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Month: March 2016

United and Liverpool to meet in Europe for first time

Written by Daniel Austin on . Posted in Sport.

Alexander Frei, Swiss ex-pro and ambassador for this season’s final in his native Basel, allowed himself a wry smile as he unscrewed the balls and pulled out the names of English football’s two most successful sides to face one another during for the Europa League round-of-16 a fortnight ago.

Despite having played regularly in Europe since the 1960s, the Red Devils have never met the Reds in continental competition, avoiding each other but playing against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal on various occasions. They nearly crossed paths when they were at the pinnacles of their footballing power in the late 2000s; United failed to join the Reds in the 2007 Champions League final, losing to AC Milan in the previous round, and Liverpool missed out on making it to Moscow in 2008 by suffering defeat against Chelsea, who went on to lose against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. That elusive final between the two never took place; a terrible shame, despite the spike in heart-attack admissions the NHS would surely have seen in the North-West at the time. Though defeat against the most bitter of rivals would have meant crushing disappointment for those on the losing side, victory would have paved the way for a life-time of celebration and gloating that no other game between them could hope to replicate.

When asked about the tie, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp asserted that it was the “logical final.” The two North-West sides are certainly the most reputable pair left in the competition, but they lack quality in comparison with some of the continent’s other teams. Klopp’s old side Borussia Dortmund and holders Sevilla are two of a number of clubs who possess far more talented squads at present, and have a more successful recent record in Europe. Indeed, Frei could easily have paired up FC Midtjylland and FC Augsburg during the draw ceremony; the former looked all but set to knock out United in the previous round until debutant Marcus Rashford’s late goals spared his team’s embarrassment, while Liverpool managed a solitary goal from a penalty against the German side and were forced to defend resolutely late on.

The fact that the pair are meeting at a relatively early stage in UEFA’s secondary club competition is a damning indictment of the expeditious slide from Europe’s summit both have seen in recent years. Since Rafael Benitez’s departure, Liverpool have been regularly knocked-out in the Europa League’s earlier rounds, while the Red Devils have struggled badly under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. This matchup could once have produced an all-time European classic, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez seeking to out-wit Jamie Carragher, and Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard running around Nemanja Vidic. In 2016, though, supporters will be subjected to Phil Jones kicking lumps out of Divock Origi, and 35-year-old Kolo Touré marking 18-year-old Rashford.

Where once they challenged for and succeeded in winning UEFA’s top competition, they now squabble over a second-rate tournament often treated with a lethargy that stems from its lowly stature in England. Taking a couple of encounters between two of the planet’s most famous teams and playing it at this stage of the Europa League is akin to performing one of Shakespeare’s works at your local Royal British Legion pub.

The English public and media’s disdain for the Europa League is well documented and based upon solid arguments—the quality of football on display is weaker than in the Champions League, the matches unpopularly take place on Thursday nights, sometimes as early as 18:00, and it can take up to an energy-zapping 17 games to finally lift the trophy.

Alas, this is the tournament in which both clubs find themselves languishing in 2016, and despite its humdrum reputation, they can use the matches to reinvigorate themselves.

Primarily, winning the tournament offers entry into next season’s Champions League, an opportunity that might elude both clubs based on current league positioning. Triumphing over the course of these games, and advancing to the latter stages, will give the victor a realistic shot at securing European silverware, and in doing so leave an old enemy’s season in tatters.

Furthermore, the tie represents a chance to improve negative moods around both clubs. Liverpool’s league season looks over with them in mid-table and they will be disappointed with last week’s League Cup final loss to Manchester City, while the undercurrent of disaffection surrounding supporters at Old Trafford has been evident all season long.  The atmosphere in both legs should be a significant step up from the mundane meetings with minnows from obscure leagues, which have preceded this round. Games between United and Liverpool always see both sets of supporters at their most passionate, and the prospect of a historic first European meeting, with its added tension, dark skies, and novelty, will surely raise the noise levels even further.

A two-legged Europa League affair between Manchester United and Liverpool might not be of the same prestige or calibre as the prospective Champions League final that the continent craved in 2007 or 2008, but the winner has the opportunity to make history, secure bragging rights over a detested rival, and will attempt to re-assert themselves as a dominant force in European football.

Home Office appoints gap year students to decide asylum claims

Written by Merle Streck on . Posted in News.

The Home Office has recently come under scrutiny from immigration lawyers who condemn the new practice of recruiting gap year students to decide on asylum claims. The Home Office responded to criticism, stating that this recruitment policy has been practised for a while, and that students are only put on temporary contracts in particularly busy periods.

A Home Office source said that, “students are seen as quite an effective demographic.” According to the statement, the Home Office only recruits high-performing students and view this policy as an “effective way to manage the case load when things get busy.” The source argues that anyone who is recruited is provided with the same amount of training and that decisions made by students are always revised by a senior member of staff.

However, one of the biggest issues raised by immigration lawyers was the fact that students only receive five weeks training before they are officially permitted to start interviewing asylum seekers to decide whether they are allowed to remain in the UK.

According to the Home Office, five weeks of training is seen as a standard training period for all legal advisers deciding on asylum claims. During this period, students are encouraged to analyse case studies, engage in role play and are also given instructions on specialist cases such as LGBT claims, human trafficking and child claims. Subsequently, the student is contracted to work for a minimum of 11 months.

It has been reported that some students working for the Home Office have worked for the government before, when its “fast-track detention” policy was still intact.The Home Office has already been the subject of scrutiny back in the summer of 2015 on account of their treatment of asylum claims, which a high court ruling deemed as “structurally unfair.” Under the detained fast-track policy, the system only allowed seven working days to prepare for an appeal in the event of an asylum claim being rejected. As a result of this unlawful practice, which was suspended in 2015, thousands of people were deported back to their home countries.

Immigration lawyers have made allegations against the Home Office, claiming they are playing with the lives of innocent people. Toufique Hossain, director of public law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, said: “Asylum decisions are very much life or death matters. Complex areas of law are involved relating to EU charters, conventions and directives. It is very concerning that the Home Office is bringing in students to make these decisions and that all of the decision-makers are given just five weeks training.”

Mr. Hossain further contends that if a student were to wrongly refuse a claim, it would make it “harder for an asylum seeker to come back from the initial negative decision when their appeal is heard.” Other commentators recognize the difficulty the Home Office must face in busy periods, noting that this might be a chance for students to prove themselves as able and dedicated legal advisers.

Lauren Rosegreen, third year law student at the University of Manchester and President of the Pro Bono Legal Advice Centre Society, told The Mancunion: “Now it has come to public attention, it is easy for people to criticise the Home Office for recruiting gap-year students on these temporary contracts. However, this long standing approach appears to be the only thing in place to help process asylum claims during busy periods and with more cuts to legal aid every day, students may be the only people to turn to in this time of crisis.”

Miss Rosegreen also points to the advantages this might have for those students working for the Home Office, stating that work experience opportunities are limited for law students and that “a temporary job working for the Home Office is something to which most of us would jump at the chance.”

Nonetheless, she raises concerns at the amount of legal training these gap year students receive, and proposes a new option in which students and solicitors work alongside one another in order to provide more efficient and thorough legal aid to asylum seekers. “I agree that the complexities of EU charters, conventions and directives cannot possibly be taught within five weeks training,” says Rosegreen “but until there is an alternative in place to help with the weight of asylum claims cases, keen, hard working students may be the Home Office’s only option.”

“If legal aid were to be granted to asylum seekers, students could work alongside the solicitors, helping to balance the work load with professional legal supervision. Rather than criticising the current approach, we should focus on how the Home Office can move forward in order to fully protect those seeking asylum in the UK.”

Six Nations so far: National rivalry overshadows a lack of quality

Written by Toby Webb on . Posted in Sport.

The week ahead will prove decisive to the outcome of this year’s Six Nations. There are three teams that could conceivably win the championship: England, Wales and France.

For England and Wales, victories in the last two games will secure them the championship. For England, it is clear. They must defeat the two other challengers (their next two games) and in doing so, they will win the tournament, securing their first Grand Slam since 2003, and the tournament’s first since 2012.

The extent of the challenge should not be overlooked. Wales are the strongest side this remodelled England team will face. Moreover, the prospect of a closing weekend match in Paris will bring back painful memories of the last time they were there (2014), when they conceded a last-minute try to lose the game.

For the rest of the teams, pride is at stake, as well as the opportunity to secure bragging rights for the year ahead. No game in the Six Nations is without meaning or significance. As a result, the tournament is escalating year on year.

However, in my opinion, the Six Nations is suffering from a lack of quality across the board. I say this in light of the calibre of rugby exhibited during last year’s World Cup. The problem is that, given the rivalries that feature in almost every game, results are given precedence, often paving over deficiencies in quality and style.

Yes, there have been moments of brilliance. England’s final try against Italy, the sumptuous offload from Jamie George to send Owen Farrell over the whitewash, was reminiscent of All Black rugby. Quick offloading is something Eddie Jones will hope to see more of as he begins to implement his philosophy further. Similarly, George North’s solo effort against Scotland was a harking back to when he first came on the scene, as well as the blistering try he scored for the Lions. Similarly, Scotland’s tries against Italy were demonstration of quality back line play.

Northern hemisphere rugby still largely revolves around tactics of attrition. There is a heavy focus on the set-piece; the scrum battle often decides games. As well as this, forcing the opposition to concede penalties is a crucial tactic. Penalties give the team in question the opportunity to kick for goal or kick for territory (attaining another set-piece). Indeed, building a score through goal-kicking is as much desired as building a score through tries.

As a newcomer to rugby, and one who lacks any national allegiance, you would be forgiven for thinking Six Nations rugby is pretty mundane, especially in comparison to the southern hemisphere. Take the southern hemisphere equivalent, the Rugby Championship. This is characterised by expansive rugby where the emphasis is on try-scoring.

This is not only more exciting for the spectator, but can produce more shock results. In the 2015 tournament, Australia beat New Zealand, and Argentina recorded a victory against South Africa. In contrast, the Six Nations is very predictable, with home advantage often being the main variable for predicting results. Scotland vs Italy is perhaps the only game that is difficult to predict. However, if I was to place a bet, I would always side with Scotland.

Comparisons between northern and southern hemisphere rugby ultimately come down to culture. The supremacy of the southern hemisphere style lies in its versatility. The teams are able to play with flair and speed, but also have the ability to play using attrition as a tactic if needs be.

On the contrary, Six Nations teams are often one-dimensional, subsequently lacking ideas. Think Wales. They are solely reliant on the ‘warren-ball’ tactic, utilising their weight advantage across the team to batter the opposition into submission. However, a belligerent defensive display against them will cause them problems. Similarly, Ireland are painfully reliant on Jonny Sexton’s game control, his kicking and distribution. If he is neutralised, Ireland often lose.

I am not expecting a level of rugby comparable to the likes of New Zealand (they are several echelons above the entire northern hemisphere). However, I do think that every team has the capability of playing a lot better than they currently are. A mixture of injuries and new coaching regimes go some way to explaining the quality shortage.

As a fan, I can ignore the level of quality on display: the intense rivalry between many of the Six Nations teams makes every game engaging. However, if they want to sustain a better challenge against southern hemisphere teams, Six Nations teams need to focus on improving the style and quality of play, rather than simply wanting to win against each other.

Cheese pie

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in News.

Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes
½ cup quinoa
3 tbsps hummus
1 tbps peanut butter

Optional: curly kale and chia seeds

‘The pie’
Roast the sweet potatoes in a hot oven for about 45 minutes.

‘The cheese’
Brown quinoa in a saucepan then pour over water in double the volume (1-2 cups). Cook until soft then mix in the hummus and peanut butter.

Assemble your ‘pie’ by placing a the split potato in a bowl atop a bed of curly kale or other nutritious green, fill the gaping hole with your ‘cheese’ mix.

Proudly present your pie to dinner guests. Careful! Don’t tell them it’s vegan, see if they can taste the difference themselves… I doubt it!

Students hold first Rusholme SOUP event

Written by Gemma Sowerby on . Posted in News.

Rusholme SOUP is a crowdfunding project organised by Healthy Me Healthy Communities (HMHC) that hopes to strengthen community ties by engaging the people of Rusholme in working together whilst having fun, and eating supper.

The concept of SOUP came from Detroit, where over £55,000 has been raised to date, from over 95 SOUP events, but a group of University of Manchester students have brought the innovative idea here, with the aim of providing a crowdfunded discussion platform to create local projects.

In association with HMHC, a vibrant social enterprise producing health and well-being services to inspire a healthier lifestyle. The group are holding their first event on Wednesday 9th of March, where four people will pitch their ideas—for projects or inventions to help the local community—to the room. On entry, guests will pay a small donation, receive a meal and, after the pitches have been made, vote.

The votes will decide on a winner, who will receive the crowdfunded money (from donations on the night and business sponsorship) to start their neighbourhood innovation, supporting local people in developing and delivering projects that will make positive changes.

Rusholme SOUP hopes to not only to raise funds and resources for the local community, but also to boost business engagement in the area, improve connections across different demographics in Rusholme, and develop the ownership and understanding of community health and well-being projects.

It’s also a great way to raise money and make connections, both for your community and to local resources that can help you carry out your project. This student-led event hopes to unite the people of Rusholme—of all ages and backgrounds—for the common good. What’s more, you might even win some money to get your next big idea off the ground.

The event will be held on Wednesday 9th of March at Birch Community Centre on Brighton Grove. Doors open at 6.30pm.

For more information, visit rusholmesoup.com, or search ‘Rusholme SOUP Manchester’ on Facebook.

Review: Battle of the Societies

Written by Hannah Foy on . Posted in Theatre.

CATS put on a showcase of Manchester’s talent in their battle of the societies on Monday evening. Lighting up Academy Two, we saw a range of acts from Irish dancing to poetry reading, the Indian society and the medics panto covering a range of cultures, disciplines, and entertainment.

The Cancer Awareness in Teenagers and Young People Society (CATS) aims to use such events to bring awareness of common cancer signs and promote continuous checks and awareness. It’s all done with a little tongue in cheek, regularly telling the audience to check their balls and the like, aiming that any possible signs can be diagnosed as soon as possible. Using the cat to symbolise the five key signs and symptoms of cancer; fatigue, weight loss, lumps, unexplained pains, and any changes in mood makes the process simple and easy, approachable for all ages.

Hosted by Tom Beaumont, who brought some light humour between acts and attempted to get some decent feedback from the quiet judges, the evening began with La Lunette, a band from the Live Music Society who set the tone for the evening’s talent. The Medics Revue brought about the many stereotypes of the UK’s countries, with some harsh and daring jokes. A more skilful performance came from the Indian Dance Society with a well-choreographed dance; equally the Dance Society came to their own with a robotic tap dance, followed by Irish dancing, two similar yet very separate skill sets brought together. I’m sorry to say the Comedy Society didn’t make me laugh, but I enjoyed the charades that brought the audience together at the beginning of the act.

Being a theatre fan, there were some wonderful musical reference in the Medics Panto; anything that can keep to the tune of Wicked’s Popular and Defying Gravity with a medical twist is certainly a fine craft to hold. The Indian Society beautifully incorporated traditional and modern music, both Indian and current UK hits, into an incredible melody of talent between the three performers. Finally, the A Capella group stole the stage in the last act of the night with two compositions, splitting harmonies across the group while keeping to the beat boxer’s tempo.

My only disappointment of the night were the judges—they had little to say about the acts, and solely attempting to be funny took the limelight away from them, a little childish and pointless at times. Their comments brought very little insight to the performance and held little critical impact.

Congratulations to the Indian Society who walked away with a £250 cash award, after first having to pick the notes up off the floor. The event promoted the work and talent of various societies across campus and all for a wonderful cause.

If you’re interested in finding out more check the CATS Manchester Facebook page for all upcoming events and details on how to get involved.

Album: Wild Nothing – Life of Pause

Written by Joe Casson on . Posted in Music.

19th February 2016 via Captured Tracks

7/10

Jack Tatum is by no means the only artist recording in the early 2010s to look back to late-1980s alternative music for inspiration, but he is one of the best. On his first two records as Wild Nothing, his ability to marry that scene’s lo-fi, reverb-soaked aesthetic with real substance and melody saw him recognised as an artist to watch.

But on new LP Life of Pause, Tatum seems keen to move forward into new waters, claiming in the album’s press release: “I’m terrified of the idea of being any one thing.” His creative restlessness has been suggested in the past: having coherently fleshed out his dream-pop vision in 2012’s excellent Nocturne, Tatum swiftly followed up with the brighter, bolder and weirder Empty Estate EP. Though gaudy and awkward at times, the EP demonstrated an eagerness to pursue new musical genres, instrumental textures, and song structures.

In comparison, Life of Pause seems like a step back. Tatum seeks progression but appears unsure of which direction to go, throwing several ideas at the wall with only a few of them sticking. Tatum is a gifted songwriter, and has yet to write an outright bad song—indeed, a handful of tracks from Life of Pause are amongst his best. However, the remainder of the album sits some way below that mark, competent yet unremarkable.

At its best, Life of Pause is a smart progression that develops on ideas from previous albums in a way that feels like the obvious next step. Opener ‘Reichpop’ is Tatum’s boldest experiment: the song incorporates marimbas, abstract synth noise, background chants, and polyrhythms, but feels bright and welcoming. ‘To Know You’ takes a harsher, more aggressive approach, adopting a krautrock pule and buzzing keyboards to push the album into its second half. ‘Whenever I’ miraculously pulls off a foray into groovy, sax-heavy soft rock. Who listened to 2010 debut Gemini and saw that coming?

In between these highlights punctuating the album, Life of Pause sags, nodding in new directions without the resolve to pursue them fully. Tatum’s reluctance to totally abandon the stylistic hallmarks of his previous work dampens the impact of ‘TV Queen’, and leaves synths queasily smeared over ‘Lady Blue’ rather than holistically integrated. Elsewhere, the Slowdive-esque psychedelia of ‘Adore’ aimlessly drifts in one ear and out the other for five minutes.

Life of Pause is most convincing when Tatum runs with his instincts to experiment, and it is testament to his skill and flexibility as a songwriter that these moments feel both natural and exciting—the album only falters when he tentatively dips his toes in new waters rather than jumping in. Therefore, while uneven and unfocused, Life of Pause contains promising hints of a future direction that Tatum mustn’t hesitate to indulge.

Review: Ben Rivers – The Two Eyes Are Not Brothers

Written by Neil Greenhalgh on . Posted in Arts.

On entering the main part of this exhibition we’re immediately struck by a beautifully lit jungle of quite clearly reclaimed wood and chipboard. Wood showing evidence of re-use, notes scrawled on by marker pen, random bits of paint, bits of leftover wallpaper and all joined together in a very mismatched way to create this random and exciting looking jungle-like facade. There’s a strong sense of  the inside out and back to front before we’ve even begun and it seems we have to walk around the back to get to the entrance, which prepares us for the unique experience Ben Rivers has created.

The arrows on the wall dictate the viewing order, which is vaguely left to right, back to front, with four of these wooden jungle facades to navigate around. Inside each wooden structure is a film screening. The video works themselves are heavily built around a focus on storytelling, some fact and some fiction. There are some main aspects that tie these films together: the setting of Morocco, the theme of storytelling, and the ‘collapsed form of seeing-in’; the invitation of the viewer to see behind the scenes.

All of the films in this exhibition display this ‘collapsed seeing-in’ in some form or other, whether its the voice of the director instructing the actors, a clapperboard in vision, or the inclusion of all other elements that would usually be edited out. This makes for an un-edited, raw account of the film experience. It is clear that we are experiencing both the film and the making of the film simultaneously, which is complemented by the use of salvaged wood and film set bits, because it is an indiscreet viewing experience, unrefined and unpolished.

The general feeling is a sense of involvement and that is what is great about this exhibition; a feeling of exploration, of journey and discovery, and all the excitement that goes with it.

WWE – Road to Wrestlemania

Written by Joe Murphy on . Posted in Sport.

The Roman Empire to play The Game

After winning a triple threat match at the recent pay-per-view Fastlane, it was confirmed that Roman Reigns will face Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event at Wrestlemania. Although it wasn’t the most popular choice with fans, Reigns defeated his ‘brother’ Dean Ambrose and ‘The Beast Incarnate’, Brock Lesnar, meaning he will headline the biggest show of the year for the second successive year. Recently on Monday Night Raw, Triple H attacked the former shield member, cutting his head open with the timekeeper’s bell before slamming him onto the announcers table. There is little doubt that, in the weeks to follow, Roman will get revenge on the COO of the company, more than likely involving a spear or two. I predict that Reigns will emerge victorious when all said and done, with 14-time champion Triple H putting over the future face of the company.

Shane O Mac is Shane O Back!

Whereas the Reigns victory was easily predictable, the return of Shane McMahon after 7 years away from the company was a surreal moment. Nobody could have predicted his return during a segment where his father Vince McMahon was giving out an award to daughter, and wife of Triple H, Stephanie. What followed was equally shocking, with Shane demanding control of Monday night Raw from The Authority (Triple H and Stephanie). It was stated that Shane is holding an unknown power over his father so Vince agreed to give him control of WWE’s flagship show if he can win one match, one time. Unfortunately for Shane, this was revealed to be against The Undertaker, at Wrestlemania, inside Hell in a Cell, setting up one of the most interesting angles in recent WWE history. I personally can’t see the Undertaker losing cleanly, so I predict that Shane loses and The Authority retain power, leaving Undertaker to have one final match next year before retiring, probably against John Cena.

The Lunatic Fringe heading for a street fight in Suplex City

‘Thou shall not intentionally provoke Brock Lesnar’ is the 11th commandment according to The Beasts advocate Paul Heyman. This commandment fell on deaf ears when it came to Dean Ambrose. During the main event of Fastlane, Ambrose used a low blow, then a chair to down Lesnar. The next night before Raw even started, Lesnar attacked the lunatic fringe, suplexing him into a car windscreen, forcing him to go to hospital. Later that night, a clearly wounded Ambrose drove this same ambulance back into the arena. Lesnar again attacked him, but Dean wouldn’t stay down, despite receiving an F-5 on the floor. Dean managed to request a street fight for the show of shows in April, an offer that the former UFC fighter couldn’t refuse. I predict that Lesnar wins with relative ease, but Ambrose puts up a valiant effort, coming out of Wrestlemania looking strong.

Tag Team Turmoil

The current tag team champions, ‘The New Day’, as we all know, are brilliant. With their bumbling humour and loveable personalities, they have made 3 very ordinary superstars, extraordinary! Yet, there still seems to be a problem for WWE, when is there not? The WWE struggles to book the ‘The New Day’, which could be problematic, especially with Wrestlemania right around the corner. Looking at the roster, there are no current tag teams that can keep up with the energy and spark that ‘The New Day’ has. The ‘Usos’ have been done one too many times, The Dudley boys have one, and one only exciting move, and the ‘League of Nations’ are as much fun as your great-auntie’s birthday. So what does the WWE do with the current tag team champions? Well, personally I think the WWE has never been in such need of a tag team return in a while. With fast lane been and gone, it only leaves it to one of the remaining RAW episode to bring back The New Day’s Wrestle mania opponents. But who I hear you ask? Well, there are many options. The first names that spring to mind or the amazing Jeff and Matt Hardy. Very much the ‘Usos’ of their day, but as a kind of upgrade. With their high flying, and I-will-do-anything-literally style, they are guaranteed to create some volume in the AT&T Stadium. Even though both Matt and Jeff Hardy were not known for their mic skills, there in-ring ability does all the talking for them, and The Hardy Boys vs The New Day would be a match that every WWE fan would like to see.

Injury Crisis

John Cena, Seth Rollins, Sting, Cesaro, Randy Orton, Wade Barrett, Tyson Kidd and many more are all currently on the sidelines. This crisis is one of the worst to hit the WWE, with all these big names (who sell tickets and therefore make money) out, storylines have had to be changed to put together a show for Texas. Even the recent retirement of fan favourite Daniel Bryan is a huge loss for the company. It can’t be helped, injuries happen, but it is all about what WWE can do without many of its top stars. I believe there are only 2 solutions, one such is to promote people from NXT (WWE’s developmental group) such as Finn Balor, Baron Corbin, Samoa Joe, Bayley and Enzo & Big Cass. These names are respected throughout much of the WWE Universe and many feel as if they are ready for the main roster. Alternatively, bring back big names. Although The Rock is known to be appearing at Wrestlemania, it is not thought to be in a wrestling capacity. WWE needs to get some big names returning, such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, or even Batista.

Divas Revolution?

It is no secret that women’s wrestling was in a bad place this time last year and has since become much more of a focus, meaning it has become more respected by fans. The quality of performance shown by Superstars such as Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Divas Champion Charlotte means that Women have now a real place in WWE. I feel that the potential triple threat between these 3 women at Wrestlemania could be a show stealer, and Banks should be winning her first main roster title.

Interview: Bloom Twins

Written by Paul Norris on . Posted in Music.

The teenage twins Sonia and Anna Kuprienko are a highly inspired duo, developing a distinctive ‘dark-pop’ sound forged from their own experiences and connection as twin sisters that adds a unique connection that other groups cannot replicate. “It certainly does create a unique musical connection. We feel each other like no one can. On stage we can predict when one of us will screw things up. We can read each other’s minds, so words are irrelevant, and only music is very much needed.” Furthermore, the girls do not see their music as a burden upon their sibling relationship but quite the opposite in that any frustration coming from their musical endeavours is “really healthy. And it helps us to find a beautiful melody and music.” Their relationship allows for an intricate understanding of each other musically that can be seen in their interwoven harmonies and songwriting as their ideas don’t require a time-consuming interpretation of each other’s lyrics.

More than anything, the twins have fashioned a seemingly unbreakable bond in their formative years, having moved from their native Ukraine to the UK at the vulnerable age of just 15. They were separated from their parents and their familiar surroundings and relied on each other to succeed in their passions. The moved to London, and despite it being a “crazy decision”, it was really one that made sense for them, as they became indulged in a scene where their own inspirations came from. “We always loved British music, even though we couldn’t understand the meaning. It was a crazy decision to move to London, but it was easy to decide, as it was our biggest dream. We always wanted to create music in a country where our favourite bands were from.” Maybe as a result of their bold decision to move to London, the inspiration and environment enabled them to move forward with their music and let it reach people—even at such a young age.

However, perhaps more formative to Bloom Twins’ drive and determination, is the unrest in the Ukraine that erupted in early-2014 which “pushed us to act and not just dream.” Perhaps it was this that gave them real meaning and emotion to their dreams of achieving success in music. During the heat of the conflict, they released the single ‘Get up Stand up #WeAreUkraine’, a cover of Bob Marley’s classic about empowerment and emancipation. A powerful record that perfectly sits with their ‘dark-pop’ genre, and a sound symbolic of the song’s message of keeping up the fight—despite there being a strong sense of sorrow and despair. “Our home country is the biggest inspiration, it was a choppy moment in our lives and we wanted every single Ukrainian all over the globe to unite. Even though we were all in different countries and cities we wanted to be one, to come together for those people who were standing on Maidan for their rights.” One can’t help but notice the maturity of the twins and wonder whether it was the conflict in their homeland that inspired and formulated their unique sound; something they were quick to confirm. “Of course it affected us! We write dark pop music ‘cause it resembles what we felt when our country was [sic] going through a pretty dark period. It also resembles how we felt when we moved to London at the age of 15 without parents and not knowing the language. We miss Ukraine. It is always in our hearts.”

The girls are currently supporting Duran Duran on their UK arena tour, something they describe as being “pretty surreal”.  Of course, it does beg the question as to how on earth a young fledgling pop duo from Ukraine ended up on tour with a group of new wavers on somewhat of a nostalgia tour? “The relationship started when Nick Rhodes photographed us for Untitled magazine, then he was at a Christmas party where we performed. To skip a bit forward, we spent a day in a studio together and now 8 songs later—we are on tour.” So far, Bloom Twins have released three singles, a solid foundation to build on for sure. There are plans to release more material in the not-so-distant future with a “single in February, and soon after—[an] EP”. However, they do not plan on rushing out material just to satisfy a growing interest in their music as “it’s very important to get everything right and tight.” Again, showing a maturity beyond their years, if Bloom Twins continue with such a hardworking yet perceptive attitude, they are likely to continue with the success they are already carving out for themselves.

Live: Bloom Twins (supporting Duran Duran)

Written by Paul Norris on . Posted in Music.

Friday 27th November 2015

Manchester Arena

6/10

Supporting Duran Duran could have been a daunting task for Bloom Twins. Playing in front of 15,000 people is nerve-racking enough for the most well-seasoned bands, but it didn’t appear to faze the 18-year-old twin sisters at all. This is key to Bloom Twins rapidly blossoming popularity—if you’ll pardon the pun—they’re beyond their years. Troubles in their native Ukraine and their move to London alone at the age of 15, resulted in already having their own identity and ‘dark pop’ sound. Their 2013 single ‘Fahrenheit’, is demonstrative of their self-carved sound and draws the attention of the crowd who—let’s be honest, we were just waiting for Duran Duran. What is clear is the connection between the two twins and it translates beautifully into their music, with delicate harmonies and an intricate understanding of each other on stage.

The subtle and progressive keyboards in ‘Blue’ are perfect for filling a large venue like the Manchester Arena. There’s a noticeable psychedelic and often melancholic vibe to Bloom Twins which hopefully won’t be lost in future releases as it’s what makes them stand out, particularly on a night where many people were just there for a light-hearted 80s nostalgia-fest. The twins grab your attention with their clear passion and belief in their own music, which judging by the crowd’s engaged reaction should bode well for them in the future. Perhaps the most powerful part of their set was ‘Get up Stand up #WeAreUkraine’, their version of the Bob Marley classic that seems ideal for the sound and message they were looking to achieve; hope and strength in a time of dark desperation.

Bloom Twins are by no means at their peak song-writing abilities. Yet at times the songs can sound a slightly naïve and the music was in danger of being lost around the large venue. However, this tour can only be good for Bloom Twin’s development, and a new single soon is something to keep an eye out for.

Private schools give students “two year boost” over comprehensives

Written by Paul Scott on . Posted in News.

A recent study conducted by Durham University revealed that students attending private or independent schools gain a two year advantage compared to their comprehensive school counterparts. According to researchers, by the time privately schooled children have turned 16, they achieve two-thirds of a GCSE grade higher—equivalent to an extra two years of education.

Critics of private school elitism claim the study as evidence of unfair educational disparity. The Headmaster of Brighton College referred to the results of the research as “profoundly depressing.”

Whether the findings correlate to the balance of private and state school students at leading universities, and in top professions, remains unclear. However, elite universities, and Oxbridge in particular, have continually been under pressure to increase their state to private school student ratio.

According to internal statistics, Oxford currently has 56.3 per cent state and 43.7 per cent independent undergraduates. This represents one of the lowest ratios of comprehensive school students in Britain.

According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the University of Manchester has 18.6 per cent private or independently educated undergraduates enrolled, while Manchester Metropolitan has 3.9 per cent.

The Durham researchers have asked that the results of their study be “interpreted with caution” but despite this, the study has come under scrutiny for misrepresenting and overly exaggerating the benefit of a private education.

It has been stated that exam results are not solely dependent on teaching quality, but can be easily influenced by outside factors—such as students’ family environments. A second year student at Manchester Metropolitan University said: “I think that parents who send their children to private school have usually been to university and had quite a lot of education themselves.

“Their children will likely grow up with the expectation that they will achieve academically and go to university after school because that is just ‘what people do’. Kids from working class backgrounds won’t necessarily have those expectations about education because their parents might not [place] as much emphasis on it.”

Another student criticised limitations of the study, saying: “there’s lots of research that shows state pupils outperform private pupils at university so any superior grades at GCSE are short term and don’t carry over into higher education.”

He went on to say that: “The source is the Independent Schools Council, so this study could potentially be them promoting their own interests”, implying that independent education is more desirable.

Last year, figures showed that the number of students attending independent schools were at a record high, totalling 517,113 as whole. The new Durham study is the latest in a host of conflicting research into education and adds another piece of valuable research to the already well-established and impassioned private versus state school debate.

Top 5: Films with a limited colour palette

Written by Nicole Tamer on . Posted in Film.

5) Raise the Red Lantern

This Chinese film set in the 1920s during The Warlord Era is bathed in rich orange-red colours and features countless red lanterns. It follows the story of the nineteen-year-old Songlian who unwillingly works as a concubine in a rich household. Each night, the concubines have to compete for the attention of the master who gives the chosen one a luxurious treatment and lights her red lantern.

 

Ofelia in the fantasy world. Photo: Picturehouse

4) Pan’s Labyrinth

Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy masterpiece distinguishes different worlds by three colours which dominate the film. The blue-tinted night scenes in the real world, set in Franco’s post-civil war Spain, mirror Ofelia’s despair. To escape reality, she imagines a faun who gives her three tasks with the promise to return her to her real form as a princess of the underworld. Leaving the mossy-green labyrinth of the faun, Ofelia masters the excruciating tasks in a fantasy world dominated by golden colours.

 

Eying up future pies. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

3) Sweeney Todd

The horror musical, directed by Tim Burton and surprisingly, starred Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, mainly featured charcoal blue and dusty brown colours to evoke the grimy atmosphere of Victorian city of London. Only blood splatters, daydreams, and flashbacks were shown in vivid colours to contrast the miserable livelihood of these real life characters who sliced people’s throats and served them up as pies.

 

Stuck in a green world after taking the red pill. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

2) The Matrix

A teal tinge of green dominated most of the scenes in the real word which Neo enters after choosing the red pill and leaving the Matrix. The green also resembles the Matrix digital rain which was the computer code representing the activity of the virtual reality world. This code reminds us of the early monochrome cathode monitors, creating a retro mood in the film. Would Neo have chosen the blue pill instead if he had known about the ghastly colour scheme?

 

Juliette Binoche feeling blue. Photo: Miramax, MK2 Diffusion

1) Three Colors trilogy

The three films were named after the colours of the French flag (blue, white, red) and each one was loosely based on the three political ideals in the motto of the French republic: liberty, equality, and fraternity. The highly lauded films do not only employ unusual storytelling, yet the colour scheme of which each film was based on also dominated every scene of the film.

Record reappraisal: Virgo Four – Virgo

Written by Jacob Bernard-Banton on . Posted in Music.

Virgo Four – Virgo

Released in 1989 by Trax and Radical Records

Of all the genre reappraisals in music nowadays, the supposed re-emergence of house music is the strangest. It isn’t that it has simply taken mainstream pop music more than two decades to acknowledge its influence (and, inevitably, bastardise it). The strangest thing about house music’s revival is that it isn’t really a revival at all. House has always been at the cutting-edge of electronic and dance music, blithely doing its own thing and doing it remarkably well. The radio-friendly pop-infused crap that many people mistake for house music couldn’t be further from the real thing. However, around the time of house music’s distinctly non-commercial ascendancy in the late 1980s, Virgo Four—the mysterious duo of Merwyn Sanders and Eric Lewis—weren’t necessarily anyone else’s idea of what house was either.

Their idiosyncratic 1989 album Virgo—less an album than the pairing of two EPs—one of which originally released under their former, more prosaic name M.E., demonstrates why. Amongst all the Chicago house and acid staples—the hissing, synthetic hi-hats, the thudding 4/4 beat, chattering TB-909 percussion—are some peculiar and unlikely textures that separate Virgo Four from the usual Chicago house pack. Textures like the ghostly keyboard stabs and spacey, isolated guitar on ‘Do You Know Who You Are?’, while ‘All the Time’ features strikingly unbridled slap bass. It is house music that breathes and pulsates with a human intensity. Unlike much contemporaneous house, there’s nobody chanting “h-h-h-house nation”. Some typically lively house piano turns up on ‘Going Thru Life’, but everything else about it is surprisingly and pleasantly off-kilter. Chicago house tended to be euphoric and communal, but Virgo Four’s model is chilly, lonely and deeply atmospheric. That doesn’t mean you can’t dance to it. There’s still a pumping urgency, a nagging pulse.

‘In a Vision’ offers acid house that sounds haunted and pensive, the signature, piercing squelch sound achieved by sending a TB-303 into overdrive perversely dialled down low in the mix. House aficionados might assume that the duo were using the same equipment that their peers were using extensively. This is not so: Lewis has since admitted that they couldn’t afford the 808s and 909s customary to Chicago house and instead got by on a TR-505 drum machine and a Roland Juno 2 synth, rather than the pricier Juno 60 or 106. Perhaps that explains their fairly lo-fi, grainy sound. Still, they often sounded like snappy 808s. They certainly had this writer fooled, not least on the seductive ‘School Hall’—an outstanding, and perfectly crafted example of deep house that also worked as an unlikely floorfiller; the soundtrack of a club night just starting or coming to a meditative close. ‘Take Me Higher’ is spectral and absorbing. Instead of evoking the sweaty transcendence and dry ice of a nightclub, you feel a tingling shiver, approaching the brooding, minimal deep house of early Mr. Fingers, or Gene Hunt & Ron Hardy’s ‘16 & Indiana’.

The whispering, drowsy vocals on ‘Ride’ sound less elated and ecstatic than their peers, more like the gloomy older brother to Frankie Knuckles’ ‘Baby Wants to Ride’. Moreover, a handful of great house records contained such an impressive pop sensibility like Virgo Four. ‘Never Want to Lose You’ is such an example—its female vocal coolly intoning to “get ready to move”, possibly the only track that makes explicit its invitation to dance. “You’re my inspiration, you get me through my trials and tribulations,” sings a sincere, mumbled male vocal—as if singing not to some attractive, saucer-eyed clubber on the dance floor, but to his long-suffering wife. It’s those quirky details that make Virgo Four such a compelling listen that’s well worth investigating (their thirty-track compilation of unreleased material, 2011’s Resurrection, is also a must-listen), and proof that house music, just as it is today, was truly ahead of its time.

First transgender woman running for NUS Women’s Officer

Written by Alexandra Bickell on . Posted in News.

Anna Lee, a Maths student from Lancaster University, has become the first ever trans woman in the running to become the NUS National Women’s Officer, as well as the first to stand for a national role.

The current women’s officer, Susuana Amoah, was elected last April to represent female students from across the UK for the year. Lee, as this year’s nominee, has a history of campaigning for women’s issues including sexual harassment, the tampon tax, and has worked on increasing gender diversity within the national curriculum.

She defines herself as a “queer trans disabled lesbian woman” whose mission statement involves making “voices that are so often silenced and pushed aside heard.” In her past, Lee has pursued this mission in her role as Vice President of Welfare and Community at the Lancaster Students’ Union.

Lee has received a great deal of abuse during her election campaign for women’s officer, mainly from the “middle aged White men” demographic. She claims that they are “very angry” about the possibility of her winning. Hundreds of trolls have sent her thousands of abusive messages online because she is a trans woman. She claims that this has greatly impacted her mental health, but remains positive, with an “unstoppable passion” for women’s causes.

However, some people feel that whilst they do not have a problem with Lee being transgender, they do have a problem with her representing the female student body. Many of these critics are feminist activists, who believe that “a biological man” cannot understand female issues fully and so should not have the opportunity to represent women.

Others have questioned whether the election will be fair. They are concerned that if Lee were to lose her spot at the election, it could be “an excuse to raise the discrimination flag.” Another commentator asked: “Will she be elected automatically as long as she labels all critics abusers?”

Whilst critique has been plentiful, there has also been a lot of support. Jess Lishak, the Women’s Officer for the University of Manchester Students’ Union, stated plainly that: “trans women are women… I fully support her right to be able to run for the position.”

She added that she will be “deciding who to vote for purely based on their ideas and passion for the job.” Fervent support has also come from Jo Gowers from the Union of Students in Ireland, who praises Lee’s understanding of key issues and states that she is “proudly backing Anna for the NUS UK Women’s Officer.”

The elections will take place in Brighton from the 19th to the 21st of April, where over 1,000 student representatives will gather to vote for the next year’s NUS leadership team.

Manchester staff oppose “dangerously vague” Prevent policies

Written by Rossy Natale on . Posted in News.

Lecturers at the University of Manchester have issued a statement warning that the Prevent programme threatens “the sanctity of academic freedoms and intellectual curiosity, as well as the ability of the University to provide an inclusive and locally relevant recruitment agenda.”

The Prevent programme requires ‘specified authorities’ including university staff to report any student activity they deem to be radical. “The Prevent agenda sets a unique precedence insofar,” the statement explains, “as it asks staff to identify indicators which might merely suggest a propensity to criminal (‘terrorist’) activity” as opposed to reporting actual criminal activity.

Objections to the programme have come from a range of university departments and the staff members themselves come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. University staff have criticised the programme for being “dangerously vague.” They raised concerns that lecturers will see it as their duty to“police moral and/or religious beliefs (i.e. conservatism) as well as critique of current foreign policy as practised by Western governments.”

The statement released last Thursday explains how the Prevent legislation compromises the role they serve as teachers. They deem the programme impractical as it suggests that academic staff will need to perform surveillance roles. As a whole, they feel the legislation is jeopardising the integrity of academic institutions.

One of the biggest issues raised within this debate was the effect this programme could have on Muslim students. Lecturers expressed concern that the policies run a high risk of criminalising all students perceived to be Muslim. As a result, many fear that the recruitment of Muslim students to the university will be threatened.

Dr Bethan Harries of the University of Manchester’s Centre on Dynamics of Ethnicity and Sociology tells The Mancunion: “We are concerned that the sense of trust between staff and students will be compromised and Muslim students will be placed under greater scrutiny when they are already in a marginalised position.”

A BBC investigation has found the number of referrals to the anti-radicalisation programme to have doubled over the past year. This has been paralleled by an increasing concern over the policies from academics, other universities and teaching staff throughout the country.

As a result of their concerns, University of Manchester staff have urged others who feel similarly to join their campaign by emailing [email protected].

Homophobic Facebook post leads Sheffield University to expel student

Written by Emily Hulme on . Posted in News.

A mature student at the University of Sheffield has been expelled from the institution after posting homophobic content on his Facebook page.

Masters student and father of four Felix Ngole quoted a verse of the bible that states that homosexuality is an “abomination”. The 38-year-old also publicly announced his support for Kim Davis, an American County Clerk from Kentucky who was jailed for purposefully declining licences for same-sex marriages.

These posts provoked the university to invite Ngloe to a ‘fitness to practice’ hearing: a university committee that regulates teaching to be in accordance with the professional body. The committee decided that the student should be removed from the course, demanding his student card be handed in. The committee said the posts were offensive to certain individuals and Mr Ngloe’s views were “not deemed appropriate of someone entering the social work profession.”

According to The Independent,  Mr Ngloe’s rejected the university’s decision, stating that he was being discriminated against. He was quoted as saying: “My beliefs about marriage and sexual ethics reflect mainstream, biblical understanding, shared by millions around the world.” The student has appealed against the university’s decision to remove him, saying: “I wonder whether the university would have taken any action if a Muslim student who believes in Sharia law, with its teaching about women and homosexuality, had made moderate comments on his Facebook page. I don’t think so.”

Mr Ngloe also claims the university were vague in explaining the reasons for his dismissal at first, with their only explanation being that his behaviour involved breaching social work guidelines on “personal conduct” and “bringing the profession into disrepute.” He disputes the university’s decision, arguing: “I am not against people who are in same-sex relationships, that is their choice, but I am a Christian and if asked for my views I should be free to express that. I didn’t intimidate anyone and I didn’t treat them in a discriminatory manner.”

The Christian Legal Centre, a group that supports court cases where Christians have purportedly been discriminated against for their views, have publicly supported Mr Ngloes. The Chief Executive, Andrea Williams, announced: “Sadly, this is yet another case of Christians being ‘neutered’ in the public arena, and of censorship of their views.”

LGBT* news site Queerty felt the story unnerved them, stating: “There’s something icky about derailing someone’s career based on a Facebook post. It’s a little too 1984 for our tastes.”

Sheffield University will not comment on the issue as a result of the ongoing appeal.

Bollywood versus Indian independent cinema

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Film.

Bollywood is not as superficial as it seems..

The Indian film industry is the biggest film industry in the world, producing over 1,000 films a year and selling up to 6 billion tickets annually. Bollywood is based in Mumbai and although the name relates to Hollywood, Bollywood films contain characteristics which are far from the typical Western blockbuster. With a length of over three hours and featuring at least five song and dance sequences, they are a feast for the eyes and ears. Big stars, elaborate costumes, and scenes in exotic locations transport viewers into a world of aspiration and glamour, far from the mundane everyday life.

Initially only viewed by an impressively big Asian audience or by NRIs (Non-Residential Indians), the marketing machine behind those films has made them more popular in the West in recent years. As a result, the films have become shorter and generally try to appeal more to a Western audience, losing their original charm and authenticity. Furthermore, Western audiences might get a wrong impression of what life in India is really like. Bollywood portrays a very selective amount of Indian people who are mostly privileged upper middle class and Hindu despite India being a country with a big wealth disparity and a melting pot of languages, ethnicities and religions.

As someone who has only seen a handful of popular Bollywood films; I was surprised to learn that Indian cinema has a very fascinating and old heritage. Therefore, Bollywood films should not be dismissed as light entertainment unless one is aware of the symbolism and origin of this particular film industry. Originally based on traditional theatre, the first silent feature films were produced in the 1910s in India. Early films mostly thematised mythological and traditional tales. The amount of special effects and storytelling devices used in those early films were impressive for that time period especially.

Even the most superficial Bollywood films contain dance sequences which are based on and are a mix of traditional Indian worship dances from South Indian and Punjabi folk dances. On top of that, the films often subtly or openly re-tell Indian mythology, especially tales from Ramayana and Mahabharata, the most important religious epics. Despite their perceived superficiality and many flaws, Bollywood films entertain the masses and their influence on culture should not be dismissed. Especially because the stories and heritage of those films that move billions of people often go deeper than most people anticipate. But it should not be forgotten that Bollywood mainly wants to most of all, entertain.

Still from Chauthi Koot, a Punjabi independent film screened at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Photo: The Film Café

… But Indian independent films portray the real India

When I was at a party, a lot of people were discussing Indian cinema. Having seen the improvement of Indian cinema in the last five years, I asked everyone, “So, do you guys know about Indian cinema?” I received a lot of answers, a lot of hand movements, head movements, and an insane amount of reference to the drivel of Bollywood films. Those films which feature mindless screenplays, a really powerful male actor, a really pretty female actor, a happy ending, and box office money generated by people starved of happiness in their life who crave escapism.

These films reach the West because of the backing of big distribution companies and because of the craving of the NRI community to relive the Indian experience. Before commencing further, one more fact: India has 14 official regional languages, it has 9 film industries of different languages, and Bollywood is the third largest of the industries in terms of a total number of films. Moreover, the most expensive films are not a Hindi films but Tamil ones: 2.0, and Baahubali: The Conclusion.

When I say Indian cinema has improved over the years, I refer to the acceptance of Indian independent films into the biggest film festivals around the world. In the last 5 years, major film festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, Toronto, and BFI London have not only screened, but also honoured films  such as Dhanak, Court, Killa, Massan, Miss Lovely, Gangs of Wasseypur, The Lunchbox, Patang, Chauthi Koot, Liar’s Dice, and many more.

These films, unlike the quintessential Bollywood films, talk about the India that miles away from Mumbai or New Delhi. They have the earthiness of the working class, and these films are filmed at real locations. They reject the popular dance and fight sequences. These films are more real and they ask questions to the audience about India’s social structure. The audiences do not only get informed but they also leave the cinema with something to think about in their mindless affairs of life.

Foreign manners for you journey planners

Written by Louisa Hall on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Stepping off a plane into a new and unfamiliar paradise can be the best feeling in the world. It’s already paid for, the journey went without a hitch, and the exciting plans are sprawled out in front of you. “Now I can relax” you optimistically think to yourself, glazing over the fact that trying not to offend the locals is a minefield.

Photo: Nick Holliday @Flickr

We’re monitored before we even utter our first stumbling phrasebook words in a foreign land. Although in England, we are by no means forthcoming in our friendliness towards others, it is actually rude and considered “too intimate” to smile at strangers in Russia. Moreover, in Vietnam a friendly or jokey crossing of the fingers would have quite the opposite effect; far from a good luck symbol, they say it resembles a “feature” of the female body (now WHAT could that be..?) And, it is therefore the equivalent of flipping the bird. So watch out, Lotto, you’re not going to sell many tickets with that obscenity! Of all things, an unexpected sneeze is-snot okay in Japan, and would warrant a glare of disgust rather than an (admittedly half-hearted) “bless-you”.

Photo: E shaughn @Flickr

Even when you’ve finally found someone to chat to or something to do, you’re still not out of hot water. In Germany, standing with your hands in your pockets whilst talking to someone is very rude, as is chewing gum during a conversation in Italy. Tipping is considered an insult in Japan, and would therefore not be met with the gratitude that you may have expected. Alas, forget everything your mother told you! Burping after a meal in China is encouraged and is the sign of a good meal. Meanwhile, in The Netherlands you are expected to sit in the front seat of a taxi; the driver is your chum, not your chauffeur.

Photo: Anthony White @Flickr

*Deep breath*. Kissing is a whole other kettle of fish: two in Spain and Italy; three in The Netherlands; one for someone the same age in Belgium, or three for an elder; and between one and four in France depending on the region (…maybe avoid here). The Flemish don’t make contact, the Spanish touch cheeks with a kissing noise, and Italians make no noise…

The Germans just shake hands.

Understanding the social norms of every country is worthy of a degree, and a few slip-ups are guaranteed. But what better practice is there than being British? With our over-using of the word “sorry”, compulsive need to queue for everything, and extensive range of context-dependent laughs, if you can survive the English public, then you can survive anywhere.

Live: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Written by Matthew Staite on . Posted in Music.

Manchester Gorilla

15th February 2016

7/10

Read that name over again, one more time. If that isn’t one of the best names for a band that you’ve ever read, I don’t know what is. Thankfully, alongside their tongue twisting name King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is also a brilliant live music force. In the genre of psychedelic rock, the band have a prolific record release rate, having released two albums a year—including the excellent Quarters! And Paper Mache Dream Balloon which was released in 2015. In what feels like a dangerous accusation to make, a lot of their songs do sound the same. But then again, this is not a bad thing; their frequently 10 minute long tracks filled with hook-filled guitar loops and jazzy breakdowns are infectious as hell.

Playing to packed out venue, Gorilla, on a Monday night, it seemed like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have certainly captured the hearts of many Mancunian music fans, too. The set was raucous (to say the least) from start to finish. Unrelenting psychedelic tracks like ‘I’m in Your Mind’ and the correspondingly named song, ‘I’m Not in Your Mind’, provided the sonic backdrop to near-continual stage invasions that saw teenagers invade the stage before launching themselves into the crowd throughout the entire gig. Strangely enough, security didn’t seem to mind—letting the debauchery continue. Without a moments pause, the band launched straight off from those tracks into the equally intense ‘Cellophane’.

And that’s exactly how it continued: relentless. I hate to say it, but a lot of the set did sound the same. Normally this would be a bad thing, but strangely with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, it wasn’t. The band members were simply such brilliant musicians, that you couldn’t help but be engrossed. The drummer and bassist kept the rhythm section going like clockwork, whilst the utterly brilliant psychedelic mess continued on top. At times, it would verge onto heavy metal territory when vocalist Stu Mackenzie would utter a scream, but then he got out a flute. A flute. Whether he just had his flute left over from his schoolboy days and didn’t want it to go to waste, I will never know—but somehow it worked!

I couldn’t bring myself to stay for a 10 minute psychedelic blast of an encore, but I didn’t feel that I needed to. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard had proved their point.