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Artist Spotlight: Boy Scouts

Boy Scouts is the moniker of Oakland-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Taylor Vick, who makes warm, intimate indie-folk compositions akin to the likes of Frankie Cosmos and Snail Mail. Back in August, she released her debut full-length album, Free Company – her first for ANTI- records, home to artists like Girlpool, Calexico, and Wilco – and it instantly feels like stumbling upon a good friend you’ve never met before. Although it’s a step away from the bedroom recordings Vick used to upload on Bandcamp, her approach to songwriting has palpably not changed one bit. The record’s sweet, empathetic lyrics, delivered with Vick’s vulnerable, piercing vocals, deal with the aftermath of a break-up in all its emotional complexity and frustrating ambiguity. “Discovering what it takes/ To keep the memories at bay/ Here I stay a thousand days/ I don’t try to leave, I don’t try to stay,” she sings ‘Momentary Love’. And on ‘Hate Ya 2’, she laments, “I go to the park where once we had a sit/ The light has become dark, maybe it was never lit.”

We caught up with Taylor Vick for this edition of our Artist Spotlight segment, where we showcase up-and-coming artists and give them a chance to talk a bit about their music.

How did you start writing music and what are some of your biggest influences?

I started guitar lessons when I was 9 or 10 years old and after a few years I tried writing my own songs. Carole King, The Carpenters, Rose Droll, and Travis Vick are some of my biggest influences.

You seem to experience emotions fully and can express them as such in your music – is this a difficult process, as a person and as a songwriter?

I can’t really compare it to anything because it’s the only experience I know… I think a lot of people feel stuff deeper than they let on. I feel fortunate to be able to turn to songwriting to help process things I’m experiencing. If anything I think being pretty emotional and being a songwriter are complimentary.

Why did you name the album Free Company?

I started to think of that batch of songs as the company I kept during shitty times — when I was writing them and kind of being inside of them for that extended period of time making the record.

What’s your favorite track from the album, and why?

Get Well Soon, maybe. I love the bass line Stephen made and played on this track, and I love that my nylon guitar is heavily featured in the beginning… that’s the guitar I wrote all the songs from this album on and I like that it’s the first thing you hear when you play the record.

I love the line “think of the desert sprawl – empty but still forceful” from ‘Hate Ya 2’. Do you feel like there’s a newfound confidence and self-respect in how you view yourself, while still allowing yourself to be vulnerable?

Potentially, yeah. I don’t know if it’s confidence I gained but more like a better understanding of the situation as time went on.

Did you approach the album differently from your previous releases?

Yes in that all of my previous releases were either just uploaded to bandcamp or released on a friend’s small tape label. But as far as songwriting goes, that was approached the same way I’ve always done it.

You’re about to tour with Jay Som, is that right? How do you feel about that?

Stoked — they’re such amazing musicians and also just the best people. I’m super grateful to tag along.

I noticed that your album opens with ‘Get Well Soon’ while Jay Som’s new album ends with ‘Get Well’. But beyond the first two lines, the lyrics grow to be quite different–in what ways do you think they’re different or similar?

That’s a funny coincidence, I like that. I mean they’re similar in that they’re both songs written from a place of empathy, I think. Hoping the best for someone who is going through something tough.

Where do you see yourself going from here?

I don’t spend too much time thinking about that to be honest. I hope to continue writing music, making albums, and playing music with my friends for as long as I can.

Boy Scouts will perform in London at The Great Escape’s First Fifty on November 14th.

Review: Foil Arms and Hog in L.A.

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Sean, Conor, and Sean — or, should I say, Foil, Arms, and Hog — have taken their deliciously witty Irish antics on a world tour. I had the good fortune to attend “Swines” in Los Angeles, the sketch group’s first night performing in the United States.

It was a literal laugh riot. Foil Arms and Hog are raising a comedic army in America.

Everything we’d hoped…

Prior to my gut-busting experience at the Dynasty Typewriter at the Hayworth, the lads met at University and began putting on live performances. Then the Youtube channel, an ‘experiment’ in camera funny, took off and took hold of 338,000 subscribers and approximately 61 million views. The lads do all sorts of things – songs about clickbait, fussy mother imitations, teasing about Brexit – and I’ve been a fan for years. Therefore, I took a Los Angelean‘s first chance to see them live. Fans of Foil Arms and Hog, the show was everything we’d hoped – and more.

Even in California, the boys from Ireland shine bright. Brighter than the sun, the haze, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame brought together. To begin their show at the Dynasty Typewriter (their second performance that evening due to a high demand for tickets), Foil Arms and Hogs welcome fans and sceptics alike with an audience participation activity. There is much hesitation early on, outright refusal even! But the boys don’t let it stop them. They ride the turning tides like the captains of improvisation they, undoubtedly, are.

…and more.

Captain is the perfect honorific title for these friends turned comedic writing team. It becomes apparent as the show continues that the three could easily lead a fleet, a frigate, or a full-on revolution. The audience eats out of their hands, making them laugh between gobbles. The people follow every cue, play along with every game, and laugh hysterically for just about the entire showtime.

Sean Finegan (Foil) plays the roles of straight man, physical comic, and improviser with equal measures of keen calculation and graceful lunacy. Conor McKenna (Arms) has the facial and vocal flexibility to play a character that makes you squeal with laughter. Sean Flanagan (Hog) has a fantastic presence and the remarkable ability to carry the show off-script and still keep the funny going. And, of course, all three are brave, insightful, and wickedly clever actor/writers.

Cultural and geographic differences? Forget them! Foil Arms and Hog will bring in people from everywhere, to chortle, belly laugh, and ultimately applaud together. The standing ovation at the Dynasty Typewriter was instantaneous – and was led by what was formerly the most resistant and crotchety audience member. He went from glued to his seat back to riotous applause. That’s the power of three talented performers.

To purchase tickets to Foil Arms and Hog’s remaining tour dates, click here. Subscribe to Foil Arms and Hog’s Youtube channel here.

What To Watch This Weekend: October 11th, 2019

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In this segment, we showcase our top picks of what to catch at the cinema this weekend, what to stream and our short film of the week.

Our pick of the new releases out on October 11th, 2019:

Cinema: Judy

Judy (2019)

Rating Length
12A 118 Min

After a sustained period of success and critical acclaim in the early 2000s – various roles in Chicago, Jerry Maguire, Bridget Jones’s Diary and an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the civil war drama Cold Mountain– Renée Zellweger took a hiatus from acting at the end of the decade after a series of box-office failures. After a six-year withdrawal, she returned in 2016 to complete the Bridget Jones trilogy and it would appear with Judy that she is back to her finest. It feels apt that she plays a star, Judy Garland, who, in her later years, struggled to return to the paramount heights of her early career.

Adapted by Tom Edge from the West End and Broadway play End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter, and directed by Rupert Goold, this biopic chronicles the last years of the star’s life. It’s the late 1960s and Garland has reached one of the lowest points in her revered career – her ex-husband is attempting to obtain custody of her two youngest children, she’s performing shows in run-down venues for little money, and is being thrown out of hotels when she struggles to pay.

Garland reluctantly agrees to a five-week residency at the Talk of the Town nightclub in London in order to cover debts and gain some form of income. But, battles with management, and her alcohol and drug addiction shadows over Garland and these performances – sometimes she manages to mesmerise her audiences, other times she’s a stumbling, belligerent mess.

The film premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, where the film garnered largely positive reviews with many heaping praise on Zellweger’s performance and complimenting her symbiotic portrayal of the star – not entirely Garland nor completely detached from the actress underneath the prosthetic nose and teeth – a combination that many have said allow Zellweger to truly shine. The plot may be tragic but is worth catching for Zellweger’s captivating performance of a star who, at her best, was just as enthralling.

Stream: Mo Gilligan: Momentum

Rating Length
15 64 Min

In Summer 2017, Gilligan was simply posting funny little sketches on social media when suddenly Drake (as in the global R&B superstar) started to quote some of Gilligan’s comedy to his millions of followers on Instagram. Since then, Gilligan has gone from strength to strength – growing in popularity, featuring on The Big Narstie Show and eventually gaining his own late-night show on Channel 4.

It, therefore, feels very apt that his new Netflix comedy special is entitled Momentum. The special proves why Gilligan is one of the most contemporary, relatable and honest individuals currently in the comedic realm. Rooted in nostalgia, his act features jokes about his mother, bullies in school, hen parties, the complexity of dancing in the club and what girls are like in group texts. Towards the end, he provides remixes of nursery rhymes and even begins to rap. The whole routine feels extremely modern, current and is certain to leave you laughing along with the audience in the Hackney Empire.

Short of the Week: Washland Express by Camille Campbell

In this short film, Camille Campbell (writer, producer and director) presents Cora (Jennifer Allcott), a young woman who has recently split from her boyfriend and is about to go through a drive-thru car wash. Suddenly, she is joined by an unexpected passenger, who starts to get to know her and they begin to develop a bond. But as they are surrounded by bubbles and neon lights within the tunnel, everything is not as it seems.

Campbell’s blending of various genres – film noir, romance and comedy – is equally as compelling as her favouring of female subjectivity. The premise is simple but its execution, styling and performances are wonderfully creative. It also offers an interesting, underlying moral: to value and respect each other flaws.

Albums Out Today: Big Thief, Blood Orange, Kim Gordon, Richard Dawson

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In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on October 11th, 2019:

Image result for big thief two handsBig Thief, Two Hands: Just five months after the release of what might be one of the best albums of the year, U.F.O.F., Big Thief have come through with yet another project, described as its “earth twin”. Two Hands is the indie band’s fourth studio album, and recording began just days after the completion of U.F.O.F. with production from Andrew Sarlo, who has worked on every Big Thief album to date. Singer Adrianne Lenker said in a press statement: “Two Hands has the songs that I’m the most proud of; I can imagine myself singing them when I’m old. Musically and lyrically, you can’t break it down much further than this. It’s already bare-bones.”

Image result for blood orange fieldsBlood Orange, Fields: Another artist dropping a second project within the same year, Blood Orange has come out with a new album following the release of his latest mixtape Angel’s Pulse. It’s producer and singer-songwriter Devonté Hynes’s first collection of classical music compositions, performed by the Chicago-based ensemble Third Coast Percussion. Fields is composed of a suite called ‘For All Its Fury’ that makes up the first 11 tracks of the album, followed by the compositions ‘Perfectly Voiceless’ and ‘There Was Nothing’. Hynes reportedly recorded the compositions in a DAW before sending the sheet music to the ensemble who arranged and orchestrated it. “This was the first time I’ve written music that I’ve never played, and I love that,” Hynes said. “It’s something I’ve always been striving to get to. Seeing what Third Coast Percussion had done with these pieces was magical.”

Image result for kim gordon no home recordKim Gordon, No Home Record: Legendary ex-Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon has released her debut solo album titled No Home Record. It was produced by Justin Raisen and features contributions from Shawn Everett, known for his work with Alabama Shakes and Kacey Musgraves, as well as composer/filmmaker Jake Meginsky. While this is Gordon’s first solo album since Sonic Youth’s split, she has also put out three records with Bill Name as Body/Head, the last of which, The Switch, came out last July. The album takes inspiration from “experimental hip-hop like RP Boo and DJ Rashid, but also No Wave bands and The Stooges”.

Image result for richard dawson 2020Richard Dawson, 2020: Singer-songwriter Richard Dawson follows up 2016’s critically acclaimed Peasant with his sixth solo album 2020. According to a press statement, “the album is an utterly contemporary state-of-the-nation study that uncovers a tumultuous and bleak time. Here is an island country in a state of flux; a society on the edge of mental meltdown.”

Other albums out today: 88rising, Head in the Clouds II; Elbow, Giants of All Sizes; Waterparks, Fandom; Babymetal, Metal Galaxy.

Disctortion by Ruslan Khasanov

Ruslan Khasanov, a Russian graphic designer and visual artist, released an eye candy series named Disctortion, in which he explores the superb visuals of discs.

Writing about the series Khasanov stated: “I was inspired to create this project by an old, scratched CD with 90s music, which just lay on the street and shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow under the sun. On a deformed surface, textures formed that bizarrely changed colors. For this project I took various types of CD and DVD disks and destroyed them: I burned disks, froze, tore up, dipped into various chemicals, bent them. It was amazing to see how all disks react differently to the same”

Find more work by Ruslan Khasanov here.

Review: This Island Earth (1955)

Michael Stevens, of Vsauce fame, once said that “the ways we imagine [aliens] helping us, say a lot about the kind of help we think we need.” Could the inverse be true? Thankfully, 1955’s This Island Earth delves into that question.  

Rex Reason plays Cal Meacham, a scientist working on new forms of unlimited nuclear energy. After a mysterious source sends Cal a puzzle, in the form of electronic and machine parts, Cal assembles an “Interocitor” – an audio-visual communication device. Once assembled, Cal is contacted by Exeter (Jeff Morrow), who entices him to join his scientific team at once. Intrigued, Cal is flown (by a mysterious, unmanned plane) to Exeter’s mansion in rural Georgia. There, he meets Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue), a scientist working in the same field. Things seem strange at the mansion, and Exeter’s mission statement of ending wars is highly suspect. Cal and Ruth’s suspicions are answered when Exeter reveals himself to be of alien origin, from the planet Metaluna. Taking Cal and Ruth aboard his spaceship and heading for home, he explains the dire conflict his planet is in, and of his need for their help to save Metaluna… 

This Island Earth gets better with each viewing, allowing for new discoveries of meaning. The story is fascinating. The idea of an alien race reaching out to humanity for help is exciting, as well as somewhat melancholic. A planet ravaged by ceaseless conflicts becomes the final hope of another planet doomed by war.  

You could be forgiven for disregarding This Island Earth based on its first act. The dialogue is, at first, stilted and delivered with an air of machismo from Rex Reason that would make Zapp Brannigan positively proud. The fact that the pace is initially sluggish doesn’t help either, but as soon as Cal has assembled the Interocitor, all comes together.  

The remarkable alien machine: the Interocitor.

The cast’s performances are, on the whole, quite good. Rex Reason fills the character of Cal better as the film goes on. Owing a lot to the clunky dialogue in the first act, Cal seems less of a character and more of a scientific interpreter for the audience, waxing lyrical about electronics and power sources. Yes, this establishes his occupation and expertise, but it doesn’t immediately make for a living, breathing character.  

Faith Domergue is good as Ruth Adams, though her similar scientist role in 1955’s It Came from Beneath the Sea served her abilities better. Again, the script here lets her down too, as she’s allowed to do little more than react to the proceedings – especially once we’ve reached Metaluna. However, the restrained unease she projects while at Exeter’s mansion in the first act is commendable, and effectively adds to the mystery.  

However, it is Jeff Morrow as Exeter, the envoy from Metaluna, who makes this film. His performance is one that realises the profound statements This Island Earth has to offer. As we learn, under instructions from The Monitor (the apparent Metalunan leader), Exeter has placed some of the scientists at his mansion under the “transformer”, a device to suppress their will and force them to work for their cause. 

Initially, we’re unsure of Exeter when we’re introduced. We hear his spiel about “ending wars” when he pitches to Cal. Indeed, the presentation leads you to believe that it is just that: spiel to hide something sinister.  However, by the film’s end, one sees that the mantra was not so much that of the Metalunans, but of Exeter himself. He believes in the humanity of Cal and Ruth, and clearly struggles with the nastier things his masters expect of him. Exeter’s line, “we’re not all masters of our souls” is used to great effect. Exeter’s smaller moments of challenge to his leaders culminate in his ultimate defiance, choosing not to allow Cal or Ruth’s minds to be “transformed”, preserving their free will at the arguable expense of his own planet’s survival.  

This Island Earth is fascinating in that key theme: of the importance of morality in the face of crises that defy it. Exeter is forced to abandon his ethics time and again because of the doom that looms over Metaluna. However, at the crucial moment, his morality prevails, and he prevents the further personal destruction of those he cares for – of those who care for him.  

Could more have been made of Exeter? Of course. Delving deeper into his motives and personal morality could have been fascinating, adding to an already-rich discussion of right, wrong, and how they matter in times of crisis. However, what we are ultimately presented with is not without merit. More details of the Metalunans’ war would have been equally satisfying, as we never truly learn of its scope or history, but Exeter is interesting enough to overlook this.  

The ghostly surface of Metaluna.

This Island Earth boasts terrific production design. The look of the Interocitor is wonderfully bizarre, as is the surreal sound design that accompanies it. The eerie, chilling surface of Metaluna is superb. It is a ghostly world that has clearly seen untold horrors. The aerial photography that sees Exeter’s ship descend through the planet’s surface complements the set design brilliantly.  

Of course, any discussion of This Island Earth would be incomplete without mentioning the infamous Metaluna Mutant. An inspired creation, the Mutant monster is fantastic in its presentation, towering above Faith Domergue as it menaces Ruth Adams. The Mutant is, admittedly, superfluous to the story, adding little except to further prove the Metalunans’ scientific prowess. However, the Mutant’s appearance arguably adds another layer of the unearthly to the happenings on Metaluna. At the very least, the Mutant is a sight to behold, equal parts amusing and monstrous. This Island Earth is better for it. 

The marvellous Metaluna Mutant.

This Island Earth has its share of script issues that inhibit the actors from truly fleshing out their characters. However, Jeff Morrow’s Exeter lifts the story tremendously, injecting pathos and nuance to a role that could have been marred if played without Morrow’s dedication. This Island Earth presents ideas about personal morality and its importance in the face of morality-shattering crises. Exeter embodies that discussion, and is framed by all the science-fiction spectacle of interplanetary war. This is a film that allows for new discoveries upon each viewing, so take another look and enjoy – even if only for the wonderful Metaluna Mutant…  

From the Middle by Sebastian Weiss

Sebastian Weiss, a photographer based out of Hamburg, Germany, released a two-part series named From The Middle, in which he explores contemporary architecture throughout Luxembourg.

Writing about the series Sebastian Weiss stated: “Located between France, Belgium and Germany, Luxembourg is the second smallest country in Europe. There are abandoned castles and massive forts, picturesque villages, large vineyards and – there is remarkable architecture. This is the first part of my journey through contemporary architecture within this country in the heart of Europe.”

Find more work by Sebastian Weiss here.

Review: The House of Us (2019)

It is the summer holidays, and a young girl named Hana is trying her best to get her family back together after fights start breaking out between her parents. Hana sets out on a mission to go on a trip to the beach with her family as she realises that’s what brought her parents back together the last time they were in conflict. However, Hana is sidetracked from her mission by two new younger friends, sisters Yoomi and Yoojin. With a new friendship formed, Hana finds that she is not the only one with trouble at home, as the two sisters are in danger of moving houses having just moved to their new surroundings. Hana joins the sisters on a mission to distract potential tenants by playing silly tricks, forming a sisterly bond with the sisters along the way.

In this family-based drama, Ga-eun Yoon focuses on the theme of youth that has been active in her previous film, The World of Us (2016). The 2016 drama went onto be nominated for the Crystal Bear and Best First Feature Award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2016.

The House of Us brings out the familial themes from the child’s view, in this case, Hana’s. From the start, the audience is presented with Hana being trapped in the middle of an argument between her parents. From then on, the audience is put to focus on Hana’s life and perspective. This focus on one character’s view, let’s the audience take in the thinking behind Hana’s actions and smartly drives the story without much confusion, emphasising the hardship Hana is going through.

Acting-wise, the three young girls have to be admired for their superb performances. They carry the story in such a natural way that at times it feels like it’s a documentary. Hana, played by Na-yeon Kim, displays equanimity and sanguine under challenging with pure brilliance. Additionally, Yoomi, the youngest of the three played by Ye-rim Joo brings in a wave of laughs through her animated personality and contagious laugh. While Yoojin, the older sister of Yoomi played by Si-ah Kim, delivers a dynamic experience that brings out the best out of her fellow cast.

In terms of technical aspects, the film flows well through smart editing. It doesn’t take long to move on between events, and thus it doesn’t feel stretched for the sake of the art but instead floats like a well-made drama. Further, the vibrant colours of the film and bright lighting bring in a warm summer feel and in some ways symbolising the optimistic view of Hana, Yoomi, and Yoojin.

The House of Us, delivers the enjoyment factor while dealing with real problems that families and the youth face in their homes. Ga-eun Yoon’s capability to portray the harsh experiences of three young girls through a relatable lens brings out a factor that is only common in emotional cinema. Having enjoyed The House of Us, I am eager to see what is next for Ga-eun Yoon.

Sound Selection 072

Hotel Mira This Could Be It For Me

Entering with superb energy is Vancouver’s very own Hotel Mira with This Could Be It For Me. Vocally exciting, lyrically enticing and energy attractive This Could Be It For Me is a superb hit for autumn — a must-listen song for any fan of Indie Rock.

May Erlewine Whole Again

With ear-pleasing vocals and emotionally-driven lyrics comes Whole Again by May Erlewine. In the latest single, Whole Again, Erlewine delivers a striking production that takes the listener on a journey of the pain of women’s history.

Review: FIFA 20

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Another year of FIFA has arrived, promising gamers a level of excitement the previous FIFA brought with the Champions League addition. In this year’s edition, the Volta mode came to light, bringing back an”authentic” feel to the game that lets the players take themselves to street football with their character.

While this wave excitement took over football gamers, many were wondering if any significant improvements will come to the developer unloved Career Mode. Sadly, FIFA 20 failed to reach the heights of the NBA 2K MyGM mode with their Career Mode. At this point, it was not even a surprise. If one had to name FIFA 20 on how much improvement it has had on the Career Mode over the years, one would probably go for FIFA 17.4.

Although EA brought in a customise your manager addition, which should have been put in years ago, and few more clips to add to the overall experience, the lack of statistics, in-depth sim mode and lack of real youth academies made it worthless to Career Mode fans.

In terms of gameplay, it seems to have been slightly polished up in terms of player movement. However, it brings ten times more bugs in the game. The career mode while insignificantly improved had even worse bugs than ever before, breaking how CPU teams choose their squad and displaying the lack of testing done before the release. This failure by EA brought a massive uproar by FIFA fans, as the #fixcareermode came along – even trending in the United Kingdom.

Overall, the game is a disappointment and a ball of failure, and if someone is going to spend money on it, one’s recommendation would be to do it during a sale. FIFA 20 is an extension pack, not a new game.