there's something charming about the slightly campy delivery.

Worth a listen.



Dusky Grey - Uncontrollable

Dusky Grey - Uncontrollable

Welsh duo Dusky Grey saw some success last year with their single Call Me Over. Uncontrollable is their first release of 2019, all vibrant synths, stretchy elastic bass, trumpet solos and catchy chorus hooks. It's a confident return from a duo on the rise, whose career is set to be uncontr...no I can't do it...

Worth a listen.



BLACKPINK - Kill This Love

BLACKPINK - Kill This Love

This is a bombastic new release from the world's premiere female K-Pop band, taken from their EP of the same name. The trumpets and "rum-pa-pum" lyrics sound a fanfare that not only opens the EP, but signals their arrival at Coachella later this month and their continued world domination. Stomping, fierce K-Pop at its finest.

Worth a listen.



Amber Mark - Mixer

Amber Mark - Mixer

New York's Amber Mark has been slowly on the rise the last couple of years, but new release Mixer is certainly her most arresting. The funky R&B production drips with effortless 90s cool, with its strutting bass and whistling transitions, Mark's breathy vocal floating atop. It's sexy and stylish - just like that fur coat in the video.

Worth a listen.


Thursday 4 April 2019

Bed Peace @ The Cockpit Theatre


Bed Peace @ The Cockpit Theatre

Back in 1969, in response to the Vietnam War, John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged two ‘bed-ins for peace’. The intent was non-violent protest and a new form of promoting peace. Two such bed-ins were staged, the second of which in a hotel in Montreal resulted in the song “Give Peace A Chance”. The song soon rose to number two in the UK charts and became an anthem in opposition to wars, violence and prejudice.

It’s this event that forms the basis of Bed Peace, a new work devised by Rocky Rodriguez Jr. and performed at The Cockpit Theatre. It presents key moments from the bed-in as well as speeches and views from outside parties. Yet it never quite comes together as a cohesive whole.

The need for peace is immediately set up by the ensemble. They play a variety of roles, led by Helen Foster’s enthusiastic Narrator, that establishes the U.S. in the grip of war, violence and riots. In the midst of this are a celebrity couple acting as martyrs, but how much of a difference can they actually make?

Rodriguez Jr.’s depiction of Lennon and Ono is ambiguous. Are they genuinely wanting to make a difference in the world, or are they a privileged white couple out of touch with society? They see themselves as enlightened, modern day revolutionaries, but the press only care about their fame. And what good does sitting in a bed actually achieve?

The characterisation doesn’t help. The play aims to humanise these celebrities, to get under the whiteness of their clothes and skin. Yet the performances fall flat. Jung Sun Den Hollander’s Ono speaks only of peace and philosophy, lost in her own world, while Craig Edgley’s Lennon has two modes: angry and eccentric loony. Together they seem to have more of a troubled patient (Lennon) and therapist (Ono) relationship that’s hard to sympathise with.

Often, though, they’re utterly silenced by the rest of the cast. The play is at its best during fiery monologues that explore racial tensions, privilege and prejudice. There are home truths and fascinating points made, with a particularly impassioned performance from Amelia Parillon who speaks more from the heart than as an actor.

It makes you wish for a different play that focused solely on race. Instead, we have a piece about celebrity with lofty ambitions that fails to make a dramatic point. The final energetic performance of “Give Peace A Chance” - complete with audience participation, dancing Hare Krishna, and a host of guitars that gently weep under the strains of violent strumming - is meant to prove the power of pop music, but instead it seems to enforce Lennon and Ono as a pair of misguided, lunatic hippies. You can’t beat the power of a good speech.

2/5

Watch: Bed Peace runs at The Cockpit Theatre until 28th April.


Bed Peace @ The Cockpit Theatre

Bed Peace @ The Cockpit Theatre

Wednesday 3 April 2019

Cry Havoc @ Park Theatre


Cry Havoc @ Park Theatre

Mohammed arrives back in his shabby apartment. His eyes are black and bruised, blood splatters his face, cigarette burns litter his shirt and scar his chest. He’s clearly been attacked, but no explicit reason is given. The implication: because he’s a homosexual.

This is the starting point for playwright Tom Coash’s latest play Cry Havoc performed at the Park Theatre. While homosexuality is not criminalised in Egypt, there is prevailing public opinion against LGBT+ people and many people of the community are regularly abused or punished by the police. It’s in this world that Coash sets his love story between an Egyptian man and an Englishman, a play that hinges on the identity crisis of a young man outlawed by his own society yet failing to find peace in another.

Mohammed (James El-Sharawy) and Nicholas (Marc Antolin) are painted as two very different men, star-crossed lovers embarking on a forbidden relationship. Nicholas is foppish and speaks in clichéd British-isms and references; Mohammed is intense and brooding. Much of the play is spent with the two men discussing their religious and cultural differences, but little common ground on which to base their relationship. Nicholas intends to return to England and sets out to acquire a visa for Mohammed to join him, a decision that has dire consequences.

Politically, Cry Havoc intrigues. The depiction of modern day Egypt is eye-opening, the sense of danger just outside the apartment walls palpable. El-Sharawy gives a captivating performance as Mohammed, trapped by his own identity, tormented and conflicted. When he speaks of his time in prison, the ordeal is harrowing. When he seeks to solve violence with violence, his radicalised actions are tragically inevitable. By contrast, Antolin’s Nicholas represents the helplessness of the West, his involvement dealing with an immigration officer only makes things worse. The haven of England is written in cliché, a distant dream.

Yet it’s all a little too heavy handed. Love is described in overtly poetic terms by both Nicholas (the character is, of course, a writer) and by Karren Winchester’s immigration officer Ms. Nevers in one particularly on-the-nose scene. That’s starkly contrasted with the reality of their situation, spoken in deadpan sarcasm and deadly truths. These are two men clearly at opposite ends of a spectrum – the short, well-paced scenes consist largely of exchanges of experience without any real conversation or evolving relationship.

Undermining the plot is a lack of chemistry between the actors. Through their exchanges, there’s no commonality between them and, while the actors work incredibly hard individually, together their relationship just doesn’t feel real. As such, Cry Havoc resonates politically more than emotionally, highlighting the frightening dangers of being gay in a violent country.

3/5

Watch: Cry Havoc runs at the Park Theatre until 20th April.

Cry Havoc @ Park Theatre

Cry Havoc @ Park Theatre
Photos: Lidia Crisafulli