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Month: February 2018

Photo: superdrug.com

Very Berry Eyes

Written by Ginah Shergill on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Finding new ways to brighten up and change a look is always exciting, and with the current trend of pink and red hues being introduced to the world of eye makeup, it is easier than ever to go bold or make a simple change!

Red and pink eyeshadow looks aren’t just exclusive to the world of catwalks and avant-garde makeup looks. They can now be introduced into your makeup routine, and are a lot more wearable than you think. So don’t shy away from the world of berry tones and bright pinks, and try out some bold new looks or subtly change a more classic look.

This can be done by, firstly, matching the right shade of pink or red to your skin tone. There is such a wide range of shades in this colour group that there is sure to be more than one that suits you. A rough guide is if you have a fairer skin tone you should use pink tones and brighter reds such as MAC’s ‘red brick’ (£13.50). Medium skin tones should use orange toned reds like NYX’s hot single in ‘heat’ (£3.50) and darker skin tones should opt for brown toned reds and deeper pinks,  for example, Anastasia Beverly Hill’s eyeshadow single in ‘red earth’ (£12).

If you’re just testing the waters, brands like NYX offer their Hot Singles for only £3.50. But if you’re looking to experiment, there are a range of red- pink palettes available, such as Makeup Revolutions ‘reloaded newtrals 2’ (£4) where there is a mix of matte and metallic pinks and reds to suit all skin tones. On the higher end side, Huda Beauty’s ‘warm brown obsessions’ palette (£25) is the perfect palette to achieve a berry toned look. The palette is a mix of brown and red tones, with some glittery metallic options too, so you can create a more neutral eyeshadow look too.

You can incorporate these colours into a classic routine by swapping out a smokey eye and putting a dark red in the crease and blending out with a lighter red. If you fancy a bolder look then use a range of different red and pink tones and pair the look with a nude lip to balance it out.

With the berry trend’s  popularity skyrocketing, there are now so many palettes and shade ranges of pinks and reds available on the high-street to choose from, so don’t be afraid to rock a different colour in a way that suits you- subtle or bold!

Photo: zeynepkartal.co.uk

Fashion Player of the Week: Zeynep Kartal

Written by Talia Lee-Skudder on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Zeynep Kartal launched her label in 2013 and is a celebrity red carpet favourite. Most recently Kartal dressed a number of stars for the NTA’s including Rochelle Humes and Queen of the jungle Georgia Toffolo to name a couple. Across the pond, Kartal dressed Taylor Spreitler for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. Spreitler took to the red carpet in the Zeynep Kartal ice blue wrap buttoned gown.

Kartal is a favourite with British and American celebrities alike, her credentials also include Whitney Port, Amanda Holden and Pixie Lott. The philosophy behind Kartal’ brand is that her ‘collections are elegant, timeless, sophisticated, and because of the detailed elements every piece of the collection is unique and tailored to fit.’ She further states that her aim is to give every woman a feeling of ‘stylish sophistication and self-confidence.’

Kartal’s studio is based in Manchester’s King Street, her designs are made from the finest natural fabrics, such as silk, crepe and laces. The designs are adorned with hand-made embellishments creating a distinct aesthetic of femininity and sophistication. Her Spring Summer 18 collection is full of pastel yellow and blue floaty and draped dresses, plus some sharply tailored suits and some vibrant red ball gowns. The show-stopping dress of the collection is the heavily embellished long-sleeved, plunge neck dress with the split at the front – the embodiment of a Kartal creation.

Kartal has also launched ‘Little Ladies’, a children’s brand for the little girl’s who strive to emulate the ladylike elegance of their mother’s style. It is a unique childrenswear collection that is an extension of Kartal’s aesthetic for elegance and classiness and a further testament to Kartal’s creativity.

If you fancy drooling over dresses that are completely unattainable on a student budget then head over to zeynepkartal.co.uk. Also, Zeynep Kartal will also be showcasing all of her NTA dresses at the Manchester Fashion Festival at Manchester hall on the 23rd February.

Photo: Raj Patel @wikimediacommons

Beckham strikes back: The story behind David Beckham’s newest soccer venture

Written by Jack Quint on . Posted in Sport.

In a noteworthy move in the sport, former professional footballer David Beckham announced on Monday 29th January that he is helping to launch a Major League Soccer (MLS) club based out of Miami, Florida.

The 42-year-old Beckham had been discussing the possibility of building an expansion team in the MLS since his days with the LA Galaxy. However, months of the behind-the-scenes work with Miami and MLS officials alike finally created a pathway for this opportunity to take place. Characterised as confident and ambitious, this new venture marks yet another impressive business move in Beckham’s off-the-field endeavours since the beginning of his professional career in 1992.

In the United Kingdom, Beckham polarises opinion among football fans all throughout the country. A 12-year star on Manchester United, Beckham gained an immense following by fans mesmerised by his stellar play in both league and national player. He began his domestic career playing for Manchester United in 1992, before finishing up an outstanding club history with Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.

The former captain of the England national team was involved in various professional football organisations for over 25 years, and is considered by many to be one of the best players to ever play the game. Throughout this time, Beckham was well-known by football and non-football fans alike, garnering attention for his physical attractiveness and dedication to the sport.

Since then, Beckham has been reportedly involved with various different ventures, creating a major presence on social media that has translated to a successful career in the entertainment industry. Since his retirement from the sport, it had been speculated that his next major move would centre around a similar purchase of a club, however due to complications this process ending up taking almost five years before completion.

Other stars turned to social media to congratulate Beckham on his most recent success, including tennis legend Serena Williams and Hollywood stars Jay-Z and Jennifer Lopez. Beckham’s connections in the entertainment industry should prove to be useful to the success of his new team, where celebrities combined with their social media platforms make excellent marketing tools to attract fans to their brand. The city of Miami will soon have a franchise in all four major sports leagues in the United States, joining the Dolphins of the NFL, Heat in the NBA, and the Panthers from the Miami metropolitan area.

The move to Miami seemed only fitting, attracting an incredibly large market of fans who have been desperately waiting for the arrival of a new team since their former club Miami Fusion fell apart in 2001. As with many new major sports organisations, the biggest reason for this large gap in franchises was due to extensive discussions between Beckham’s buying group and Miami officials over the past four years. It was not until December 2015 when Beckham was officially able to secure a piece of land in the South Florida area.

This comes as a major win with a younger demographic in the Miami area, with a variety of different Hispanic and Caucasian children who have become fascinated with the sport and its growing league in the United States. Beckham and his group can now shift their focus to an extensive marketing campaign for this new team, gathering as much attention and recognition as possible prior to their instalment into the MLS. Beckham’s worldwide fame combined with one of the largest sports markets into the entire world should prove to be an effective combination and one can only expect a series of success for years to come.

Fans are ecstatic for the opportunity of a soccer legend to be the figurehead for this new club and Beckham himself has been grateful for this experience. “I’ve had a wealth of experience from playing with different clubs in different cities across the world… so that’s where I can my expertise into this ownership group”.

Even though he has no prior coaching or managerial experience, Beckham’s time spent around the sport across multiple disciplines significantly strengthens his position in this league. While it typically takes an extensive period of time for an expansion franchise to find consistent success in its new league, many leaders across the MLS believe this franchise will be different as Beckham’s impressive resume with a variety of different clubs should prove to be useful in his endeavours to bring a championship to the city of Miami. In the coming months, fans should be excited to see this generational store back around a professional team, seeking once again to lead a team into prominence in its respective league.

Greater Manchester Police denies they have ‘lost control’

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in News.

The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Hopkins has been forced to deny that his organisation has lost control of the streets after a fresh wave of concerns over safety in the city.

An investigation by the Manchester Evening News into the presence of youth gangs in the Hyde found that incidents involving theft and assault at the hands of school-aged thugs were a regularity for citizens in the area.

Residents appeared dissatisfied with the continuation of the problem which has reportedly escalated into the vandalising of property and use of knives by gang members for self-defence.

Although the continuous nature of these incidents appears to be isolated to Hyde itself, the criticism of the police response has drawn questions of the ability of the force to handle the substantial crime scene in and around Manchester.

A review by the Office for National Statistics found a 41 per cent increase in crime-related incidents in Greater Manchester from September 2016 to September 2017.

Hopkins was forced to admit that the impact of national cuts on the force was behind the reduction in response to and focus on smaller instances of crime.

The Chief Constance identified that “murders, serious sexual offences, and terrorism'” are now the priority for the Police.

Seven years of cuts have been argued to have seriously affected the funding of the police force and seen a significant decrease in a number of officers available to reach crime scenes.

With around 2,000 fewer officers, Hopkins has insisted that the force has reshaped in certain ways to deal with the effects of cuts, including new technologies.

Hopkins remains confident in the ability of the force to serve the Greater Manchester area adequately.

He said: “We are absolutely committed to reducing the impact of these cuts on the people of Manchester and have transformed the way that we work to ensure we are providing the best possible service.

“By working with partners, we are able to look at crime ‘hotspots’ and recurring problems in the area, understanding the wider issues around them and putting in place long-term solutions.

“We have already introduced smartphones and tablets for frontline staff to enable them to spend more time out in the community, and are transforming the way we work with a new operational policing system.

“With fewer officers, we are having to make really difficult decisions and prioritise where to send our resources based on threat, harm and risk, but we will continue to do all we can to keep the streets of Greater Manchester safe.”

A previous investigation by The Mancunion found that students who were affected or concerned by safety issues, particularly in and around South Manchester, increasingly relied on social media groups for information, as opposed to the police or other official channels.

Photo: Global Panorama @ Flickr

Book review: ‘Framed’ by Ronnie O’Sullivan

Written by Arthur Salisbury on . Posted in Sport.

When Roger Federer hits a tennis ball, the resultant sound is different to any other player. It is deeper and more obviously correct. It is the sound of perfect timing, and it is the sign of the bona fide sporting genius.

The other contemporary athlete this applies to is Ronnie O’Sullivan. Some readers might raise an eyebrow at the use of the label ‘athlete’ in the previous sentence, but I think here it is accurate — the new Masters champion Mark Allen once revealed in a mid-session-ask-the-stars-time-filler that his least favourite food was ‘vegetables’ and his favourite ‘takeaways’, but Ronnie O’Sullivan ran 40-45 miles a week before a dodgy heel forced him to cut down. Ronnie is interested in Buddhism, and was the first celebrity to endorse Jeremy Corbyn at the general election. This possession of a hinterland sets him apart from the other geniuses, and its latest manifestation is his authorship of a crime novel called Framed.

Framed follows a snooker club owner in his early 20s called Frankie James, as he attempts to clear his brother, Jack, of the brutal murder of Susan Tilley. The James brothers are the sons of a now incarcerated East End gangster, very much of the old school, and the victim is the fiancée of the son of a rival gang leader.

Although it does flirt with it from time to time, the book on the whole avoids the nostalgic sentimentality that surrounds accounts of the Krays and the Richardsons, although its relationship with the underworld is complicated. This is understandable, given that O’Sullivan’s father was put away for 18 years on a murder charge when Ronnie was just 16. The moments in the novel where Frankie is recalling the good times before his own dad was put away are moving in their honesty and in their number.

Of course, O’Sullivan is primarily a snooker player, and there is a degree of what I will call stylistic naivety in Framed. The book opens with a slightly forced dating technique — “some new Mancunian band touted as the next big thing in Brit Pop” may as well have just been written “it was 1994” — and sometimes as the reader you wish he would’ve trusted you to go some of the way yourself, rather than spelling it out. These are however minor quibbles, and the book’s positives make it worth seeing through to the end. Like O’Sullivan the player, O’Sullivan the author likes to get on with things. Framed races along, and it contains moments that are genuinely funny, thrilling and shocking (although not all at once).

There is a clear autobiographical tone to Framed, to the point that it becomes nigh on impossible not to read Frankie’s mental commentaries in Ronnie’s voice. But Frankie’s largely snooker hall-based alcoholism, and the lack of an attempt on Ronnie’s behalf to be any more subtle about the identity of the real protagonist is part of its charm. What’s also fun is the casual name-drop of the author into the conversation of two sarcastic snooker players, which produces an unnerving effect not unlike when a real city is referred to in Kafka.

Overall, Framed might not be high art, but it is not without merit, and a fun old read for snooker fans and others alike.

Review: The Greatest Showman

Written by Sharon Lim on . Posted in Film.

The Greatest Showman: a dramatised movie of the legendary P.T. Barnum who owned the P.T. Barnum and Bailey Circus. The timing is especially salient since it had its last show this year. By all accounts, the movie itself has many parallels to the real P.T. Barnum. He started the circus with fake and exaggerated artefacts and used people like the bearded lady to attract customers. The real P.T. Barnum was by no means a honest man. He made his monetary ambitions quite clear from the beginning. This contrasts with how he was portrayed in the movie.

Jackman definitely earned his nominations for this role, playing the titular character with charisma I’m sure the real Barnum also possessed at times. Hugh Jackman is a born showman, made for this role. You would expect nothing less from a man with such a rich background in musicals, but this movie takes it to another level.

Every performance, every song excelled visually and was accomplished with great flair. The dance routines were ingenious, using props and talented dancers who greatly executed the tough choreography. The bar scene, where Barnum and Carlise, Zac’s character, negotiated a deal and they danced and exchanged shot glasses, sliding them back and forth across the slippery table. To be able to make a scene as tight and limited, with three performers, a couple of stools, and a bar into something exciting and enjoyable, shows how well the routines were thought out.

Though it being a musical, Jenny Lind, played by Rebecca Ferguson, was voiced over by a talented singer, Loren Alfred. Even so, Ferguson’s acting was on par with the singing, a believable performance that slowed the pace of the fast moving movie, readying it for act two. Her colleagues, Zac Efron, Zendaya and Michelle Williams were amazing singers in their own right, needing no voice overs. Williams plays Charity, wife of the great Barnum, who could have been overshadowed by Jackman, but her subtlety in the way she expressed the character’s thoughts. She made her more than just the perfect wife they wrote for her. Zendaya, a performer and a Disney starlet, did her own trapeze stunts, which is surprising since you can have a stunt double in those kind of shots, but the director wanted to make sure she was seen.

Zendaya and Zac Efron play two star crossed lovers, which society frowns upon because of Carlise’s social standing and the colour of Zendaya’s skin. But being a feel-good movie with cozy, heartwarming scenes that were on the verge of cheesiness… Actually scratch that, not on the verge; this is actual complete cheesiness. It only touches the surface of society’s narrow-minded outlook on anything beyond what they deemed to be normal. In 19th century New York, narrow mindedness was a sentiment shared by all classes. The whole movie’s theme was centred on this idea that the outcasts, the different and the abnormal, are not to be discarded but to be embraced for their unique and individual traits.

Though, it seemed that half of the movie was skimmed over, leaving out more than there was. For example, the dance number of ‘This is Me’, which made me feel pride for their new founded confidence and fierceness. But nothing else much came off it. As if it never even happened. Yes, I enjoyed the movie no doubt. It was aimed for your enjoyment, nothing too heavy but enough for you to feel for the rejected members of the troupe in a way that many movie-goers will relate to, as I had.

But I wanted more from what had been shown of the characters: the bearded lady who sang like a dream, a snarky and quick-quipped 22 year old dwarf, and Anne Wheller, the beautiful trapeze artist—their ten minutes on screen had me to waiting for more of their storylines that never came. Instead, we get the greatly exaggerated storyline of Barnum’s oh-so-interesting life that had seemed more like a montage with great soundtrack.

The Greatest Showman is directed by a first timer in the director’s chair, Michael Gracey, who Jackman had persuaded to take on the job. He was known for nothing more than Australian commercials, but for a movie as grand and adventurous as this one, it was one heck of a breakthrough for him. The movie itself, the original songs and performances, the song-writers and composers themselves greatly deserve the attention they had been receiving during the award season. In particular, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul who had been nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes for “This Is Me”. A song that made my Songs to Sing in the Showers playlist, which is a very much contested spot.

A movie that makes it on the list of feel-good movies this year, something that you can and should watch during the holiday season with family and sing along to.

3/5

Photo: Free-Photos @ Flickr

The art of the weekender bag

Written by Sophia Macpherson on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Whether it’s returning home or visiting a friend or indulging in a weekend away, packing efficiently is a skill that will well and truly make your life easier. Although it is technically not travel season, it is always useful to know how to pack in a logical way that allows you to travel comfortably. I find this skill comes particularly handy when faced with the task of packing to visit a friend at another university. My first impulse is to pack all of my nice going-out clothes and to just leave deciding what I will wear to later on. We are all guilty of doing this (especially girls), but with these five tips you will be on your way to a journey that doesn’t involve lugging your bag around or a sore shoulder.

Start with the essentials. This seems fairly obvious but if you start your packing with only the things that you really need then I often find that you will continue with this practical mindset. Start off with your underwear and socks – you’d be surprised how many people forget them…

Coordinate your clothes! Choose clothes that you can easily mix and match. Whether you’re the type of person that prefers matching simple tops with fancy trousers or the reverse, pick a staple piece and choose a few options that will undoubtedly work with it. Remember to always pack a trusty jumper, especially in English weather.

Pack for the weather. Now you may be thinking ‘yes of course I will’ but you’d be surprised how many people forget to do this. Whether you’re going somewhere that is normally always hot or dry, being smart and checking the weather forecast can really go along way. If you’re going somewhere in England, ALWAYS bring an umbrella or something with a hood because no matter what the forecast says, there’s a chance it will rain.

You really do not need that many toiletries. For weekend-trips to see friends, remember that you probably won’t need to bring toothpaste, shampoo, and soap as you can nab this off your friend (unless they’re stingy…). Hotels and Airbnbs will almost always have things like hairdryers and soap as well.

Do the roll. My dad taught me the roll about five years ago and I’ve never gone back. Rolling your clothes saves space and also prevents your clothes from wrinkling. If you wanna go that extra mile, you could even roll your coordinating clothes within each other.

Photo: SWPix

Katie Archibald completes hat-trick at the National Track Championships

Written by Sam Cooper on . Posted in Sport.

At the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, 23 year old cyclist Katie Archibald completed a hat trick of wins with victories in the Individual Pursuit, Scratch race and Points race. Archibald was the reigning champion of all three races and impressively held on to all of her three crowns.

The Points race win was a dramatic one, as it looked as if Archibald was out of it only for a late surge to power her to victory. Archibald told British Cycling “I thought that race was all over. It was do or die with about ten laps to go — I was doing the maths and I thought maybe I could get the five points for the sprint and then contest the last one, but then you think to yourself, this is the last lap — if you latch on to the pack here, this is your everything. It obviously wasn’t all over, as I still had to mark Emily Kay, but it’s amazing how your mindset just switches — as soon as I latched on, I felt ready to go again.”

It was a success all round for the Archibald family as Katie’s brother John also claimed first. John won his Points race on the Saturday to earn his maiden national crown.

Six-time Olympic Champion Jason Kenny concluded the weekend’s events by winning the team sprint title with teammates Phil Hindes, Ryan Owens and Jack Carlin. In one of his first events back since an extended post-Rio break, Kenny delighted the home crowd with a time of 43:593 in the final.

Two University of Manchester (UoM) students also took part; Rebecca Howard and Rebecca Maynard competed the Team Spring while Maynard also took part in the 500 metres.

Speaking to The Mancunion, the pair commented on their experience of such a big event. Maynard said “The afternoon with the crowd gave an awesome atmosphere whereas the morning was a bit empty. It was really cool to be up with some of the best in the world and I really enjoyed being able to watch as well as compete. It was probably one of the most tiring days of my life. At the velodrome by 7:30am and there until [about] 5pm”

Howard: “Amazing. It’s extraordinary. Knowing that Saturday and Sunday’s nights’ sessions were a sell-out before the weekend even began gave it an extra buzz. Sunday morning’s session, when we did qualifying for team sprint, wasn’t ticketed but was open and free to the public so we enjoyed support from fellow UoM Cycling club members at least!

It’s extraordinary seeing almost the whole Team GB squad out in force, having gold-medal-winning Olympians warming up next to us and competing side-by-side with them. You also get to see all of the development squads, who’s up-and-coming, as well as teams that are bound to be breaking world records within the next year (Team KGF). It’s just so beautiful to watch and a privilege to be a part of it.

Not going to lie: being 0.07s off qualifying for the team sprint semi-finals was a sad moment! At least we weren’t as close as another team, who missed out on a bronze medal by just 0.004s. It’s exhilarating.”

When asked about what they hoped to improve on in the future both mentioned time spent in the gym. “I need to improve my power which will require more weights training” was Maynard’s response while Howard said “you can always be fitter and more powerful as a cyclist. So lots more time out on the road and in a gym!”

Howard concluded by speaking about how easy it is to get into the sport: “Rebecca [Maynard] is an old hand at this but I only started cycling (as an adult) when I started my degree and have had my own bike for less than two years so it’s definitely something that can be started afresh when studying here. The track facilities are right on our doorstep!”

Django Django

Review: Django Django – Marble Skies

Written by Ethan Davies on . Posted in Music.

The difficult third album is an oft-touted phrase throughout the music press. It makes or breaks an artist’s career, supposedly. Think OK Computer, and then think Be Here Now. It’s Django Django’s turn to attempt this difficult feat: their task is made more difficult still by the fact some felt their 2015 sophomore effort, Burn Under Saturn, fell flat after 2012’s Mercury Prize-nominated, electric self-titled debut. Happily, though, they don’t disappoint. In fact, I’d even go as far as to say that in places, this is the best pop music gets.

What’s immediately clear on Marble Skies is that the band have not lost the desire nor ability to experiment. Some work, some don’t. The slower paced nature of ‘Further’ is a nice enough jaunt and a perfectly competent song in itself, but the fact it comes after the lead single ‘Tic Tac Toe’ disrupts the flow of the record. This sounds and feels like the archetypal track eight, but it’s number five.

The same goes for ‘Sundials’. It feels like the perfect album closer or penultimate track — it has some of that dream-pop theme that we saw in Burn Under Saturn, but in an enjoyable quantity. It doesn’t drag, but it doesn’t make you dance. It’s just a good song. But it’s not a track six. Somehow, ‘Further’ disrupts the flow of the album, and ‘Sundials’ disrupts it further still.

So, where are this album’s strengths? The three big ones are tracks seven, eight, and nine — ‘Beam Me Up’, ‘In Your Beat’, and ‘Real Gone’. Those three tracks are all perfect 10s. This is where the band’s experimentation works best. It’s best not to deal with them in order, however, as I’ll explain now.

Think of ‘In Your Beat’ as the party of an amazing evening. Everyone you love is there, and everyone is having the time of their lives. This party will be talked about by you and your mates for years to come. Why though? Why is the ‘In Your Beat’ party so good? Well, because the pre-drinks set everyone up nicely. Pre-drinks are DJ-ed this time by the song ‘Beam Me Up’ — it slowly builds anticipation to what’s yet to come, bringing the tempo of the evening up and down to match the mood of the guests. No one has smashed a glass, there are no spillages. There are just a bunch of people having a nice time, enthusiastic about what’s next. The genius of these two songs is the transition between them. The first time I listened to this album, I did an audio double take after I heard it — you’ll never want to use shuffle again.

You’ve had the fantastic pre-drinks. You’ve had the time of your life at the party. What now? Only the best after-party of your life. This is ‘Real Gone’. It may lack the super smooth transition that the last two tracks did, but it doesn’t matter. It takes you on a journey, building to a chorus that is so powerful, so awe-inspiring, so terrific, that it just washes over you and reminds you what pop music can do to you. This is watching the sunrise at the after-party in mid-June and taking in the evening. ‘Fountains’ then nicely rounds the record off, leaving you satisfied.

With a bit more care and a more tempered approach to experimentation, this could have joined my hall of fame for records, as ‘Real Gone’ entered my hall of fame for songs. In places, this is a brilliant album, showcasing what is possible in pop music. However, even with an enjoyable start and competent songs throughout, pacing issues ruin this record’s chances of perfection.

8/10.

Photo: Album Artwork

Record Reappraisal: Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not

Written by Jake Oliver on . Posted in Music.

When Arctic Monkeys first burst on to the scene way back in 2006, nobody could’ve predicted the influence they would have on British music. Now, 12 years later, with European tour dates being announced and a new record on the way, it’s time to go back and re-examine why their first album is still to this day so brilliant.

Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is very much the soundtrack to teenage life during the early 2000s and indeed today. It’s an album that in itself manages to charter the chaos of a night out on the town, an integral part of those formative years. The rolling drums and slashing guitar introduction to ‘The View From The Afternoon’ capture that excitement which confronts anyone getting ready to go out. It’s a great setup of relentless energy from all members of the band that never seems to take a break.

Even when it does, there’s a persistent sense of coolness that manages to compensate for the slower pace. Turner’s bittersweet charm when confronted with a moody girlfriend on ‘Mardy Bum’ still squeezes in a bit of power towards the end, and whilst ‘Riot Van’ may be my choice for the weakest song on the album, the nonchalant nature of being caught by police does just enough to keep me hooked.

The cohesiveness of the group is really what allows them to flourish. The blistering guitar work from Jamie Cook, original bassist Andy Nicholson, and Turner himself, with Nick O’Malley on drums, is reminiscent of classic garage rock and punk. There’s a grassroots feeling with Arctic Monkeys, who had already been working diligently since 2002 to get their name out there. Not since Oasis – dare I say it – had there been a band of this calibre making such massive movements in the industry.

Talking about getting drunk or getting into fights was nothing new in the genre at the time. In a way, Arctic Monkeys aren’t the most innovative and groundbreaking band everyone insists they are. That’s not to undermine their success or their ongoing legacy, but their debut didn’t exactly push any boundaries. Much like some of their contemporaries — like The Strokes, for example — Arctic Monkeys came out around the time of a rock revival of sorts.

What was pioneering about Arctic Monkeys, however, was how exactly they marketed themselves. From as early as 2002, the band were handing out demos and tracks to everyone and anyone. Using MySpace, both the band and fans could share and interact like never before; harnessing this DIY vibe was probably integral to their stratospheric rise to fame. Acting as trendsetters in this respect, this is a method that even today, bands have tried to emulate themselves with moderate success.

With such a tight sense of production and style, the final piece to the puzzle is Turner’s frank and honest lyricisms. Whatever relies not only on the musical talent of the band, but the observations Turner makes on his night-time (mis)adventures. The ongoing monologue of ‘From The Ritz To The Rubble” describing Turner’s rejection from a club has all the swagger and confidence you’d come to expect from a drunken lad.

Or how about the laughable “Get on your dancing shoes, you sexy little swine”, bearing all the cringe of every guy that’s ever tried to woo a girl with his words when pissed? His lyrical prowess is something that has persisted for the entirety of his career, a talent that Turner has perfected well.

There’s very much a timeless element to the album. Between its initial release and today, not much has changed in terms of clubbing or the experiences of adolescence. People are still awkwardly dancing, guys are still desperately trying to pull and bouncers are still jerks.

Whatever is an album that allows us to relive these moments at any point, without the inevitable hangover and instant regret that usually comes following a night out. Moreover, the album started  a phenomenon that is still thriving to this day, and one that I very much doubt will ever die.

As Arctic Monkeys begin to make their long-awaited return to the world, I’d like to end with a quote from the man himself: “That rock’n’roll. It just won’t go away”.

 

Photo: No Hot Ashes

Live Review: No Hot Ashes

Written by Jake Oliver on . Posted in Music.

On a cold December night, I descended in to the belly of the Students’ Union to watch Stockport indie rockers No Hot Ashes take to the stage. Playing the Manchester Club Academy is the biggest show of their young career so far.

The band swagger on stage and you can immediately tell this is a big moment for them. But rather than shy away, they launch themselves straight in to the action. Old fan favourite ‘Smooth (no bits)’ opens with a cackle from the frontman and provides everyone with an opportunity to jump around.

The band themselves aren’t what you’d expect from your stereotypical indie group. Drawing inspiration from funk, rap and classic rock ‘n’ roll, No Hot Ashes manage to channel these opposing genres in to one with ease. It’s somewhat of a shame that they’ve been relatively unknown for so long.

‘Bellyaches’, a funky disco bop plays towards the end of the night, causing the crowd to erupt in to one massive dance off. “I’m sick of losing best friends” growls Isaac during the breakdown, resulting in everyone else screaming the proceeding lyrics right back in to his face, much to his delight.

Before wrapping up, the group play their new release ‘Eight Till Late’. Despite the single only being out a mere two weeks, everyone in Academy and the band themselves, continue to give it their all. It’s a genuinely infectious night out.

At such a young age themselves, the lyrics of their songs are in line with their audiences own experiences. Tales of getting drunk with your best friends, running rampant on a night out and falling in love all add to the appeal of the band. You can’t help but fall in love with them really.

“Dying in the week but you’re living for the weekend” is a lyric that resonated particularly well on the night, as No Hot Ashes put on a tremendously energetic performance that fans were losing themselves in. With an upcoming debut EP in 2018, they’re definitely destined for big things. Catch them at Manchester Academy 2 on 31st March, you won’t regret it.

7/10

Photo: Horse Meat Disco

Review: Horse Meat Disco

Written by Hannah Brierley on . Posted in Music.

27th January 2018, Gorilla

Horse Meat Disco describes itself as the “queer” party for everyone. Such a simple introduction has never fit an event more perfectly. Horse Meat Disco is successfully touring around both the UK and across the globe, and this is clear to see why,  a constant stream of glittery faces, and abundance of disco lights and brings together a sea of people in one place to have a really good dance to really good feel-good music.

For those who have never been to the venue Gorilla before it honestly has everything you need. The size of the venue is big enough to feel full, vibrant, and busy, but with enough room to breathe and more importantly no huge queues for the toilet or for the smoking area (Hurrah).

The night consisted of tracks such as Fleetwood Macs’ ‘ Everywhere’, The Human League’s ‘Don’t You Want Me, Baby’ and as much CHIC and Niall Rodger classics that you could ever want or desire. The event covered all bases, from Motown, funk and soul. It had all the best songs way back from the biggest 70’s hits, all the way to today’s funkiest modern tracks.

The quality of the music never once dipped, nor did it drop the exhilaration through the night, playing all of those memorable hits that you can’t help but lose yourself to. They say that time flies when you’re having fun, and this is most definitely the case for most people who went to Horse Meat Disco that Saturday, a whirlwind of genuine fun and ‘good times’… (pardon the CHIC pun).

From, never being and having heard so much about it, to going and experiencing it myself, I can honestly say I am counting the days till the next Horsemeat Disco (It’s February 23rd if anybody is wondering).

Photo: Yasmin Duggal @ The Mancunion

Live review: The Night Café

Written by Yasmin Duggal on . Posted in Music.

Imagine Catfish and the Bottlemen and The 1975 had a Scouse, slightly synthy, long haired musical baby. The Night Café had that kind of laid back, too-cool-for-school thing really going for them. Their instrumental aspects were intriguing and so was their hair, whilst that Liverpool charm and genuine humility did them wonders.

Sometimes it was too cool — you wanted some effort, some drive, some passion injected into the intimate space, though their tracks were catchy and played right into the young crowd’s appetite.

Opening with ‘The Way of Mary’, the boys launched into some smooth, synthy tunes which dabbled in instrumental fluidity but largely remained rooted in the safe realms of a well-rounded, alternative four-piece. That’s not to say staying in a comfort zone was a disadvantage, they rocked hard and clearly have the right attitude for breaking out into the competitive market.

‘Addicted’ was a particular highlight, the crowd told to “grab a slow-dance partner” and take things down a notch. The innocent, love-struck tune chimed a chord with the young crowd, as the gig took a well-received dip from the heavier stuff.

Other tracks ‘Felicity’ and ‘Mixed Signals’ maintained the cool laissez-faire approach to popular, under-the-radar alternative music, adding synthy instrumentals to spice up the Circa Waves-esque sound. The staging was refreshingly simplistic, and resembled a rough and ready praccy session in the local pub, backed up by the band’s overwhelming appreciation at a Manchester crowd’s enthusiasm.

There are claims that guitar music has died, that there will never be bands like Oasis or the Roses again, but perhaps underestimated is the power of raw, honest indie tunes from Northern cities which still dominate the industry. We forget that times have changed; gone are the naughties’ choppy, lad-about-town fast records, and in have come the trancey undertones of a newer, more relaxed audio which lies in its own special niche.

The Night Café certainly showed signs of potentially becoming a serious player in such a niche, and if their natural ability at Manchester Academy 3 is anything to go off, they will continue to grow and grow.

7/10

 

Samuel Pigott

Recipe: Chorizo and Roasted Potato Hash

Written by Samuel Pigott on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Ingredients:

  • 4 large, parboiled potatoes
  •  1 tbsp each of dried thyme and oregano, smoked paprika, salt and pepper
  • 50ml sunflower oil
  • 200g chorizo
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 fresh red chilli
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree
  • 2 fresh bay leaves
  • Juice of one lemon
  • Bunch fresh flat leaf parsley
  • 2 large eggs

Method

  1. Add the thyme, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper to the oil. Add this into an oven preheated to 190C and heat for approximately 10 minutes until it is smoking. Add the parboiled potatoes, diced into 1cm cubes, and toss in the oil. Roast for 35 minutes, or until crisp, turning just once halfway through.
  2. Dice the chorizo and add to a cold frying pan. Introduce this to the heat and fry over a medium heat for ten minutes, until the oil begins to come out from the chorizo.
  3. Dice the onion and chilli and add these to the pan, along with the tomato puree, the bay leaves and approximately 3 tbsp of water.
  4. Once the potatoes are cooked, add these to the pan along with the juice of half the lemon. Finely slice the parsley and season to taste, along with checking if more lemon juice is needed.
  5. In a separate pan simply fry the two eggs, ensuring the yolk remains runny, and serve this on top of the hash with a touch more parsley and seasoning.

Whitewash denied at Australia Day

Written by Arthur Salisbury on . Posted in Sport.

Crikey! Strewth! Australia Day is always an unpleasant spectacle, and this year was no different, with England losing five wickets for eight runs in 38 deliveries at the start of their innings. The words of Invasion Day protest organised Tarneen Onus-Williams echoed around the floodlit Adelaide Oval that evening: “F–k Australia. Hope it burns to the ground.”

Smith took in the air and decided to bowl first. Hazlewood and Cummins, Starc-less for the first time in the series, exploited the humid conditions to swing it both ways on what is typically a good bowler’s wicket. Jason Roy, whose 180 at Melbourne was England’s highest ever ODI innings, was the first to fall, driving Hazlewood to Smith at point.

The opening overs were wearily reminiscent of the opening session from the final day of the second test, at the same ground — bleary late-night optimism giving way to the comfort derived from an underwhelming familiarity. From the other end, Cummins got the ball to dart back through Hales’s defence. Still, at least he had made 3 — Roy, Bairstow, Root and Buttler would not be so prolific, with each departing for a duck.

Bairstow, impatient to crack on with scoring, nicked one behind off a good length, before Root mis-judged a hook, spooning the ball to Cummins on the boundary. Buttler soon followed them back into the hutch, Hazlewood finding the outside edge from a tentative prod. Within seven overs, and with no prospect of a snowstorm, the Australian openers had wrapped up a consolation victory.

The run-rate was more like a Test match, or perhaps an early one-day international from the 1970s, when sides regularly posted 220-3 from 60 overs, and of which Chris Tavaré played 29 matches — the kind of player in fact that the Test side lacks. Pat Cummins picked up the Player of the Match award with his figures of 4-24 from ten overs (including two maidens), and his third broke the tentative stand that Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali were beginning to put together.

The pair had seen England through to drinks at 35-5, with Moeen scoring the first boundary of the innings in the 15th over, a crunched drive that bisected cover and mid-off, and followed that up in the last ball of the over with a pull shot. But Morgan has now not scored fifty or more in eight innings, and he squandered the chance of a solid captain’s innings when he danced came down the pitch to hook a short ball from outside off-stump. The ball missed bat but not glove, and Morgan departed for a 33, having still not quite settled.

Chris Woakes — the thinking man’s Ben Stokes — was the first man to exert any authority on the innings. He took it to the change bowlers Mitchell Marsh and Andrew Tye, and gave the depressed and sunburnt England supporters a lift when he belted five sixes in the course of his 78, before perishing chancing a sixth. Ali (33) and Tom Curran (35) played supporting roles, allowing themselves something to bowl at, the match in critical condition but still medically alive, Tye and Cummins wrapping up the tail for 196 from 44.5 overs.

It was Woakes who made the breakthrough in Australia’s reply, taking the All Important Wicket of David Warner™️ in the fifth over, and were it not for Travis Head’s 96 at the other end England might have mounted a serious challenge. He hit Mark Wood for three consecutive fours in the following over, and in the context of Cameron White and Steve Smith falling cheaply for 3 and 4 respectively, arguably played a match-saving knock. Mitchell Marsh and Tim Paine built small but important partnerships around him. Adil Rashid picked up three wickets for 49 from his ten to keep the dreamers interested, but Head had already taken Australia far enough when he dragged Wood to Morgan at mid-on – four runs short of what would have been his second ODI century, but only 17 runs from the target. Cummins was the instigator of a run that his partner Paine couldn’t get behind, to leave Australia seven down with twelve to get.

Australia were 95 per cent certain to win the game for 95 per cent of it, and denied England a seventh consecutive ODI win with Tye hitting the winning runs from his opening ball. A good length from the Australian opening quicks bodes well for their upcoming tour of South Africa. For England, their maiden one-day whitewash downunder will have to wait.

Photo: Allocine.fr

Review: Pitch Perfect 3

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Film.

When Pitch Perfect came out in 2012 it was a remarkable hit, and rightfully so. Bouncing off the back of the success of all-female led comedies like Bridesmaids, and TV’s shows like Glee which made acapella singing known and popular to wider audiences, it packed a perfect punch. Sure enough this success amounted to a second film, but this third installment, although apparently a necessary finale, doesn’t seem to be quite of the same vein.

For some reason, a third “high-school” comedy film about an all girl group of acapella singing misfits seemed, to the film’s director Trish Sie and writers, Kay Cannon and Mike White, necessary, as well as apparently not quite a theme enough. Pitch Perfect 3 bizarrely attempts to blend the established “Pitch Perfect” format with a super-villain-spy-action plot twist, which doesn’t quite hit the mark.

This third installment follows on from the girls’ time at College — years on, the girls are dealing with post-College life realities of dealing with unsatisfying jobs, relationships, and Amy Winehouse tribute acts. Yet, the Bella’s cannot seem to let go of their acapella past, turning up to a “Bella’s Reunion” expecting to perform, only to be let down. In nostalgia, desperation, and frustration they seek out an alternative way to get back behind the mic, and leap at the chance to perform on a tour of European US Military Bases, competing with other acts to be signed by the Hip-Hop mogul DJ Khaled.

At first it seems like the Bella’s are to face a new enemy; real bands who actually play instruments, such as a brilliantly named all-girl indie group “Evermoist”. But this is not the case…The story (and genre) takes an odd twist, involving Fat Amy’s long lost father, played by John Lithgow, who turns up with a questionable Australian accent, and turns out to be a notoriously “dodgy” gangsta, as well as a pretty poor father intent on stealing his daughters’ savings.

As if anticipating that the same formula isn’t quite perfect enough, this sequel tries to compensate by over-sensationalizing and dramatizing it’s plot, whilst also simultaneously attempting to hit home the sentimentality of the Bella’s final outing.

As a finale to the popular film series though, it seems to be a fitting conclusion, with many humorous moments, and genuine laughs throughout, providing a satisfying ending for everyone’s favourite acapella singers, and a fulfilling moment which finally puts the wry deadpan Anna Kendrick centre stage, who is as sparky as ever in this sequel.

Despite an unanticipated move on action comedy, you essentially know what to expect with Pitch Perfect 3. This is not necessarily a bad thing — as unoriginal as this third film might be, it isn’t a terrible cover version.

All in all a lighthearted, well-meaning finale to the Pitch Perfect series of films which sees the Bella’s start their new lives looking forward to the future, finally leaving their acapella days behind them. Sometimes, thankfully, it is best to let some things go.