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Month: October 2013

Pokémon X/Y

Written by Alasdair Preston on . Posted in Games.

By now, everyone and their mums already knows how Pokémon works. You take the role of a child irresponsibly thrust out into the big wide world on a quest to become the very best trainer in the land. On the way, you’ll encounter many, many wild and wonderful creatures that can be caught and used to battle, as well as the obligatory team of evil-doers hell-bent on ruining what seems to be a pretty sweet deal. It takes a special kind of nasty to live in a place where almost nobody has a job, kids can bunk off school to gallivant around the region and adorable yellow mice run around saying their own names and think “this isn’t good enough, I need to ruin it!”. Nobody likes that guy.

 

Many of our generation grew up with the first couple of games in the series, and will swear up and down that it peaked on the Gameboy Colour and 151 Pokémon are “more than enough”. These people have subsequently missed out on some of the very best games in the past decade. While it’s true that not all of the over 700 beasties are winners, there is so much diversity that no two teams are ever alike, and the strategy becomes way more in-depth. The latest incarnations of the series, X and Y, debuted on 3DS this month to overwhelmingly positive response. Indeed, the sixth generation of ‘mon has truly made huge progress.

 

Gone are the static battle animations and sprites of the past, replaced by glorious 3D models and more dynamic scenes. The overworld is clearer and more beautiful than ever before, and the new region of Kalos really comes alive on the 3DS screen. Many of the things that may have annoyed players in the past, such as repetitive cave sections and minor menu gripes, have been tweaked and revamped to not slow down the pace. The array of new Pokémon is smaller this time than in any previous generation, however it also brings in an entirely new feature: mega evolution. Monsters old and new now have a higher level of attainable transformation, giving a new lease of life to some and bringing others onto a whole new tier of awesome such as Mega Charizard X, finally a dragon type.

 

New ways of interacting with your partners add to the personal feel of the game. Novel training techniques and mini-games allow you to form more of a bond. That little bit of you that died every time your favourite Pokémon fainted in battle gets even more upset now than ever before. As ever, just beating the game takes many hours, and doing all the post-game extras many more. “Catching them all” could take years. Pokémon X and Y truly feel like a next generation upgrade to the famous franchise and, almost impossibly, outshine every other iteration of the games. Yes, even Red and Blue.

Battlefield 4 Preview

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Games.

The Battlefield 4 beta is finally available now to download on PC, Play Station 3 and Xbox 360. With the new Frostbite 3 engine, “Levolution” and a brand new map, guns and vehicles, you can now try out the newest take on the Battlefield franchise. Let me give you the run down first. In the beta you gain access to the well-publicised map: Siege of Shanghai where the Americans battle the Chinese to take the famous city. The same arsenal is available to both sides ranging from pistols to anti vehicle weapons, from boats to helicopters.

The new Levolution introduces interactivity to your environment, from raising bollards under tanks, to taking down the central building completely. This mechanic allows for more flexibility in restricting movements and creating new routes to your tactical or aesthetic needs. Now for the bad news. The level isn’t so much destructible as it is merely more interactive, with exception given to toppling a skyscraper. Battlefield 3 gave you the option to blow up a wall and assault through an unexpected route, but in this beta, the building walls and route-determining objects are indestructible, turning what was the feature in Battlefield 3 to a gimmick in the beta. Having said that, I suspect this to be different in a more open map when the full game is released on the 29th October.

The gun play feels odd. The pacing doesn’t match between the handling of the gun and the pace of the fights. Your character’s speed encourages you to run around and assault, but you are also encouraged to stop and engage at longer ranges by the gun. In the Battlefield 3 all guns had a large enough overlapping effective range so that you are encouraged to stick together as different classes, a feature greatly emphasised by DICE. Battlefield 4 thins out the overlap and gives more extreme distinctiveness to each class of gun, hence splitting the classes apart. Their new take on vehicles on the other hand decreases the distinctiveness between different war machines making vehicle combat a messy affair. Sadly, but most importantly, the beta has its bug issues. A couple I’ve experienced ranged from irritating to game breaking. For example: draw distance of people and objects differ and so you can see the enemy before you can see the cover in front of him, leading you to shoot at his cover, exposing yourself. Others include: not being able to spawn, revives crashing the game, to random crashes due to punk buster.

All in all, this Battlefield 4 beta tells me that this isn’t so much the revolution of the series like BF3 was to 2 was to 1942, but is more of a speedy renewal. I personally find Battlefield 3 more fun, but that inertia might pass.

I am, I am, I am: Reflections on Sylvia Plath

Written by Olivia Stevens on . Posted in Books.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Bell Jar, the Manchester Literature Festival turned its attention to the work of Sylvia Plath for an evening. The event was led by multi-award winning author Ali Smith and Manchester-based poet Jackie Kay.

Smith and Kay read poems spanning Plath’s career, starting with “The Disquieting Muses” and ending with “Edge”, the last poem she wrote before her death. They then read extracts from The Bell Jar, before taking questions from the audience.

The poems selected showcased Plath’s skills as a writer, and The Bell Jar extracts emphasized the black humour present in Plath’s work, which is not always recognised.

One of the most interesting parts of the event was to hear the impact that Plath had had on the two writers. Both talked of how Plath’s work had taught them that women could have a place in poetry. They spoke with huge adoration for Plath, with Kay mentioning her poem “Baby Lazarus”, an obvious homage to one of Plath’s most famous texts.

Equally interesting was Smith and Kay’s exploration of the mythology of Plath and the tendency to overemphasise the relation that her work has to her life. Both writers highlighted the tight structure and controlled forms of most of her poems to show that they were not simply a frenzied cry for help but beautiful artworks in their own right.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the event, I would have preferred to hear more from Smith and Kay about the effect Plath’s work had had, not only on their careers, but on them. It may have also been interesting to reflect on Plath’s legacy outside the literary world. However, the event was still a fascinating insight into the two writers as well as a wonderful chance to reflect on the brilliance of Plath’s work.

 

Top 5: Actors You Wish Were Your Dad

Written by Francesca Tyler on . Posted in Film.

Not everyone’s Dads are as great as these guys, so if you’re not a fan of yours, one of these may be more suitable.

5. Adam Sandler

This guy won’t normally come top of any lists but Big Daddy creates an exception that is a fatherly favourite. His parenting skills are questionable but who wouldn’t love poker games, swearing, and peeing on the street at 5 years old?

4. Hugh Laurie

It is normal to sound like your parents, so a lot of time should be spent with this Dad and his beautiful accent.

3. Morgan Freeman

This soothing voice of reason can look after you from the heavens or protect you in the old west. You can also be proud that he helped create racial harmony.  He is perfection.

2. Eugene Levy

Despite his obvious flaws, no one can help but love ‘Jim’s Dad.’ His innocence, his wisdom, and his beautiful eyebrows are all things to admire. It may take a few bonding sessions but you will grow to love him unlike the stern Jimmy Murtaugh. Might even bagsie a hot stepmum like Carmen Electra or Stiffler’s mom.

1. Liam Neeson

Many things are important in fatherhood but protection comes high up on the list. The smooth-talking Neeson can protect you from any harm with his skills and intelligence. When this isn’t necessary he can help your 12-year-old self to score your first girlfriend. Hero.

Preview: Kill Your Darlings

Written by Sarah Murray on . Posted in Film.

Kill Your Darlings, set to arrive in UK theatres in early December, comes riding on a wave of buzz that has been generated around the film since its premiere at Sundance last January. Critics are calling the movie ‘expressive, jazzy and ambitious,’ to which the taste of the film that we are given in the trailer is testament. Those of you who are already great fans of the Beat Generation, and the explosive literature they produced, may anticipate the release of the film more eagerly. However, anyone who is interested in stories that touch upon themes of sexual obsession, counterculture and death should be equally frantic for the film’s UK release.

Kill Your Darlings tells the story of the origins of the Beat Generation, an American literary movement that rose to prominence in the 1950’s. The Beats sought to challenge the rigid moral framework of America at that time, gripped in an ideological war against homosexuality and other ‘social vices,’ and subject to the witch hunt of perceived ‘dissidents’ by McCarthyism, whose primary target was artists like the Beats. As a certain infamous/comical poster from the period states: ‘Beware of artists: they mix with all classes of society and are therefore the most dangerous.’

The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as poet Allen Ginsberg in this biopic set on the Columbia Campus in the early 1940’s. In the film, Ginsberg falls hopelessly under the spell of his handsome and charismatic classmate Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan, The Place beyond the Pines), who introduces him to fellow aspiring writers William Burroughs and Jack Kerouac. This is the genesis of the literary group that has come to be known as the Beat Generation, and the film documents Ginsberg’s creative and sexual awakening. However, David Kammerer’s (Michael C. Hall, Dexter) complete infatuation with Carr leads to his murder at the hands of his beloved, an act hinted at in the title of the film. Let’s hope the film does this remarkable true story the justice that recent cinematic renderings of the group, such as On the Road, did not.

Release Date: 6th December 

Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Arts.

Something that seems totally relevant in today’s culture is the impact of the media on our own perception of war. It’s graphic and invasive; on our TVs, computers, phones. Images of war are unfortunately commonplace and although they never lose significance, they become impersonal.

The exhibition ‘Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War’ held at the Imperial War Museum North runs from 12th October 2013 to 23rd February 2014. On display are 70 works of art from the IWM collection by 40 artists of various artistic mediums ranging from painting to installation to film. This is the second largest collection of modern British art, but ‘Catalyst’ is the first major exhibition of its kind as all the work has been produced since the First Gulf War.

The most interesting impression of the exhibition is the angle the curators have taken. The art is used to explain that it can fill in the gaps created by war journalism, which are surprisingly huge. It seems obvious but this exhibition couldn’t have been held in a more appropriate building. Designed by Daniel Libeskind and if you’ve seen it on the way to the Trafford Centre, it’s pretty hard to miss. Suitably dramatic and striking before you even reach the artwork, you get the sense of something profound and moving and according to the people at IWMN its striking three ‘shards’ ‘represent conflict on land, in water and in the air’.

The artistic response to conflict in the media age is critical in reminding us that the media is a big influence on our perception of conflict. Afterall, it’s the only way we know what’s happening without being caught in the fray. But we’re removed from personal experience, the people involved have their own account that needs to be shared and is there a greater way than, for instance, making a page of stamps for the individual British servicemen killed in the Iraq War? (Steve McQueen, ‘Queen and Country’,from 2007)? Or presenting a real estate agents’ window of houses destroyed in Gaza in an Israeli attack? (Taysir Batniji, ‘GH0809’, from 2009)?

One notably impressive work is not in fact influenced by contemporary warfare, but is instead an up-to-date reminder of the horror of WWII. This particular piece, ‘Border’ by Darren Almond (1999), is an interactive work made up of two road signs: an entrance sign in front of an exit sign representing ‘Oswiecim’ (Auschwitz). The small space between represents the site of some of the most horrific acts of World War Two. It may be representational but the effect of stepping between the signs truly is spine-chilling. And now the pitch to get you to go: it sounds like a trek, but it’s not, hop on the X50 and you’ll be there in a tick! It’s an adventure getting out of the Oxford Road/Piccadilly routes that we travel every day.

Catalyst is perhaps the most poignant exhibition you will see this year. No conceptual craziness or unmade beds here: what you see is what you get, and what you get is something moving, thought provoking g and entirely unique.

Islington Mill

Written by Jasper Llewellyn on . Posted in Arts.

Located a mere 5 minute walk from Salford city centre, Islington Mill nurtures some of Manchester’s most exciting new artistic and musical talent. Imagine an 8000 foot warehouse floor covered corner to corner with huge CMYK screen prints by artist Maurice Carlin (the Mill’s artistic director) who’s working on these prints live in the space with two webcams filming the entire process live, 24/7 for 3 whole months – pretty crazy! But from Islington Mill, you can’t really expect anything else.

 

The self-funded mill houses resident artists from all over of the globe, runs an academy for young artists alongside hosting some of the most talked about electronic music nights in Manchester- all in a giant ex-cotton spinning mill built in 1823! Guests have included Andy Stott, Baths and Traxx. Last year’s programme of arts events at the Mill was pretty eclectic with a combination of visual arts, music and performance. And this year’s no different! The Mill is currently housing a new piece from Bristol collective ‘WORKS|PROJECTS’ names ‘Plan For a Ruin’, a series of video, installation and mixed media works from various members of the collective, partially inspired by the Mill’s fifth attic floor. ‘Plan For a Ruin’ includes a video piece by David Wojtowycz, ‘The Lake’, which is a looped digital projection of a lighthouse. Although the camera is stationary in the projection, the subtle movements of the water on either side of the lighthouse and the slightly blurred image quality and dark edges of the shot create a strangely eerie piece. However, it is the electronically manipulated whistling that accompanies the video that truly completes this haunting piece, making the whole product an apt accompaniment to the Mill’s dingy fifth floor attic space.

 

Another one to look out for is Jen Wu’s ‘The Wall’ which is a piece of interactive visual art involving moving an eight metre brick wall with the help of the audience. Looking at Manchester’s rave and club scene and in particular the demolition of certain clubs, ‘The Wall’ asks us how to approach destruction and regeneration and what we can take from it – which might mean some free raves! So keep your eyes on this one.

In regards to music, the programme seems to be full of a complete mix of instruments, styles and performers. I am personally excited for the run of three gigs in mid-November starting with ‘Pharmakon’ (one to watch if you’re into sound design and machine noise), which takes place on November 19th followed by German ambient Jazz band ‘Bohren & der Club der Gore’ and, electronic artist ‘Baths’.

Contrary Corner: Why I’m not an “Iron Fan”

Written by Jackson Ball on . Posted in Film.

Within the superhero genre there is a shameless pretender; a sub-standard aspirant, posing as a much better product, and inexplicably it’s getting away with it. I am of course referring to the Iron Man trilogy.

First off, I want to make my stance very clear: the trilogy isn’t terrible, just supremely overrated. The first film is a perfectly average effort, with the second just below that mark. If you’re immediately distressed by those statements, let me throw some statistics your way…

Iron Man currently has an unfathomable 93% rating from critics on rottentomatoes.com. Not only is that a higher score than any of its singular-Avenger counterparts, but it’s actually higher than their excellent group effort in Joss Whedon’s Avengers Assemble. It also beats the scores of far-superior superhero debuts, including Batman Begins, Spider-Man and even Christopher Reeve’s Superman.

If the numbers aren’t enough, let’s look at ‘praise’ itself, the most paramount of which is usually Robert Downey Jr.’s brilliant ‘acting’. Do a little research into any of RDJ’s pre-Stark roles, or even into any real life interviews or appearances and it doesn’t take long to realise that it’s not great acting, its great casting. Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark; he’s snarky, he’s intelligent and he’s prone to vices and inner demons. I can’t imagine there is a substantial amount of ‘acting’ going on here.

Secondly, the villains are a massive issue. The Iron Man films have a huge problem when it comes to the antagonists. First there was the forgettable Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), swiftly followed by the overly-cartoonish Whiplash (Mickey Rourke). It looked as though they’d finally rectified the problem in Iron Man 3 with a seemingly worthy villain, The Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley), but those of you who have seen the film will know they royally screwed it up.

Above all else though, the main persecutor for keeping the trilogy average is its total inability to produce anything remotely challenging to its audience. It’s all so fluffy and light it’s almost unbearable. It’s a cornerstone of the genre that a hero always has a ‘curse’. Batman lost his parents; Spider-Man lost Uncle Ben and so on. It’s these problems that allow us to emotionally respond to the character. In the comics, Tony Stark has a substantial ‘curse’ by way of alcoholism. This was considered too dark by the filmmakers and so quickly cut out, removing any substance to the character. What’s his great ‘curse’ now? Oh, he’s got a light bulb in his chest…

It is for these reasons that the Iron Man trilogy fails as both a genre film and an interesting source of story. It isn’t worth your time, let alone your praise.

Horoscopes – 21 October to 3 November

Written by Moya Crockett on . Posted in Lifestyle.

LIBRA (24 SEPTEMBER – 23 OCTOBER)

You’ve been seeing a lot of a certain someone recently. You notice them everywhere: in the supermarket, the library, the gym, da club… What’s the significance of this, you wonder? After some consultation with the stars, we can reveal: they’re stalking you.

SCORPIO (24 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER)

You are always the first to ask life’s big questions. What is ‘clean’? What is ‘an equal distribution of basic household tasks’? Try occasionally taking the bins out, or you’ll soon be asking ‘What are friends?’ They’re what you used to call your housemates. Who now hate you.

SAGITTARIUS (23 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER)

Your partying shows no signs of slowing down, even as the prospect of post−Reading Week deadlines rears its ugly head. Your mother always said that drugs and alcohol are never the answer, but she’s wrong. What if the question is, “Why will I fail my degree?”

CAPRICORN (22 DECEMBER – 20 JANUARY)

Questions have been running through your mind all week. “What am I to do with my life?” You will find it out, don’t worry! “How am I supposed to know what’s right?” You just gotta do it your way! You are not experiencing an existential crisis. These are Britney Spears lyrics.

AQUARIUS (21 JANUARY – 19 FEBRUARY)

Travel and adventure are on your mind this week, as you dream of jetting off to sunnier climes and getting away from it all. An encounter with a mysterious stranger will make this poss – no, I’m sorry, I can’t lie to you. Going home for Reading Week is as exciting as it gets.

PISCES (20 FEBRUARY – 20 MARCH)

Recently, something has been eating away at you. Have a deep think about what it might be. Issues with your parents? Unrequited love? The nagging feeling that your friends are talking about you behind your back? Or a massive tapeworm?

ARIES (21 MARCH – 20 APRIL)

This week, you decide it’s finally time to start acting like a real man. You obviously haven’t started quite yet, because you’re reading the horoscopes in the Lifestyle section. But you’ll get there eventually. Probably. Maybe.

TAURUS (21 APRIL – 21 MAY)

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd president of the United States, once said, “The glow of one warm thought is worth more to me than money.” With this in mind, you’ll finally check your bank balance this week, and realise Thomas Jefferson was a massive dick.

GEMINI (22 MAY – 21 JUNE)

You’ve always been highly in touch with your own emotions, and recently your life’s been even more fascinating than usual. However, be careful not to tip into all-out self-obsession. If nothing else, pretending to be interested in other people’s problems will make them more likely to sleep with you.

CANCER (22 JUNE – 22 JULY)

Judging by the movement of Jupiter’s moons, you should look forward to a short burst of blissful denial before bracing yourself for a dark period of struggle, rage, isolation and frustration. Don’t worry. It’s the natural cycle of essay-writing, and this too shall pass.

LEO (23 JULY – 22 AUGUST)

Health and wellbeing should be on your mind this week, as your hands begin to stiffen into what look more like a pair of claws. The stars think you might be spending too much time on your phone and laptop.

VIRGO (23 AUGUST – 23 SEPTEMBER)

This week, you’ll attract the attention of a bright, buzzy character, who’ll make a beeline for you as you wait for the bus. Unfortunately, it’s an actual bee. Maybe don’t wear that perfume anymore?

LIBRA (24 SEPTEMBER – 23 OCTOBER)

You’ve been seeing a lot of a certain someone recently. You notice them everywhere: in the supermarket, the library, the gym, da club… What’s the significance of this, you wonder? After some consultation with the stars, we can reveal: they’re stalking you.

SCORPIO (24 OCTOBER – 22 NOVEMBER)

You are always the first to ask life’s big questions. What is ‘clean’? What is ‘an equal distribution of basic household tasks’? Try occasionally taking the bins out, or you’ll soon be asking ‘What are friends?’ They’re what you used to call your housemates. Who now hate you.

SAGITTARIUS (23 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER)

Your partying shows no signs of slowing down, even as the prospect of post−Reading Week deadlines rears its ugly head. Your mother always said that drugs and alcohol are never the answer, but she’s wrong. What if the question is, “Why will I fail my degree?”

CAPRICORN (22 DECEMBER – 20 JANUARY)

Questions have been running through your mind all week. “What am I to do with my life?” You will find it out, don’t worry! “How am I supposed to know what’s right?” You just gotta do it your way! You are not experiencing an existential crisis. These are Britney Spears lyrics.

AQUARIUS (21 JANUARY – 19 FEBRUARY)

Travel and adventure are on your mind this week, as you dream of jetting off to sunnier climes and getting away from it all. An encounter with a mysterious stranger will make this poss – no, I’m sorry, I can’t lie to you. Going home for Reading Week is as exciting as it gets.

PISCES (20 FEBRUARY – 20 MARCH)

Recently, something has been eating away at you. Have a deep think about what it might be. Issues with your parents? Unrequited love? The nagging feeling that your friends are talking about you behind your back? Or a massive tapeworm?

ARIES (21 MARCH – 20 APRIL)

This week, you decide it’s finally time to start acting like a real man. You obviously haven’t started quite yet, because you’re reading the horoscopes in the Lifestyle section. But you’ll get there eventually. Probably. Maybe.

TAURUS (21 APRIL – 21 MAY)

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd president of the United States, once said, “The glow of one warm thought is worth more to me than money.” With this in mind, you’ll finally check your bank balance this week, and realise Thomas Jefferson was a massive dick.

GEMINI (22 MAY – 21 JUNE)

You’ve always been highly in touch with your own emotions, and recently your life’s been even more fascinating than usual. However, be careful not to tip into all-out self-obsession. If nothing else, pretending to be interested in other people’s problems will make them more likely to sleep with you.

CANCER (22 JUNE – 22 JULY)

Judging by the movement of Jupiter’s moons, you should look forward to a short burst of blissful denial before bracing yourself for a dark period of struggle, rage, isolation and frustration. Don’t worry. It’s the natural cycle of essay-writing, and this too shall pass.

LEO (23 JULY – 22 AUGUST)

Health and wellbeing should be on your mind this week, as your hands begin to stiffen into what look more like a pair of claws. The stars think you might be spending too much time on your phone and laptop.

VIRGO (23 AUGUST – 23 SEPTEMBER)

This week, you’ll attract the attention of a bright, buzzy character, who’ll make a beeline for you as you wait for the bus. Unfortunately, it’s an actual bee. Maybe don’t wear that perfume anymore?

Suicide in young men: it’s time to talk

Written by Moya Crockett on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Suicide is the single biggest killer of young men in the UK. Three young men in Britain kill themselves every day. In 2012, there were 4639 male suicides – the highest annual figure in the UK this century. The death toll of suicide is 3-4 times higher in men than in women. The statistics are shocking, but what I found even more startling upon reading them was the fact that I had no idea. How could such a huge problem be effectively swept under the rug?

Silence surrounds depression and suicide, and this silence particularly affects men. It might be 2013, but ours is still a society that expects men to just ‘get on with things’. The message remains: if you’re feeling low, don’t make a fuss. Don’t be a girl about it. And definitely, definitely don’t cry. This stiff-upper-lip masculine ideal is incredibly pervasive. It’s not always the case, but men often lack the kind of emotionally supportive social network that women take for granted. “I’ve got one good friend who, when a couple of times I said I was going through a pretty bad time, said, ‘Well, any time you wanna talk about it mate, just let me know’ before immediately scurrying away to his bedroom and closing the door,” says mental health writer Fabio Zucchelli. “My friends are brilliant, caring guys, but just feel so bloody awkward talking about difficult feelings that they’d rather punch themselves in the face.” In this kind of culture, it’s not entirely surprising that young men would often rather suffer alone than talk about their feelings.

The continuing stigmatization of mental health issues doesn’t help. It’s human nature to search for explanations, but suicidal thoughts are by their nature incomprehensible to those who haven’t struggled with them. Horrible misconceptions whirl around suicide like flies: the notion that those who attempt to kill themselves are crazy, selfish, attention-seeking, or doomed is as horribly prevalent as it is untrue. In addition, the idea that we might not be able to control our own happiness – the concept of suicide itself – is deeply frightening. This toxic coupling of misunderstanding and fear leads to yet more silence, affecting everyone, including those bereaved by suicide. Many people who have lost someone to suicide report feeling unable to talk about it openly, the way they might have done had the cause of death been ‘natural’.

According to male suicide prevention charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), hundreds of deaths could be avoided if men felt able to talk more openly and ask for help when needed. Jane Powell, the charity’s founder and director, began working in male suicide prevention on a pilot project in Manchester in 1997. “We need to challenge the idea that a ‘strong and silent’ man is desirable, and challenge the notion that men talking, showing emotion and being ‘sensitive’ is weak,” she says. Powell is at pains to stress that people’s motivations for suicide are “complex and often very individual.” You do not have a reason to feel depressed; neither does having thoughts of suicide automatically mean that you are suffering from mental illness. Feelings of desperation and hopelessness can affect many people for many different reasons, and these feelings will often pass. It is when they don’t that being brave enough to seek help − whether that means calling the Samaritans helpline, visiting a GP, or just beginning to talk to a friend − becomes vitally important.

There is nothing inevitable about suicide, and it is never the only option. If you think you or someone you know – male or female – might be struggling, the most important thing you can do is begin to talk about it. Treat your mental and emotional well-being with as much care as you would your physical health, and remember: it’s fine not to be fine.

IMPORTANT RESOURCES

Samaritans

24-hour confidential emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.

www.samaritans.org

08457 9090

PAPYRUS

A UK charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.

www.papyrus-uk.org

0800 068 41 41 (Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm and 7-10pm. Weekends 2-5pm)

Manchester Nightline

Confidential and anonymous emotional support, provided by students, for students.

0161 2753983 (8pm-8am during term time)

[email protected]

UoM Counselling Service

Manchester’s team of professional counsellors and psychotherapists is available to all students.

www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/counselling

C.A.L.M.

C.A.L.M.’s website is brilliant – funny, relatable, relevant, and unpreachy.

0800 585858 (5pm-midnight, daily)

www.thecalmzone.net

Students Against Depression

Advice, information, guidance and resource specifically aimed at UK students.

www.studentsagainstdepression.org

What to do if you think someone might be suicidal

The NHS offer clear, calm advice.

nhs.uk/Conditions/Suicide/Pages/helping-others.aspx

For a list of common symptoms related to depression visit www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Depression. Any of these feelings are worthy of your attention. If you haven’t already, register with a Manchester GP and book an appointment.

TED: a new form of inspiration

Written by Yu-An Hsu on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I’m sure you’ll have heard plenty of stories in your life, from fairy tales during bed time to studying novels at school. But have you ever heard a true story that made a real impact on your life, or even changed your thinking completely? You might just find one of these when you attend the TED experience.

TED (‘Technology, Entertainment, and Design’) is a global company that aims to inspire people through talks at their conventions. The scope of these conventions has grown broader as their popularity has spread. You will find talks on ideas in any discipline, including research, the practice of science and cultural studies. TED’s ethos is “ideas worth spreading”, and they pull experts from all different fields. Attendees from all over the world have raved about these conventions, calling them “the ultimate brain spa” and “a journey into the future.”

This year Manchester is once again proudly hosting TedxSalford 3.0. Appearing will be some of the world’s most successful individuals from the technological and entertainment industries. Speakers include Thad Starner, the Technical Lead at Google Glass. He was considered the first to integrate a wearable computer into everyday life as a personal assistant, and will be explaining what Google Glass can do for us. Also attending is a mystery speaker from NASA, who will be talking through the greatest journeys and experiences from his career.

For those thinking of setting up a business after graduating, entrepreneur Rachel Elnaugh’s story will be worth hearing. The former dragon on BBC’s ‘Dragons’ Den’ won the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2002. There will be even more hosts to meet and inspire you throughout the day, including TV broadcasters, a Nobel Prize Winner in Physics, seekers of immortality, and award-winning visual artists…. The list goes on.

So if you fancy something inspirational this November, get your tickets for TED before they run out.

TedxSalford 3.0 will be held at the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry, Salford Media City, on 10th November 2013.

Tickets available from:

www.tedxsalford.com/event/registration

 

Live: Splashh

Written by Bernadette Chapman on . Posted in Music.

5th October

Deaf Institute

5/10

After a momentum building tour this year, Splashh finally released their first full length album Comfort in September, to mainly gushing reviews. Their current European tour, with Charlie ‘boring’ Boyer and the Voyeurs, seeks to ride its vaguely surfy waves, and their third date sees them here in Manchester before jetting off to sunnier climes in Italy.

Given their limited back catalogue, the set entails playing a slightly edited version of the new album, alongside one other song. All drenched in reverb and psychedelic projections, the band perform through floppy hair and Madchester tones. The Stone Roses influence is clear, as is the Pixies. The surprising influence of Joy Division can be heard on several basslines, especially on ‘Lemonade’, much more so when played live and the sounds from each instrument are more clearly delineated.

The reverb on vocals is present on every song, often feeling misplaced on slower tracks such as ‘Lost Your Cool’, papering over a song which might not have worked otherwise with distractions. With a lack of material to draw on, Splashh extend their final song, ‘Need It’, with wails and distortion. This departure from the album track gave the music a chance to breathe, a little creativity, and a spark of interest. This marked the only really engaging part of a set otherwise enjoyable enough but largely forgettable.

Aside from some louche lads near the mixing desk, the crowd was oddly static, maybe because it’s hard to get drunk given the ‘tenner for two drinks’ policy. This fostered a general ambivalence to the whole show, and the audience only really started moving when it was time to go out for a ciggie afterwards.

Live: Wiz Khalifa

Written by Fin Murphy on . Posted in Music.

27th September

Apollo

7/10

Alongside Mac Miller and Pusha T, Wiz Khalifa is an artist with a prodigious discography who reached mainstream popularity with a big hit. Missing the resurgence of underground and alternative hip-hop by a hair, the Pittsburgh native skirts an interesting line as a vibrant act in the pop world but a thinner one in the wider community. So it makes sense for him to play a packed out Apollo, unlike the O2 as with Rick Ross or the Shepherds Bush Empire with Yasiin Bey – sure he has his following, but is he as notable as he once was?

Support on this date is the bling embossed Trinidad Jame$, a notable drop in quality from A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar who have toured with Khalifa in the past. Unfortunately due to a hilarious mint/pill mix-up at security on the door, I only caught the very end of Jame$’ set- but I imagine it encapsulated the rest of his performance. All Gold Everything is a truly ignorant yet expressive dedication to having fun and getting money and by god does it roar in the live arena. The stomping beat becomes titanic, Jame$’ flawless, simplistic rapping takes on a hypnotic quality and it’s a hell of a thing to hear an entire room say “popped a molly, I’m sweating” in sync. Truly outstanding.

After a short turnaround, the man of the hour is on. Khalifa certainly buys into the rockstar aspect of performance. Live bass and drums certainly fill out the stage but don’t massively make an impact until Khalifa lets each member solo, with the talent displayed it seems to be something of a waste. However, that doesn’t stop Khalifa being any less of a showman. Over the course of the concert he meets and exceeds the impact of Trinidad Jame$’ performance, realising the power in live performance over record. Whether it’s the new wave influenced beat of ‘The Thrill’ or the neo-trap (similar to Taylor Gang label mate Juicy J) of ‘Work Hard, Play Hard‘, the sheer force of Khalifa’s personality comes to the fore. Stood still and commanding the crowd with the power of his flow or gesticulating and repeating ‘let’s go!’, it’s quite remarkable he manages to expend the energy considering the profligate smoker he is. Before even the halfway point is reached the sizeable Apollo has a remarkable cannabis haze floating above it, a welcome change from the usual gross sweat or flying beer. It goes hand-in-hand with the good natured performance and atmosphere, so that even a narc must’ve sung along to ‘Young, Wild And Free’. By the time the aforementioned big hit, ‘Black and Yellow’, comes on, Khalifa has shown off the reason he still matters – in a genre still overblown with big egos and bad attitudes, Wiz Khalifa just wants to chill.

Live: These New Puritans

Written by Oliver Fenton on . Posted in Music.

4th October

Gorilla

8/10

“This song is 500 years old” – not the way most bands would introduce their best track, but then These New Puritans are not like most bands.  The song being introduced here, their biggest hit, is called ‘Attack Music’. It is well known that These New Puritans are pioneers of an edgy, almost anti-chart sound. Their performance at Manchester’s Gorilla, which combines the serenely compelling with sections of tense aggression, reaffirms this.

Lead singer Jack Barnett and his band walk out onto the stage after two minutes of droning bass, accompanied by the sound of passing cars and flashing white lights. This is about as sonically predictable as These New Puritans get all night. They then launch into songs off their new album, Field of Reeds. The first was ‘Spiral’ which showcases the adept capabilities of the musicians. The pair of brass players brought a rousing intro into a tense but expansive melodic play between Barnett and his female vocal partner.

The next song, ‘Fragment Two’, is a single that contains at its core a simple piano loop, but Barnett’s deep, hypnotic voice led a euphoric progression that added complexity to the backing. The only issue being that his voice is a little too quiet, so it sounds whiny at points and is drowned out by the band.

This ceases to matter during the middle of the gig, as music from earlier albums brings an angry, electronic edge to proceedings. ‘We Want War’ is bass and snare heavy, with repetitive vocals and shrieking violins. The crowd opt to remain stoically entranced, rather than dance manically.

These New Puritans purvey fine-tuned alternations between chilled-out and manic sounds, and this combination works due to the cerebral intensity of the music. Their sound has become more complete on their latest album which has added flavour to their live performance – its melodic, almost classical sound compliments the rawer but more electronic earlier albums.

The encore is chilled out with no easy sing-alongs for the crowd, but the lack of familiar hooks doesn’t change the fact that this was a gig well worth going to.

 

Just wear lingerie and some form of animal ears…

Written by Scarlett Whittell on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Have you bought your pumpkin? How about stockings and bunny ears? I’d get down to the shop sharpish, you do not want to be the idiot who actually tries to make themselves look scary on Halloween. Cast your mind back to Mean Girls when poor Cady goes all out as a zombie bride, only to be laughed at by a sexy mouse.

Who on earth managed to transform October 31st – categorically the very least sexy holiday – into a naked carnival? Hats off to them. It is proving flipping impossible to get rid of. Where’s all this anger coming from? Well I had my very own Cady-esq moment back in 2011. After some intense preparation, I proudly ventured out into Manchester as a creepy child donning a white calf-length nightie, two black eyes and holding a battered doll by the foot. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel quite so proud of my outfit when surrounded by kittens and lycra-clad devils. In fact I was so embarrassed I tried (unsuccessfully) to transform my nightie into a mini skirt in the toilets. Heart-breaking.

A brief history lesson is definitely in order. Don’t whine; I am trying to educate you and simultaneously prevent Halloween hypothermia. Allegedly October 31st deceased could seek revenge on their earthly enemies before shimmying on into the next world. Everyone was freaked, as you would be, so they disguised themselves. We are talking witch warts, gory face paint, fangs and convincing outfits. Let’s fast forward to the present day. Is dressing in your knickers and adorning your face with a cutsie heart shaped rabbit nose going to fool the zombies? No. Not even the ones without brains. Dress sexily at your own risk, that’s all I’m saying.

Have you ever browsed the full range of sexy Halloween outfits? You really should, it is a hoot. There are three categories which I have usefully summarised below. Maybe you could create a fun Halloween game, using this as a tick list on the big night. Who can spot 5 for each category, with a pair of fishnets as the prize?

 

The Three Stages of Sexy

1) Sexy Halloween

Firstly we have the black kittens, saucy devils, naughty nurses and sexy police women. Ooo scary. Maybe a few wart-less (and skirt-less) witches too. This first category is annoying, yes, but at least the link to Halloween has been upheld.

 

2) Just sexy

Now things start to get silly. A bumble bee? A lady bird? This is not on girls. Halloween costumes need to follow the brief. It is not too testing … SCARY. Since when has a bumblebee ever been linked to a ghost? It’s like turning up to a toga party in a space suit.

 

3) Plain Weird

It seems that over the years the standard naughty nurse has lost its appeal. So what was the next logical step? Sexy Nemo. Yes, the infant clown fish. Wait, there’s more … BIG BIRD. Sexy Sesame Street! There are literally no words.

 

To conclude, I will be donning an unattractive and historically accurate outfit. As are you. Yes you are, return that god-awful clownfish outfit immediately.

Interview: You Me At Six

Written by Fin Murphy on . Posted in Music.

It’s just after 5PM and Matt Barnes has been awake for 20 minutes, still in his bunk. Youthful laziness? Debauched hangover? Somewhere in between. His band, You Me at Six, has been busy touring America. “It’s been really good for us so far, the shows have been fun and we haven’t properly headlined the US before so it’s just great seeing so many people come out,” he animatedly tells me over the phone. “I really enjoy doing club tours.”

This smaller scale overseas is something Barnes takes to heart. “I’d say we’re pretty firmly established in the rock world in the UK, outside of that we’re definitely growing. In a wider sense, we’re still small fish but we have a lot of time to prove ourselves. We’ve got a lot more to give.” I enquire about how he feels about the response to new track ‘Lived A Lie’. “It accomplished what we wanted it to, it charted well and now it’s sandwiched between loads of shitty pop music that all sounds the same! It’s good to get some rock band from Surrey into the top 20 next to Rihanna, quite a cool accomplishment really.”

In contrast to the dark tone of You Me At Six’s last album, 2011’s Sinners Never Sleep, Barnes informs me that ‘Lived A Lie’ and new album Cavalier Youth represents the band transitioning into a “straight up rock” he compares to the likes of Foo Fighters. “Our producer, Neal Avron, definitely pushed up to do something different. We knew we had to up it and he helped us a long way, he’s recorded bands like Linkin’ Park and Fall Out Boy so we knew we had to up our shit. We’ve done a lot better and he pushed us to try new, better things. “

With this experimentation, and for a band that has for so long identified with a chiefly young, female audience, does he think his band has left their fanbase behind? Barnes is quick to respond. “I definitely think they’ve grown up with us, there are a lot of familiar faces that turn up to our concerts but luckily we still manage to draw new fans. It’s a lot of fun.”

As his band has a fair degree of clout, I ask Barnes which up-and-coming acts he recommends. “I really like our friends in Don Broco, Deaf Havana’s new album is amazing and I’m glad we’re able to give them attention when the industry or labels don’t. The new The 1975 album is great, we played shows with their old band years ago.” I ask him about the old days. Despite seeming perpetually fresh-faced, it’s easy to forget that You Me At Six have been around for nearly a decade. Any misty-eyed recollections? “We look back at the times we used to have when we’d have a day off and just get absolutely wasted for just 10 hours, roll up and down the bus doing roly-polies! Now we just wake up, have a few beers, go back to bed, get up again and back in the day, I don’t want to say it was more fun, but when you’re younger everything’s just much more fresh,” he remarks thoughtfully.

However, Barnes insists that You Me At Six always intend to move forward. “We never want to stop until we’ve made it, other bands reach a stage and they get happy, we’ll always continue, our music will change, until we’ve genuinely peaked.” Cavalier youth indeed.

 

You can catch You Me At Six (supporting 30 Seconds to Mars) at the Phones4U Arena on the 24h November whilst album ‘Cavalier Youth’ is out in January 2014.

Live: Fat Freddy’s Drop

Written by Rachel Connolly on . Posted in Music.

Academy 1

4th October

8/10

Fat Freddy’s Drop have created a unique sound that has carved them a niche among the descendants of reggae. While the improvised instrumentals have obvious reggae roots, the band is more soulful and orchestral than traditional reggae. It is completely distinct from its cousin dubstep, and the sound definitely has some elements of pop, but I am reluctant to use that word due to Boney M connotations.

The 7-man outfit is completely characterized by their live performances. Studio albums are born from improvisations on stage. Having seen the band two years ago at Outlook festival to the perfect backdrop of idyllic Croatian sunset over a crowded beach, I had high personal expectations. But I was curious as to how well their soulful reggae instrumental experiment would translate to a sweaty dark room in Manchester.

The simultaneous cult and mainstream appeal of the group is apparent in the complete mix of people that formed the audience. The only shared trait was enthusiasm and attempted soulful dancing (some better than others). This enthusiasm was exciting, but did create an unwelcome parallel with my Croatian experience, a dense sweaty heat generated from wriggling bodies.

The length of a Fat Freddy’s song (9 minutes, standard) makes for a short setlist, but the total of the show is so much more than the sum of its constituent parts. Each song flows seamlessly into the next with an interlude of partly improvised solos, so that each track is different with each performance. The live result is undersold by the studio recordings. Particular solo credit must be given to saxophonist Hopepa for tight riffs and tighter vests, and for his dancing – some of the worst and best on show for the evening, and a good reason in itself to buy a ticket.

This tour celebrates the release of Blackbird, out June, and the setlist was a pleasant surprise. Rather than leaning on material from Based on A True Story, the show featured mainly new songs and due to the magnetic delivery, new releases ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Mother Mother’, gained as appreciative a response as established hit ‘Cay’s Crays’.

To describe the performance as a gig is to completely undersell it, the evening was a musical experiment and the atmosphere created surpassed the venue.

Album: Kings of Leon – Mechanical Bull

Written by Dan Whiteley on . Posted in Music.

Released September 23rd 2013

RCA Records

7/10

It’s been quite an eventful few years for Kings of Leon since their abrupt – and, it would be fair to say, unexpected – jump from rugged, hairy cult heroes to stately arena rock giants with 2007’s Only By The Night and its ubiquitous lead single ‘Sex on Fire’. Critical backlash, infighting, substance abuse problems and even a bout of pigeon-excrement related gig cancellations all took their toll on the band and placed doubt on their future. The follow up, 2010’s Come Around Sundown, found Caleb & co. treading water and unsure of what direction to take, and an exhausting world tour ultimately forced the band into a much-needed hiatus. This has given them time to take stock, and the time apart seems to have paid off.

Mechanical Bull is the sound of a band re-energised and finally getting comfortable with their identity as a polished and unapologetically mainstream rock band. Thankfully, it also finds them rediscovering their sense of fun, resulting in their best record in a while. First track and lead single ‘Supersoaker’, with its breezy sing-along chorus and jangly guitars, sets the summery tone of the album, and ‘Rock City’ is rock ‘n’ roll at its most primitive, as Caleb shrugs ‘I was running through the desert/I was looking for drugs’ over a lazy, soulful riff. It’s sure to please the fans that still mourn the spiritual death of the band that created Youth & Young Manhood’s shouty, trashy blues rock. Other highlights include the pummeling, QOTSA-like ‘Don’t Matter’ and the anthemic ‘Temple’, which bounces along on a bassline that The Cure would be proud of. The dreamy ballad ‘Wait For Me’ has echoes of the band’s mega-hit ‘Use Somebody’, and ‘Family Tree’ is the kind of slinky southern rock we haven’t heard from the Kings since Aha Shake Heartbreak, complete with hand claps and a shuffle beat.

There’s plenty to like in the first half of the album, but the way Mechanical Bull peters out towards the end is frustrating, and stops it short of its potential. ‘Tonight’ and ‘On the Chin’ both sound like dusted-off Come Around Sundown outtakes, plodding away and piling on the faux-U2 guitars that have become KOL’s trademark. The gentle ‘Comeback Story’, meanwhile, contains the immortal refrain ‘I walk a mile in your shoes/and now I’m a mile away/and I’ve got your shoes’, but is nothing we haven’t heard before otherwise.

At first glance, then, Mechanical Bull is a record that is easy to like, but hard to truly love. That said, it does point at a promising future for the band, an outcome that only a couple of years ago seemed questionable.

A good album? Definitely. Return to form? Probably. Comeback story of a lifetime? Not quite.

Top 5 Songs… to hear at this year’s Warehouse Project season

Written by Sam Bartram on . Posted in Music.

1. Boddika – Heat

Recently released on Loefah’s omnipresent Swamp 81 label, ‘Heat’ exemplifies how Boddika has continued to back up the success of his own label’s ‘Think and Change’ compilation. An intriguing vocal sample is matched with punchy kicks to create a track that will no doubt be dropped by the likes of Jackmaster, Zed Bias and a range of other Warehouse Project performers.

2. The Prodigy – Breathe

Playing three already sold out headline nights, The Prodigy are back again to show why they are held in such high regard in the live dance music world. It could be ‘Breathe’, ‘Firestarter’ or ‘Omen’, it really doesn’t matter, The Prodigy will shake The Warehouse in a way few other artists will have ever done before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2ojuJdgquI

3. Skream – Bang That

‘Bang That’ was surely one of The Warehouse Project’s most played tracks towards the end of last year and with it still being unreleased, a continued air of hype is created around this aptly-named banger. In the words of MC Chunky, “sing along if you know the words”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blzq-q895k0

4. Dusky – Careless

Dusky’s latest release on the AUS record label has the potential to carry on from where tracks like ‘Nobody Else’ left off in being a regular big room smash. The duo play on three separate occasions over the course of this year’s Warehouse Project season, giving ample opportunity to catch tracks like ‘Careless’ which feature Dusky’s near-trademark vocal buildup and bassline drop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDXtwAuTXoU

5. LFO – LFO

This track was first released way back in 1990, yet it still manages to sound relevant when listened to alongside modern electronic music. LFO are considered the true pioneers of the Acid and Techno sounds. Tracks like ‘LFO’ were originally created for the warehouse environment and over twenty years later this song’s purpose can still be served.

Two arrested and released for sexual assaults near University campus

Written by Jonathan Breen on . Posted in News.

A 14-year-old boy and 18-year-old man arrested in connection with three sexual assaults in and around the University of Manchester have been released.

They have to return to a police station for further questioning later today, Greater Manchester Police said.

Police initially released an e-fit of a boy they suspected may have carried out the attacks, who they said could have been as young as 12.

“We believe from the descriptions given to us by the women he assaulted that he was between 12 and 15-years-old, and it is obviously very unusual and very worrying, that someone someone so young is committing such appalling attacks on women,” said Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin.

In the first assault a 27-year-old woman was approached and grabbed from behind while walking through the University’s grounds near to Lloyd Street North at 6.15pm on September 21.

She screamed and offender, described as being in his mid-teens and mixed race threatened her. He grabbed her again before running away.

Minutes later, a 21-year-old was nearby on Oxford Road when a boy approached her and made lewd comments.

The woman carried on walking onto Moss Lane East and was sexually assaulted.

She described the offender as a young Asian boy, aged about 12-years-old, and wearing greens jeans and glasses.

The third incident took place on Lloyd Street North near the Manchester Science Park, on October 5 at around 2.15pm.

A 32-year-old was using her mobile phone when two young boys approached her. She was sexually assaulted by one of the boys, described as being Asian, 12-13-years-old, of a slim build, wearing baggy trousers and carrying a rucksack on his back.

She pushed the boy away but he sexually assaulted her for a second time before running off towards Pencroft Way with the second boy, also described as a young Asian boy.

Det Ch Insp Larkin said, “I would like to thank members of the public and the media for their support and they information they have provided and as a result, we are now in a position where two people are in custody and are being questioned.”

He added, “I want to reassure the community that, whilst we have made arrests, we will continue to investigate these appalling incidents so we can establish all the facts and who is responsible.

He also appealed to anyone with information about the the three attacks or any other incidents of a similar nature to come forward.