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Month: January 2013

XFM hires Fuse FM star

University of Manchester graduate Hattie Pearson has joined alternative national radio station XFM presenting the Weekend Early Breakfast Show.

Following on from her success as winner of Best Female at the Student Radio Awards in November 2012, former Fuse FM star Pearson has been rewarded for all her hard work and announced the good news via Twitter: “Thrilled to say…I’m pregnant. Jokes. Joining XFM to present early weekend breakfast. 2 weeks in Thailand to celebrate will do the job.”

Over the Christmas period, Pearson broadcast through the night over 10 stations on the Bauer Network, including Mancunian local Key 103, and Heat Radio. She has Previously worked for BBC 6 Music as an assistant producer, and has been working with the XFM breakfast show for over 18 months. “It sounds a bit cheesy but I really do have those guys to thank for letting me in the building and being a general pest.”

Asked how she maintains her amazingly cheery disposition, she said, “Coffee and adrenalin! There’s no way you could ever be tired or fall asleep … it’s such a buzz to know that you’re broadcasting to heaps of peeps even if they are drunk or half asleep. It’s pretty weird because I wake up at 1ish and get in for 2am then on air at 3.  So on a Friday and Saturday I’m in bed for 7pm. Pretty hard core, ey?”

Interview: Paul Banks

“This time I’ve decided to take a bigger bite.” Paul Banks is in the early stages of a lengthy European tour to promote his second solo record, Banks. Clinging to a Starbucks, unnecessary Ray Bans clipped to his collar, he spoke to The Mancunion at the Midland Hotel before playing to a sold-out Sound Control later that evening. “I did very few shows for the last record.”

The album he’s referring to is Skyscraper, a low-key debut solo LP released back in 2009 under the pseudonym Julian Plenti. Why, then, has he chosen to bring out Banks under his own name? “I used that name way before Interpol – it was my first musical identity. That was the name I performed under back in college, and making that album was just going back and finishing what I’d started by recording those old songs. I wanted to offload my early work and shed this sort of secret life I had, so that my OCD would let me stop referring to that alter-ego.”

The lukewarm reception that met with the most recent Interpol record back in 2010 led to speculation that Banks represents a new career direction, but he insists that nurturing a burgeoning solo career alongside work with the band was always the intention. “I knew I was going to make this record when I finished up the last album cycle with Interpol,” he says. “Most of these songs are pretty new; I’ve had ‘Summertime Is Coming’ and ‘Lisbon’ a while now, but most of the other stuff came together since the last Interpol record – I did a lot of writing on the road. As long as I’ve got a guitar and my laptop, I’m set.”

Working away from the band allowed Banks to move in a different direction in terms of writing and recording, as he found himself in the position of lone songwriter for the first time; guitarist Daniel Kessler pens almost all Interpol’s material himself. “In the band, I’m used to going in with the other guys and starting with chord progressions of Daniel’s and just trying to flesh them out…on the solo record, I demoed everything myself, right down to the hi-hats and strings, before I went to the studio, so I had a very clear vision. I was really forced to do it that way because studios are so fucking expensive.”

One of the more obvious departures from the Interpol sound on the album is ‘Lisbon’, a piano-driven, string-heavy instrumental that collapses into crashing drums at its midpoint and that, I suggest, sounds like it might’ve been written for a film. “That’s actually something I’ve always wanted to do,” he says. “When it comes to writing my own songs, I’ve always thought of myself as a musician first and a singer second; vocals are just one aspect of music for me. They’re not the end-all be-all. I don’t think there’s nothing weird about me doing an instrumental – I’ve always been as interested in textures and soundscapes as I am in singing.”

That interest in textures and grooves spills over genre boundaries for Banks, who has often spoken of his admiration for hip hop and indeed, just days after our interview took place, released a wonderfully-titled mixtape, Everybody on My Dick Like They Supposed to Be, featuring collaborations with El-P and Talib Kweli, among others. “I like to think hip hop has always influenced my lyrics,” he says, a little incongruously given that Banks hardly comes over as Straight Outta Compton part two. “But I think you can hear the influence a little more widely on this record – the beats, the fact that I’ve used some samples, and so on. The production is fascinating to me, even in commercial hip hop you’ve got people doing interesting things…’Drop It Like It’s Hot’ was a hit song on the radio that pretty much just had some snapping and some bass drums – I’ve always been interested in that exploration into minimalism.”

Interpol’s seminal debut, Turn on the Bright Lights, turned ten years old late last year and was marked with the obligatory reissue, but whilst Banks claims there were never any plans to tour around the milestone – “we might do that when it’s twenty years” – he does say that plans are already afoot for the band’s next release. “Daniel’s been writing a bunch, so there’s stuff waiting for us to go in and finish.” There’s also the question of whether the band will recruit a permanent replacement for bassist Carlos D, who left after the recording for Interpol had finished and was replaced on a temporary basis by Slint’s David Pajo on tour. “I kinda feel like we might have enough creative energy between the three of us to make another record without anyone else involved. There’s no real timeframe for the record yet, so we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Banks was born and spent his early childhood in Essex before moving to New York, and whilst his accent is completely American, the occasional Britishism has remained in his vernacular. When I ask him if he’s been playing any Interpol tracks on this solo jaunt, he replies, “it’d seem so weird, because I always think of them as our songs – they’re not my own to just go out and play without the rest of the guys. I mean, wouldn’t you think I was kind of a wanker if I did that?” he smiles. “I don’t want people thinking I’m a wanker.”

Banks is out now on Matador Records.

What I’m looking forward to this year in Theatre

Getting 2013 off to a serious start is Peter Whelan’s The Accrington Pals at The Royal Exchange, a “powerful and poignant drama” about the smallest battalion sent into WWI and local Lancashire heroes. This play kicks off a fantastic year at The Exchange, with something new and stimulating practically every month. I’m particularly eager to see Max Webster’s adaptation of the ultimate classic To Kill A Mockingbird in March, and Blanche McIntyre’s adaptation of that underrated Pinter classic The Birthday Party.

July also sees Swan Lake, Gisele and Don Quixote grace the Palace Theatre stage.  For me these eclipse both The Lion King and Wicked combined, which will both be running from January and September respectively, but no doubt people will maul each other for tickets anyway. I implore people to remember the ballet.

Running from February right through to early March is Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and her Children, for the more high-brow theatregoer amongst us. It’s supposed to be “one of the most powerful stage creations of the twentieth century” and I certainly don’t intend to miss it.

If you like The IT Crowd and Father Ted and the entire first series of Black Books, then you probably like Graham Linehan who wrote them all. He’s recently revived The Ladykillers and thankfully the West End isn’t getting all the fun because it will be showing at the Lowry in March. Make sure you book early because it’s on for only four days and it’s going to be ridiculously popular.
And finally, my last pick for 2013 is Edward Hall’s adaptation of Twelfth Night, showing at the very well-stocked Lowry Theatre for only five days in April. You know what to do.

Blind Date: Tom and Sarah

Sarah

So how did your date go, Sarah? Oh yeah. Surprisingly well.

What were your first impressions? Good. I liked his shirt.

A sharp dresser? Yeah I asked him about his fashion sense.

What did he say about his fashion? That he didn’t really have a style, he just kind of goes with it!

Would you have looked twice at a date on a night out and why? Possibly. I think so. He would have caught my eye. He’s quite handsome, looks a bit cheeky.

Were there any awkward moments? Not really, I’m an awkward person so I just laughed everything off.

What was the weirdest thing they told you? (Laughing) He told me he was into photography and (laughing again) that he specialised in nudity, which is quite out there.

Was he serious or joking? He seemed to have a passion for it and he did speak about it for a good few minutes. I think it was genuine, I hope so anyway.

Were they better looking than your ex? Yeah deffo.

Best feature? Probably his smile or his humour.

Why do you think he was single? Maybe the photography thing, it could freak a few girls out.

Did you swap numbers? We did!

Snog, marry, avoid? Definite snog.

Were your expectations met? Yes definitely.

If your date was a meal, what would he be and why? He would be a hot dog, because he was quite hot (laughs), and I like hot dogs.

With onions? Yes definitely onions, a bit of ketchup and mustard.

Cheese? Yeah he was a bit cheesy.

What drink would he be and why? A margarita because he’s tasty and has an edge to him.

 Tom

First impressions? Very attractive, short which is good, nice hair, nice tits, quite friendly.  

Would you have looked twice at your date if you saw them on a night out? Yes.

Were there any awkward moments? Not really.

What was the weirdest thing they told you? (After a long pause) She likes plucking her eyebrows.

Is that weird? (Laughs)

What was their best feature? Good sense of humour, good menu choice, good choice of food.

And what did they choose? A tagine, it was like an apricot and squash  tagine. It was well nice.

So if your date was a meal, what would they be and why?  Good question! Probably a McDonald’s double cheese burger because it’s cheap, juicy and meaty

At any point did you understand why they were single? No. 

Shag, marry or kill? I’m going to say marry. I can’t not say marry!

Were your date expectations met? Yeah. Free meal and a free drink!

 Would you have still gone on a date with her if you had to pay for the meal? Yeah.

Thanks to Troff Fallowfield and all the staff, especially that nice man who made me a coffee. If you would like to appear on Blind Date, please email your name, year of study and course details to Oliver Taylor at [email protected]

Post exam escapes

Amsterdam

It’s the classic, must-be-visited student destination. Even better if your reason for being there is to celebrate the end of the longest two weeks of the year – January exams. During the day you can cycle along its city canals, take part in the free Friday Night Skate tour or visit one of the many museums offering an insight into the city’s sexual history.

During the evening, you will find that Amsterdam’s night life does not disappoint. Every type of clubber is catered for. Some personal favourites include Club House, which is decorated like a house and even fitted with a living room and bedroom, and Dansen Bij Jansen which I can’t pronounce, but which I know is full of very attractive students. If the eye candy is attracting you to the latter option, take your student card as it is one of the most popular student clubs in town and you will probably need it to gain entry.

Stay at the Aivengo Youth Hostel for just €18 per night and fly from Manchester for £61 return.

Berlin

Germany’s capital is drenched in history and culture. Berlin offers many activities to pass the day before heading out at night. The Berlin Zoo is the most diverse in the world and the remains of The Berlin Wall let you see a part of the city’s conflict ridden past.

But what is a post exam holiday without some embarrassing drunken stories? Pub crawling is big in this city, with students from all around the world migrating there for the cheap beer. The average drink price in most bars is about €2, so if you don’t want to make too much of a dent in your student loan, then Berlin is definitely the place to go.

Stay at the Amstel Hostel for €10 a night and fly from Manchester for £75 return.

Prague

The Central European capital’s medieval skyline manages to encompass a vibrant and modern city, causing it to attract students from all over the continent. The daytime can be spent admiring the eccentric architecture of the town – notably The Astronomical Clock, which was installed in 1410 and is the oldest of its kind still in working condition. This can be done on a Segway tour if you’re feeling slightly sleep deprived or hungover and don’t fancy walking.

Like the rest of Eastern Europe, bar crawling is again the way to go. The Prague Underground Bar Crawl must be done. Starting with power hour (including unlimited wine, vodka and even beer pong) you are ushered on to Prague’s other bars and clubs with VIP entry and a free t-shirt to remember your weekend by.

The AO Prague Metro Strivkov hostel starts at €8 a night and flights from Manchester are £102 return.

Dublin

If you feel like staying a little closer to home and simply popping over to see our Irish neighbours, then Dublin is the weekend getaway for you. Without wanting to stereotype, it is no secret that the Irish like a drink or two, and that their Guinness is the best you will ever taste. Speaking of which, why not visit the Guinness Storehouse? Student tickets are around €13.00 if you book online, which gives you a 10% discount.

A day of drinking can be justified with the Dublin Literary Bar Crawl. Combining culture with alcohol, surely a student traveller’s dream? With three universities in this city, there is no holding back – Copper Face Jacks club could easily inherit the BOP’s title of the easiest place to pull. Generally speaking, there are an endless supply of dirt cheap clubs not to be missed out on.

The Bunkhouse Hotel costs approx. €22 a night and flights come in at just £39 return.

Will the libraries survive?

I once read about a successful writer who didn’t go to university, but instead went to his local library three days a week and read for a full day, from 9 to 5. He felt that after over a decade of this he had received a pretty full and well-rounded education – broader than any he would have received at university, and it had been free. I chose to pay for my ‘higher’, but less broad, education. And I go to my public library, at home in Cambridge, for the wi-fi. Admittedly their book selection is so bizarrely restricted – books on Mozart’s top hits and ‘70s cookery, but no John Irving – that, in the way of the public library, it could only have occurred through the decade-by-decade scattergun accumulation of books.

It has been more than well reported in the last year that the public library has been marked by the budget cuts. The future of our libraries doesn’t look good. And it’s surely not irrelevant that Manchester University has just built a learning ‘space’ for £24 million (a figure worth repeating: 24 million pounds) that contains no books, and no desks for that matter (24 million and they couldn’t spare 50 quid for a desk?). Regardless of the ongoing issues with the building, 50 years ago no self-respecting university would spend that amount on a bookless building. The point is this: the closure of libraries is not just a financial measure, it is necessarily part of much broader cultural trends and processes – and in that, a vacuum of libraries is both symptom and cause.

So how bad do things look for the library? Research conducted in 2012 by the website Public Libraries News and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy reported that around 200 public libraries closed last year, which accounts for around 5% of the total number of libraries in the country. And the trend will continue to increase in 2013, CIPFA reports. The care of public libraries lies with local councils, which are under pressure to reduce budgets by over a quarter in four years. The Independent also reports that spending on libraries was cut by an average of 7.5% this year. In the local area, five libraries have been shut in Bolton and Public Library News cites one proposal under which just two libraries could be left open in the Greater Manchester borough.

Whilst most would agree (except, it seems, the Government) that retaining a public library service is important – amongst whom are big names such as Billy Elliot playwright Lee Hall and author David Almond who have made impassioned pleas for its survival – there seems to be a dislocation between the measures taken to ensure that libraries still seem ‘relevant’ and therefore worth saving, and the reasons we believe them to be worth saving.

Increasingly extreme measures have been taken up in order to garner the attention and foot-traffic libraries need to stay open. The Guardian reports a library in Dalkeith that is the first to offer a free pole-dancing class, and highspeed wifi is now only the minimum requirement in libraries, with more advanced technologies needed to stay ahead. (In Cambridge’s public library this means a strange BFI digital archive cubicle that I’ve never seen anyone go in or out of.)

However, Matt Haig, in an article for the Booktrust’s blog, seems to get to the crux of just why we need libraries, and it’s not for better bandwith: “I see a library as a place of quiet wonder, in a world designed to frazzle us. For me, a library is a book in building form.” This is what the defenders of the library all seem to be saying, a library is not just a building or even just a “book-lending service”, it is a powerful community symbol and antidote to the world around it. But herein lies the problem, a library is not this if it’s a wi-fi hotspot.

Conversely, John McTernan in The Telegraph highlights the dichotomy. Although he argues that “the liberal whingers are wrong – we should shut our libraries”, he ends up pointing to exactly the need for a separation between the different realms of technology and books, as Matt Haig does. McTernan says that libraries have no place, and no purpose, in our Google and Amazonified-era: “Access to information has been transformed by the internet. Google a subject and you can become ridiculously well-informed ridiculously quickly.” But whilst it’s true that you can access information on anything at any time, how ‘ridiculously’ broad will your knowledge basis be from a ‘ridiculously quick’ Google search? Every Internet page has its own agenda, even Google. Books are not ‘live’ in the same way as an Internet page. Of course, a book is not unbiased, but once printed it doesn’t actively seek your time and attention.

So we have to conclude that the webpage needs the continued existence of the printed form. A book, and in Haig’s terms, therefore a library, can (and to some extent must) act as an antidote to the relentless heat-seeking force of the Internet. But only because it is not that.

So the problem is this: libraries are fighting for survival with anything they can get their hands on, including wi-fi hotspots, online databases, and whatever else (as they must do). But this focus actually turns us away from what it is that is important about the library. It erodes our sense of the library as antidote. And it’s caught in this losing game because the library doesn’t have time to steadily prove its worth; it needs to pole-dance its way back into the budget’s favour.

Although I’d sometimes like to, I can’t remain totally hostile to all the many advantages that technology brings. Digital archives? That’s incredible. Free wi-fi? Thank you. But the thing is, we don’t need to if we recognise and  value the two sides as polarities that balance each other out. Unfortunately, I fear that it’s already too late for the library. And just as a library is a symbol, allowing them all to close down is equally symbolic, in a much larger sense.

Pangaea 2013: costumes

It was that time of year again; exams were done for another few months and there was nothing to do, other than head to Pangaea in the wackiest fancy dress outfit to celebrate (or in my case, drown my sorrows). Either way, the end result would be the same – intoxication.

This year’s Winter Wonderland theme offered a whole spectrum of outfits from the obvious Alice and Mad-Hatter combo to the more thought through golden snitch and My Little Pony unicorns. It also offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the Cheshire Cat to snog a Smurf and it was definitely the only time that we’d see Aslan and the Ice Queen in the same room.

Pangaea does seem to be turning into another excuse for some girls to wear as little as possible. There was a ‘sexy’ Queen of Hearts at every corner and in every line for the loo. I’m sure that the actual Queen of Hearts wore a floor length skirt and had a train the length of the toilet queue – whilst both warmer and grander, I suppose that stockings and bodycon are far more practical for such an event. I mean, who wants to be dragging a heavy dress around with them all night? Incidentally, I also saw far too many Alices that were more suited for a porno rather than the children’s classic.

At the other end of the scale, there were those who put no effort whatsoever into their costumes. Boo, hiss. Though these were few and far between I am pleased to say, it really didn’t suffice – the thing that makes Pangaea so wonderful is that everyone, yes everyone, dresses up and doesn’t take it too seriously. Thus I definitely have a lot more admiration for the ‘sexy’ Queen of Hearts or the triple X Alice than I do for the person who makes no effort at all.

Complaints aside, it has to be said that overall, an excellent effort was made this January – particularly by the boys, whose ideas ranged from painting their whole bodies blue to wrapping some tartan material around themselves. One Braveheart hunk was a particular favourite of mine (call me). Above all, I had the upmost admiration for the guys who managed to squeeze into their girlfriends’ onesies – there were all sorts, from penguins to owls and even a few cows, who must have been absolutely boiling.

All in all, we here at UoM were good sports. There were a lot of great homemade costumes (human playing cards, I’m talking about you) and some equally great shop bought ones, no doubt courtesy of the brilliant Luvyababes.

Until the summer.

From the vault: The Smiths – Meat is Murder (1985)

Morrissey never has been one to avoid controversy. In an industry where our modern icons are plastered over the news whenever they upload an Instagram’d picture to their legions of Twitter followers, it’s somewhat refreshing to have an artist who actually has something to say. Way before his recent outbursts about the tragic Norway massacre, the Argentinians’ right to the Falklands, and his description of the Chinese as a “sub-species” due to their cat and dog trade, we have Meat is Murder.

It’s easy to forget that beneath the album’s political tirade lies the music of a band approaching their lofty peak. Any concern over The Smiths succumbing to the dreaded second album syndrome are shattered as opening track ‘The Headmaster Ritual’ kicks in with what is undoubtedly Marr’s greatest guitar riff of all time. Paired with Morrissey’s lyrics about corporal punishment and returning from school with “bruises bigger than dinner plates”, it sets a great tone for the album.

Topics range from the monarchy in ‘Nowhere Fast’, “I’d like to drop my trousers to the Queen”, and child abuse in ‘Barbarism Begins at Home’, “A crack on the head/Is what you get for not asking”; the latter of which bows out with a funky 3-minute rhythm section jam, thrusting Rourke (bass) and Joyce (drums) to a rare position centre stage.

And then there’s the title track. Now I love a good bacon butty, but even I can’t listen to that song without feeling a tinge of guilt about my carnivorous ways. It’s widely believed the song has turned more people vegetarian than just about any other movement, and upon listening to its eerie melody, you can see why. The band pull no punches; it begins with the haunting sounds of an abattoir and the moos of distressed cows being led to slaughter. It doesn’t get any prettier when Morrissey’s chilling words are thrown into the mix, “It’s not natural, normal or kind/The flesh you so fancifully fry/The meat in your mouth/As you savour the flavour of murder”. Recent live performances of the track by Morrissey as a solo artist have been accompanied by horrific footage of the barbaric treatment of animals in slaughterhouses. It’s nothing if not effective.

Even though I can never enjoy a bacon double cheeseburger the same again, it was worth it, listening to the brilliance that is Meat is Murder.

Shape up for second semester

Exams are finally over and the second semester has begun.  It’s time to wave goodbye to those home-cooked meals and to face another ten weeks of pasta overdose and liver damage (which, let’s face it, we never put a stop to back at home anyway). The one thing which most of us wish that we could actually turn our backs on, however, is that Santa-esque belly which we have somehow managed to acquire. Curse those Yorkshire puddings and numerous nights spent on the sofa in a Quality Street induced coma, not to mention the endless packs of Sainsbury’s cookies which have been consumed while going over our revision notes for the tenth time.

The good news is that you don’t need a gym membership in order to lose that extra weight. There are a whole range of other ways in which we students can shed those post exams pounds, without losing the kind of pounds we would really rather hold onto. It would be a shame to make such a large dent in that lovely January loan, after all. Did you know, for instance, that housekeeping burns a huge amount of calories? According to the British Heart Foundation, a 30 minute blast of your bedroom with the vacuum burns, for the average 18-21 year old, around 106 calories – that’s a whole Kit-Kat, or a packet of Wotsits! Not bad. On top of that, 45 minutes worth of ironing can wipe 104 calories away from your daily intake, not to mention cleaning the floors and other surfaces, which burns a whopping 200 calories an hour. So whack on your iTunes library, change into your scrubs and get cleaning. Plus let’s face it, our student houses could do with a little more tlc.

Fidgeting can burn up to 650 calories a day, so instead of slobbing on the sofa or in bed, wiggle those bums and shake those legs. Experts also recommend sex as a highly effective form of exercise, with 42 half-hour sessions burning 3250 calories. It can also lower your stress levels and boost your immunity to colds or other infections, making it a win-win situation. Another calorie-busting idea which costs nothing is to walk to uni; a slow stroll up Wilmslow Road into Fallowfield could rid you of up to 100 calories. Time to leave those uniriders at home.

So don’t get caught up in the New Year’s Resolution hype and think that an expensive gym membership or a drastic, time-consuming lifestyle change is needed. These simple steps could go a long way. Of course it has to be kept in mind that weight loss is down to 20% exercise, and 80% diet, so swap the aforementioned Sainsbury’s cookies for apples and the post night out McDonalds’ for carrot sticks, and you could get that beach bod you have been lusting after just in time for summer.

5 Songs in the field of: Footballers

Gazza – Geordie Boys
Showcasing Gazza in all his good-time glory, this track is one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard.  With the help of a couple of Geordie cronies, he manages to present Tyneside pride through what is less of a music video and more of a gay chatline advert.  Haway the lads!

New Order feat. John Barnes – World In Motion
Unfortunately for John Barnes, he’ll be remembered more for a 20 second cameo than a 20 year career.  However, his ability to ‘spray bar’ did seem help England to reach the semis at Italia ’90.  If you are left wanting more then check out the ‘Subbuteo Mix’ by Park and Pickering.

Kevin Keegan – Head Over Heels In Love
One of the more daring ventures on this list, Keegan’s individual crooning style was certainly a big hit with the ladies.  It peaked at number 31 in the charts but to be fair to the guy, he’s just as good at singing as he is at managing a national football team.

Boli & Waddle – We’ve Got a Feeling
The only thing worse than this song is the video – a horrific 80s hash of various bits of clip art, including lips, zebras, umbrellas and the Houses of Parliament.  Waddle’s attempt at a French accent makes Joey Barton sound like Marie Antoinette.  Four minutes of your life that you’ll never get back.

Alan & Denise – Rummenigge
My personal favourite on the list is this tribute to West Germany’s Karl Heinz Rummenigge and his “sexy knees”.   The dynamic duo of Alan & Denise manage, somehow, to produce a sound that sits somewhere between T-Rex and The Wurzels.   You’ll be chanting “Rummenigge” all night long.

New Year, New You?

1)   Get more sleep.

This should be so easy to do…so why don’t we do it? Schedule in sleep the way you would schedule in a meal – it is as essential to your wellbeing as food is.

2)    Clean your make-up bag and equipment.

There’s no point trying to cover up your flaws with brushes so dirty they’ll give you spots, mascara so old you’ll end up with an eye infection, and all from a make-up bag which is, quite frankly, mouldy. Sort it out: throw it out.

3)    Get flossing.

Flossing your teeth is actually more important than brushing. It gets out all the nasty stuff which your toothbrush will never be able to, and which can otherwise linger for months, putting you at risk of cavities, gum disease and – worst of all – bad breath.

4)    Beware of your pillow and phone.

Yep, that’s right. Your pillow and mobile phone could be contributing to your skin woes. By cleaning your phone you remove the dirt, sweat and other crusty stuff which gathers from your face, pocket, bag, the bus…you get the picture. Also, by flipping your pillow (and, of course, remembering to change your bed sheets at least every fortnight) you avoid the risk of transferring the muck which you shed in slumber back onto your face.

5)    Leave your hair(s) alone.

Don’t worry, I’m not about to lecture you on the merits of going back to the 70s and letting it all hang out (although serious respect if you do this), but in reference to your eyebrows and hair: STOP plucking to within an inch of your poor brows’ life, and STOP splitting your split ends. That is an order.

6)    Eat right, drink right.

As the adage goes, if you put crap in, you’re gonna get crap out. Eating foods such as salmon and almonds that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids is great for your insides and your outsides. And do I need to tell you about water? Drink it. Lots of it.

7)    Breathe fast, breathe slow.

Exercise is still the most important thing you need to take up this year. But don’t just focus on the fast-paced aerobic side – although this is obviously essential if you want to change the way you look and feel – but try to incorporate some more relaxed exercises into your routine as well. Yoga, Pilates and Tai-chi are perfect for calming and re-centring after a long and stressful day, in addition to being great for toning. 

8)    Practise Safe Sun.

Step away from the sun beds. Get to grips with good self tanning (especially those gradual tan moisturisers) and rid yourself of the risk of premature wrinkles and, most importantly, cancer.

9)    Scrub and soothe.

Exfoliate your woes away! Having a really thorough scrub in the shower is not only good for smoothing your skin, but for boosting your circulation and re-energising your body as a whole. Don’t forget to lather on some replenishing body cream after – you will be so goddamn smooth you won’t know what to do with yourself.

10) Don’t give up, take up.

Taking something up (be it something as simple as walking to uni or a big change like becoming a volunteer) is a positive change to make to your life this year. Just don’t take up smoking or something. That is not the idea.

Review: ‘Django Unchained’

Sat in the cinema waiting for the much-hyped Django Unchained to hit the big screen, I did not know what to expect. This was not just because Django is the first western to engage with the brutal history of the slave trade – although that was a cause for some intrigue. I’m ashamed to admit that the reason for such anticipation, on my part, was the fact that until a week ago I was a Tarantino virgin, untainted by the violence and weirdness that I knew to characterize so many of his films. But as the stunning Texan landscape rolled into view accompanied by the glorious cry of “DJANGOOOOOOO!” I was instantly hooked – swept away by the landscape, the story and the hero himself.

This was not your classic western. Grabbling with a subject as appalling and delicate as the slave trade is a pretty mountainous task for any film. But to tackle it amidst the slap-stick atmosphere of the spaghetti western? Tarantino could have been bordering on very dangerous territory.

What can I say? I’ve been wrong before! Tarantino totally made it work, peppering his otherwise comic, clever and colourful screenplay with scenes that truly brought to the fore the horrific treatment of slaves at that time. Bloody shoot-outs, over-the-top villains, unexpected cameos and the epitome of cool that was Django himself – this film seamlessly covered multiple genres, from western to love story, historical and political commentary to comedy. We eagerly followed Django and Dr. Schultz on their journeys as bounty hunters across the Wild West and we never knew which way the plot would lead. With twists and turns catapulting us at a break-neck speed, as fast as Django on his trusty steed “Tony”, towards an explosive conclusion, there was no knowing whether our hero would emerge triumphant.

With so many genres and characters to cover, how did Tarantino hold it all together? For me, this was down to the magnetic brilliance of Christoph Waltz. Sinister yet funny, unpredictable yet totally reliable, Dr. Schultz was the true spectacle of the story. Although presenting an unlikely a hero as a dentist turned bounty hunter – two professions that no doubt leave all of us feeling very suspicious and slightly nauseous – in Dr. Schultz, Tarantino and Waltz have crafted a character that the audience will identify with. Silently, subtlety and in his own unique way, Dr. Schultz was fighting for the freedom of slaves, with Waltz producing highly emotive performances displaying Dr. Schultz’s horror and repulsion at scenes of slave cruelty that even Django at times was surprisingly nonchalant about. With his dry sense of humour and caring camaraderie with Django, it was the relationship between the two bounty hunters, rather than that between Django and his long lost love Broomhilda, that nearly had me in tears.

Whilst the show was stolen by Waltz, Jamie Foxx definitely put in a performance that should have deemed him eligible for some BAFTA and Academy nods. Giving John Wayne a run for his money, Foxx created the coolest cowboy the Wild West has ever seen. Another shock factor was Leonardo DiCaprio, who played a villain so sinister that we soon forgot his usual heart-throb persona, his lover-boy looks shattered by a terrifying portrayal of Monsieur Candie, owner of the Candie Plantation. Apparently his performance even terrified his fellow cast members during filming – so you can only imagine how many times I was jumping out of my seat!

With appalling brilliance Django Unchained juxtaposed tough scenes brutal enough to make you squirm with episodes of stunning acting, hilarious dialogue and touching camaraderie. Leaving the cinema, there were only two questions in my mind: why isn’t Christoph Waltz up for Best Actor? And, will the other Tarantino movies that I am rapidly endeavoring to watch live up to this phenomenal piece of cinema?

It’s interesting that two of the highest-nominated films of this year’s Awards Season showdown tackle the subject of slavery. If I had to pick between Lincoln and Django, it would be Django all the way!

TIE-D.I.Y

Always a festival favourite, the art of tie-dying has made its way into high street fashion as of late. What many don’t realise is how cheap and easy it is to tie-dye in the comfort of your own home.  Here is my dummy’s guide (from the ultimate tie-dye dummy) to hitting this trend with minimum expenditure and effort. You’ll need the following: dyes of your choice; elastic bands; rubber gloves; basins for the dye and of course, the clothes you want to jazz up.

Grainne Morrison

Step 1: Prepare Your Dye

This varies depending on the brand you buy but is generally as complex as adding water. I bought my dyes from Wilkinson for about £3 each, in yellow, green and red as you can make so many colours by mixing i.e. if you want purple and blue, mix the green and yellow for the blue – then add red to that mixture to make a purple.

Grainne Morrison

Step 2: Tie your Clothes

It really is as simple as tying your elastic bands around your clothing in whatever pattern you want the dye to develop. As you can see we didn’t use any sort of intricate technique for our items, we just went crazy with the bands. That’s the beauty of tie-dye, the messier the better.

Grainne Morrison

Step 3: Go Crazy

Once again this may vary with the dye you use, so read the instructions. It’s more or less doing whatever you want with your chosen colours, the desired patterns often don’t call for much care to detail so there are really no mistakes in this process.  You may have to rinse the clothing after applying the dye or else leave them for 24 hours.

Grainne Morrison

Step 4: Patience is a virtue

This is the trickiest part – as you may have noticed, if it isn’t raining…you’re not in Manchester. We were fortunate on our day of tie dying and were able to dry our garments outside but you may have to allow for them to dry inside your (probably damp) house.  Remember to take care when washing them for the first few times, as the colours may bleed.

There you have it, cheap and cheerful clothes that are absolutely tie dye for. Yes, I did just go there.

BAFTA 2013: Top 5 BAFTA Snubs

5. Pirates! for Best Animation

There are few things more quintessentially British then Aardman Animations, which made Pirates! shut out at the British film awards a bit of a surprise. Their latest work may not reach Wallace and Gromit heights but is a worthy release from the beloved Bristol studio.

 

4. Django Unchained Best Supporting Actor

Samuel L. Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio are spellbindingly against type in their turns as slave and slave owner in Django Unchained. In a film of typically great ‘Tarantino’ performances (aside from the man himself) these two stand out as the despicable antagonists to lead Jamie Foxx.

 

3. Steven Spielberg for Best Director

Spielberg is not shy of awards, plaudits, money… well anything really. But with his biopic Lincoln garnering 10 other nominations, surely the man (literally) calling all the shots deserved some recognition?

 

2. Moonrise Kingdom for Best Picture

Wes Anderson’s latest quirkfest Moonrise Kingdom was a big indie hit last summer, and won The Mancunion’s coveted film of the year award.  A solitary screenplay nomination is a slight consolation, but you can’t help but think this tale of young love deserved more.

 

1. Skyfall for Best Picture

Skyfall was released in November and has gone on to be the most successful film ever in the UK with over £100 million.  Critics loved it too, many dubbing it ‘the best bond ever’. So it seemed Skyfall would finally break 007s duck and get some real awards love. 8 nods is undoubtedly a good haul, but it missed out on most of the major categories.

Review: ‘Lincoln’

Any Steven Spielberg movie release creates a certain level of expectation, but for this particular account of a period in American History which saw a nation change forever, it’s sky-high.  Bringing together one of the greatest Hollywood directors of his generation, the talent of Daniel Day-Lewis and the personality cult of Abraham Lincoln, the pressure to succeed could not have been greater. Happily, with twelve Oscar and ten BAFTA nominations to its name, Lincoln can safely say it did America proud.

The greatest success of this film can be identified by its refusal to shy away from exposing the moments of vulnerability Abraham Lincoln suffered during his fight to sign the 13th Amendment and abolish slavery whilst simultaneously coordinating the defeat of the Confederacy in the closing stages of the American Civil War. By focussing on the paradoxes of the man that was Lincoln, Spielberg manages to turn an American legend into something we can all appreciate the greatness of.

The weight of History was undoubtedly a burden on Lincoln and Day-Lewis captures this perfectly with finely tuned moments of poised vulnerability that draw attention to the isolation and loneliness of his fight. At one stage Lincoln lashes out at his son Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and slaps him around the face as he insists he wants to join the army. As his son leaves him standing alone Lincoln shuffles his hands awkwardly and stands slightly hunched. For such visceral moments he is reduced to a powerless and vulnerable old man scared of losing his son. The narrative of the film could have easily focussed on myth of Lincoln – achieving political greatness with a god-given ease, but Spielberg resiliently poses questions through these moments of personal tragedy that humanise his legend. The real victory for Spielberg though is how these moments cause the audience to question whether Lincoln can achieve his political aims through this personal tragedy, and despite knowing the outcome you find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat praying Lincoln pulls through.

Throughout the film the main focus remains on the political and social dynamics of the proposed constitutional amendment. Thaddeus Stevens (Tommy Lee Jones) takes part in some of the most boisterous scenes in the movie as the U.S House Of Representatives takes on a more British House of Commons feel (as it once had) with pro and anti slavery representatives screaming and shouting at each other. These scenes may disappoint political junkies as the narrative is slightly simplistic and perpetuates an overly obvious good guy/ bad guy power struggle. But these simplified political battles are nicely tempered by the more personal scenes associated with a Spielberg epic. Such as, on the morning of the vote when groups of Black Americans fill the spectator seats in the House to the disgust of the pro slave Democrats and the tension Spielberg provokes as each member is asked how he will vote. The realisation that Lincoln’s personal perseverance has worked and the extra votes needed fall into place frames the occasion well and the jubilation of an expectant nation shows this movie is not just about an ideologically broken America.

The film allows the celebration of the victory both politically and militarily to sink in. Lincoln restores the Union, frees the slaves and a legend is born, but the personal anguish of Abraham Lincoln is brought to a bitter end as news of his assassination is announced at a theatre with his youngest son in attendance. The film balances reputation and reality without blindly idolising Lincoln but also without damaging his greatness.

BAFTA 2013: Cornerhouse BAFTA Pick

The effort of having to actually read subtitles the whole way through a foreign film makes it all a bit of an ordeal but this year’s selection has really been worth taking the risk. Austrian film maker Michael Haneke’s Amour has been nominated for Best Director, Best Actress for Emmanuelle Riva, as well as best screenplay. On paper, the plot’s not riveting.  It’s the story of a couple in their eighties, one of whom suffers a stroke which paralyses her on one side of her body. But it’s a beautifully stark look at love and mortality, dealing with the frail reality of life unflinchingly. It’s been hailed by many as a masterpiece and a work of art.

Another French offering is Rust and Bone, which features Inception and Dark Knight Rises star Marion Cotillard. She plays a killer whale trainer who loses her legs in a killer whale related accident, and has also got her a Best Actress nomination. It’s a great opportunity to realise how good she really is. Typical Hollywood love interest she is not.

My favourite film though has to be Untouchable but it’s been annoyingly under-nominated. Strangely it’s another French film with a paraplegic protagonist. This time we watch the relationship unfold of an aristocrat and his carer, an unlikely mec from the downtrodden suburbs of Paris. It’s absolutely hilarious and is a light-hearted but acutely relevant look at the divisions in French society. Do try out one of the foreign language films if you don’t normally watch them, you might be surprised. And no, Les Miserables doesn’t count.

BAFTA 2013: Best Film

Winning any BAFTA award is impressive, but there can be no doubt that the particular award that everyone will be coveting is the one for Best Film. The biggest and final award of the night, the film to win “Best Film” is often seen as the real champion of the ceremony, despite the number of other awards it wins. This year the British Academy has nominated five movies: Argo, Les Misérables, Lincoln, Life of Pi and Zero Dark Thirty.

Argo, Ben Affleck’s third directional outing, has received acclaim by the bucket-load. Critics have praised Affleck’s talent for building up the tension, as well as the fine performances from an accomplished supporting cast. Many thought Argo only had an outside chance at the award due to the epic might of some its rivals. However, after its surprise (but not undeserved) Best Drama Picture win at the Golden Globes, don’t be shocked to see it take the glory at the BAFTAs too.

Another serious contender this year is the musical behemoth Les Misérables, directed by Tom Hooper. The film has garnered huge praise for its epic scale and knock out performances from the likes of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway. Effectively adapted from one of the biggest musicals on the planet, Les Misérables has to be considered an award favourite.

In a category as tight as this one, any film could take home the accolade of Best Film. Despite this, a lot of film critics and experts are claiming the smart money is on Lincoln winning the prize. The film appears to have been specifically engineered to become an award-magnet, with one of the world’s best-loved directors (Spielberg), guiding the world’s finest actor (Day-Lewis), in a biopic of the 16th American President. Lincoln will take some beating.

Ang Lee’s Life of Pi is being hailed as ‘revolutionary’ film making, and will no-doubt be Lincoln’s biggest rival come the awards ceremony.  Based on a novel that had previously been called ‘un-filmable’, the film follows the story of a young man lost at sea with a Bengal Tiger. With some phenomenal CGI effects, Life of Pi is exactly the sort of unique picture that is likely to be rewarded with award statues.

Finally, the last nomination is Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Bigelow’s last directional outing, The Hurt Locker, won the BAFTA award for Best Film back in 2010, so she’s no stranger to award-night glory. This time around she’s hoping to repeat that success with the tense military-drama based on the capture of Osama Bin Laden.

Despite being a category filled with strong contenders, much discussion has been raised at the notable absences to this year’s nominations. For example, being that the selections are made and awarded by the British Academy, Les Misérables is the only British film on the list. Maybe that reflects a poor year in British cinema, but one British film many expected to get picked was Skyfall. James Bond’s latest adventure received much more critical acclaim than his previous outings, but after being neglected by both the Golden Globes and Oscars, the general consensus was that the British awards might show some sympathy to their own countrymen.

Nonetheless the films that have been selected all stand a decent chance of winning the coveted Best Film BAFTA. Lincoln has to be favourite, but this is certainly no one-horse race, with the other challengers nipping at the president’s heels.

Burger cakes

Manchester’s still riding out the burger wave at the moment, but if you’re looking to munch on something even sweeter than a Triple Nom from Almost Famous then these mini burger cakes are worth a try.

Makes 4

100g caster sugar
100g unsalted butter
2 eggs
100g self-raising flour
1tsp vanilla extract
1tsp yellow food colouring
1tbsp cocoa powder
1 pack ready to roll icing
1tsp green food colouring
4tsp raspberry jam
A handful of chocolate sprinkles or sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 180° and grease a standard 12 hole cupcake tin.

Cream together the sugar and butter before stirring in the eggs and flour. Separate one third of the mixture into another bowl.

Add vanilla extract and yellow food colouring to the larger mixture and spoon into eight greased holes in a cupcake tin. Add the cocoa powder to the remaining mixture and distribute into the four remaining holes.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cakes spring back when you gently push your finger down on top of them.

Whilst the cakes are cooling, divide the icing so you have two lumps of approximately 50g. Mix yellow and green food colouring into each lump respectively. Crease the green icing into four lettuce shaped pieces and roll the yellow icing out before cutting into thin squares.

To present your mini burger cakes place the lettuce on top of one vanilla cake, spread a tsp of raspberry jam on top, then add the chocolate sponge. Next place a square of the yellow icing and then the top ‘bun’ in the form of another vanilla sponge. Top with chocolate sprinkles to complete the burger bun look.

Of course, you can layer up the burger as you wish – barbecue sauce can be added in the form of icing sugar, water and cocoa powder or you can get creative with rashers of fondant icing bacon.

 

An International Eyeful

Three Stars out of Five Stars

The Best of BE Festival is perfect for anyone who wants an unconventional, yet thought-provoking theatre experience. We watched the three winning pieces from the festival, which was based on the idea of transcending communication barriers. The “best physicality” piece, from Brussel’s Compagnie du Geste qui Suave, opened with a woman going through a typical daily routine, with each object created by the body of a man. As he morphed from her toaster to her favourite armchair, the physical intimacy of their two bodies soon made clear that he was in fact the memory of her dead husband.  With a blank stage space and no dialogue, the story and setting of the piece was heavily reliant on the audience’s imagination. This was aided by the innovative choreography and successful execution of the actor’s shapes, which flowed with an ease that suggested numerous rehearsal hours. However I think the piece lacked energy, possibly to little change in mood or tempo, as many of the actions were repeated many times. Thus although the actors performed beautifully, I felt the piece would have made a greater impact if it was condensed into ten, rather than forty minutes.

The ‘Vladimir Tzekov’ Company’s Symphony No.10 from Grenada personified all my preconceptions of what an international theatre festival would contain; sex, nudity and a confusing plot. To summarise the overall effect of the piece I will describe the first scene. The audience wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry when the lights went up to reveal a man being repeatedly pushed off his wheelchair, accompanied by another man in just a tutu and another in solely a leather jacket and a nude thong. This was practically PG in comparison to their later scenes, which had some audience members leaving due to a graphic portrayal of homosexual sex, and revealed more parts of the male anatomy than I knew existed. My initial reaction was to laugh, though I was not sure I was supposed to, I’m not even sure if the actor’s knew. Then, between suppression of giggles I spent the next forty minutes trying to work out what was going on. I still couldn’t tell you. However I was reassured from overhearing discussions of other audience members that nobody had come up with a clear answer. I think this was the point. The name Symphony No.10 suggests the company had seen themselves as composers creating a new piece of music. The structure certainly reflected musical structure, as a distinct pattern was created through repeated scenes and rhythms. Additionally, like music, the director presented us with images and emotions, rather than necessarily a story to follow. In the same way that I’d rather listen to some Mozart than John Cage’s 4’33 I probably would not choose to watch the piece again. However ‘the company’ were highly successful in giving the audience a similar experience to listening to a new piece of music; provoking thought, and emotion, but not necessarily understanding.

The final performance had won the “audience favourite”, and with all the vibrancy of the Spanish language being matched by the energy of the actors, I had to agree. The language difference of Barcelona’s ‘A Tres Bandes’ in no way hindered the performance, with the subtitles actually providing extra humour; for example by summarising long pieces of dialogue with the words ‘BORING’. It aimed to portray the extent to which fear controls the lives of a young, poor couple by personifying it as a masked man. The fear not only represented the feelings of the couple but took on his own character, for example in hitting on the woman. The real success of this piece, when compared to the previous two, lay in the fact that the concept of fear personified was simple, however remained thought-provoking as it could easily relatable to the audience. I think this concept, and the humour which transcended language barriers, summed up exactly the point of the festival which aimed to create pieces so powerful that cultural differences were ignored. Therefore I would definitely recommend going to other festivals like this, or even entering your own piece, as although quirky, creativity is guaranteed.

Winter Wonderland Pangaea 2013

The Mancunion were out in force at Pangaea last week. Here some of the shots our photographer Julian Wakefield took at the event. Can you spot any of your mates?