To conclude 2018, we have compiled a short list of our favourite interviews from the year for you to read just before Christmas.
Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson
In April, film critic and filmmaker Christopher Stewardson presented us with an in-depth interview with film directors Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson. The interview discussed their film ‘Ghost Stories’ which was released on the 6th of April. You can read the interview here.
Reinhard Kleist
Reinhard Kleist, German graphic designer and cartoonist, known for such works as ‘Nick Cave: Mercy on Me’ and ‘Cash: I See a Darkness,’ joined us for an interview back in October to talk about his current work just before the Cheltenham Literature Festival. You can read the interview here.
Florian Wupperfeld
Another fantastic interview we conducted this year was with Florian Wupperfeld. Wupperfeld joined us to talk about Leading Culture Destination Awards, which he founded. You can read the interview here.
Solomon Grey
In early January, the beloved duo, Solomon Grey joined us for a short interview to talk about their album ‘Human Music’ and the challenges behind making an album. You can read the interview here.
Hollie McNish
Our final must-read interview is with the critically-acclaimed poet Hollie McNish. We conducted the interview just before her appearance at the Cheltenham Literature Festival to talk about culture, criticism and of course poetry. You can read the interview here.
Visually explosive, consistently funny, and with a tremendous heart, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse swings into cinemas with unmatched vibrancy. A feat of animation and editing, Into the Spider-Verse brings to cinematic life several of Marvel’s lesser-known Spider-heroes. Shameik Moore and Jake Johnson head up the brilliant cast, whose performances carry us through what is arguably the very best definition of a “comic book movie”
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), a talented young artist, struggles to navigate his relationship with his cop father (Brian Tyree Henry) when he’s sent to an elite boarding school. Through his Uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali), Miles escapes one evening to a secret den under the subway where he’s free to produce the art he longs to. Whilst there, he’s bitten by a radioactive spider. At the same time, crime lord King Pin (Liev Schreiber) begins testing the Super Collider, a device to access parallel universes, in the hopes of finding his wife and son who have died in this one. When the Spider-Man of Miles’ universe (Chris Pine) dies trying to stop King Pin, it is left to Miles and his new-found Spider powers to stop him. Unbeknownst to both of them, Spider-heroes of other universes have been sucked into Miles’. The older and weary Spider-Man of another universe (Jake Johnson) soon becomes a pseudo-mentor to Miles, whilst the pair slowly come across the other Spider-heroes, like Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), Spider-Noir (Nicolas Cage), Spider-Ham (John Mulaney), and Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) – all of whom know it’s only a matter of time before King Pin uses the Super Collider again, and threatens existence itself…
With a huge heart, Into the Spider-Verse successfully weaves a story of endearing characters and personal stakes. The difficult relationship between Miles and his father is one we invest in, as Miles struggles to define himself against his father’s expectations. Expectations as a theme is one of the film’s strongest aspects, as Miles and the other Spider heroes all acknowledge those placed on them – in many ways by themselves. The central message that we can’t ever know if we’re “ready, or if we’ve “lived up” is one handled with great credibility. Doing what’s right isn’t easy, but to try, and to take the “leap of faith” as Johnson’s Peter Parker says, can help us to escape the oppression of expectation.
Shameik Moore delivers an earnest performance as Miles Morales.
Shameik Moore delivers a wonderfully vulnerable performance as Miles. We empathise with his desire to be himself, but especially with his difficulty in defining who that self is. Jake Johnson’s Peter Parker is also brilliant, juxtaposing his self-assuredness in teaching Miles with the personal anguish at the state of his life in his own universe. Moore and Johnson make for a great duo, giving us some of the best lines in the film, and stirring the development in each other’s character.
Hailee Steinfeld’s Spider-Gwen has a grace and elegance to counter the still-learning Miles. A quiet moment on a bus between Miles and Gwen really allows her to shine, as she opens up about her past, and how she’s shut herself off to new people. In acknowledging Miles’ new powers and his difficulty mastering them, she sees someone struggling how she did, and in turn he sees that his journey isn’t one he walks alone. Steinfeld does a terrific job projecting that emotional toll. In moments such as these, Into the Spider-Verse shines with its considered grasp of connection and compassion.
Into the Spider-Verse immediately assaults one’s senses with its striking and vivid animation. Reflecting the merge of different universes, each Spider hero has their own distinct look and style, providing more visual variation in one film than most live-action superhero offerings have between them. From the onomatopoeic words that follow characters in their fights, to the CMYK colour tones (to match the look of a comic printing press) of the world, Into the Spider-Verse is a comic book come to life, perhaps the best definition of a “comic book movie”
From left to right: Peni Parker, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Ham, Miles Morales, Peter Parker, Spider-Noir.
Complementing the animation is the fast pace. The writing allows the story to progress quickly, moving from beat to beat with nothing superfluous. The slick editing means that fight sequences are punchy (literally) and don’t drag. The pace also helps the film’s comedy, with each joke, one-liner, or visual gag timed to perfection.
Speaking of comedy, special mention must be given to John Mulaney’s performance as Peter Porker a.k.a. Spider-Ham, brought to life with all the smooth-edged iconography of a Looney-Tunes cartoon. From his first line onscreen (“It can get weirder!”), every line or action from Spider-Ham is a “remember that bit when…” moment. Mulaney injects his distinct brand of confident absurdity to make a memorable and endearing powerful pig.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse may be one of the best superhero films to date. It’s funny, it’s thoughtful, and its visuals are a treat. You really feel that you’re watching a film made by dedicated Spider-Man fans who sincerely wanted to make a good film; and they delivered. Simultaneously, Into the Spider-Verse never feels as though its appeal is limited to diehard fans, its jokes and gags accessible to all. Perhaps that’s the film’s greatest strength: like its Spider heroes coming together, Into the Spider-Verse never feels like it’s excluding anyone. In today’s pop culture climate of staunch fan gate-keepers, Into the Spider-Verse is exciting, heartfelt, mind-blowing fun for all.
Raf Simons, a beloved designer in the world of fashion, has left Calvin Klein, a brand known for their underwear and distinct look. Simons was the chief creative officer at Calvin Klein and joined in 2016, after leaving Christian Dior. The departure arises more than eight months before his contract was due to expire.
In 2016, Simons’ arrival at Calvin Klein was seen as a major change for the brand, as Simons is known for his unique style and edgy looks. According to sources, due to Simons leaving, Calvin Klein will not be showing on the February 2019 New York Fashion Week calendar.
Calvin Klein is the division of PVH, which is currently trading at $88.72.
Lene Lovich, a prominent figure in the New Wave genre, will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the classic debut album ‘Stateless’ in March 2019. The album’s track ‘Lucky Number’ went onto reach #3 on the UK singles charts back and received positive critic reception.
Talking about the tour Lovich said: “It is incredibly flattering to know that people are still interested in Stateless after all these years. And it is always humbling to learn what it has meant to people on a personal level. We all have music which becomes the soundtrack to our lives, and to know that people are still listening is the highest compliment that you can ever be paid as an artist and a performer.”
Joining us for an interview is Joel Corry, a DJ and music producer, who recently released his single ‘Fallen’ featuring Hayley May.
Hi, how are you?
I’m really good thanks! It’s been a great year, and I’m going to finish it strong!
So, how did you get into music?
I got my first pair of decks for Christmas when I was 13. They were Numark Belt-Drives, and I had a little 2-channel mix to go with it. The mixer only had volume faders and a crossfader, proper old school! I used to save up my school dinner money to buy a couple of records every week. I’m glad I learnt how to mix on vinyl and grew up during that era, it was much harder back then, but much more fun! When I started DJing, the UK Garage scene was at its peak and grime had started to come through. Garage, Grime and Drum & Bass were my early influences. I was really into the music and practiced in my bedroom every day. My brother was actually an MC and I used to record our sets, I would love to find one of our old tapes now haha! My idol was DJ EZ, I would always record his shows on KISS FM and try and to re-create his mixes.
What was the process of finding a vocalist for ‘Fallen’?
The vocalist on Fallen is Hayley May, who is also featured on my recent release ‘Good As Gold’. Hayley wrote the track, so it was only natural for her to feature on the record. She sounds amazing!
How did ‘Fallen’ come about?
Fallen came from a writing session with Hayley May at the start of the year. I have worked with Hayley on several projects now, she’s a star. I knew there was huge potential in track, the topline felt really strong. Sometimes you can complete a record within a few weeks, but other times a record can take months and months to finish. That was the case with Fallen.
What were the challenges of making ‘Fallen’?
I wanted to put out a record with a hook that was catchy enough to crossover on radio, but with a drop that would work great in a club. It was a challenge to find the right balance, and get the arrangement sounding tight. I originally had the track mastered with a different arrangement, but ultimately, after changing my mind a few times, I think I nailed it. I am very happy with the final version.
As the year is wrapping up. What do you have planned music-wise for 2019?
I have music ready for next year. Sitting on tracks is frustrating, but timing is key. I have an exciting plan in place, and I really believe if I keep working this hard, 2019 could be my year.
Our final question, what is your definition of culture?
For me, culture is a reflection of what is current and trending, especially with the youth. It is also the identity of a place formed from its history. As a touring DJ, I have been lucky enough to experience culture in different cities and countries around the world. Barcelona stands out to me as a place I have visited recently that had a real feeling of culture.
Mozes and the Firstborn, a four-piece garage-pop band, have announced new dates for their European tour in 2019, which takes part in January and March. The tour will come after the worldwide release of their third full-length album ‘Dadcore’ which is due to come out on the 25th of January, 2019.
Joel Corry’s track ‘Fallen’ is a must for any prevalent playlist.
Joel Corry, a respected DJ and music producer, has released his latest chart-promiser ‘Fallen’ featuring Hayley May, as of today. The song comes just in time for New Year’s and Christmas parties. It is the latest release since the release of ‘Good As Gold’ which now has over 430,000 plays on Spotify alone.
Unsurprisingly, ‘Fallen’ has already received support from BBC Radio 1 and Kiss FM DJs.
The opening song in this Sound Selection is by River Fury named ‘Five Year Plan.’ In this latest track, the band delivers a pleasant-sounding production with ear-pleasing vocals and a vibe that will have you hooked from the get-go. With this track released, we are thrilled to see what’s coming for River Fury in the months to come. This one is for the playlists.
Convex ‘Pain’ feat. Tyler Shamy
Another tuneful song to enter Sound Selection 048 is by Convex featuring Tyler Shamy named ‘Pain.’ In this commercially driven song, Convex and Tyler Shamy deliver a wave of energy through top-notch synths, harmonious melody and chart-promising vocals. If you are looking for some fresh music for your playlists, this is it.
With the headphones market being more and more saturated in recent years, it has become difficult for consumers to choose the right ones. Thus, we have selected three of our favourites for under £50 pounds that tend to hold up quite well for their price. All of these range in quality, but overall are great value for money.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Professional Headphones
Audio-Technica, a trusted Japanese manufacturer of sound equipment, has become one of the favourite brands for bedroom music producers in recent years. While these headphones have great crystal-clear sound with more than enough quality for an average listener, we must warn you there is a lack of bass as these are made for mixing music. However, we must recommend you these as the overall sound is fantastic and if you’re practising an instrument, these will be great for you.
AKG, a company originally coming from Austria, has also become one of the key players in the headphones market with their headphones ranging in price quite heavily. The K92 is one of the several headphones they have for under £50, so it was a tough choice for us to choose these. However, these hold a decent frequency range and have a pleasant bass for the everyday listener. The headphones themselves weigh about 200 grams and are rather pleasant on the ear.
Our final choice for headphones comes from the beloved brand known as Sennheiser. While these headphones are not considered to be the crème de le crème of Sennheiser headphones, they are certainly splendid for their price. These on-ear closed-back headphones are lightweight and are great for casual listening. So, if you’re watching a film or listening to the newest Childish Gambino track, these are worth checking out.
Sometimes when it comes to the things you love you see a negative turn coming. In a few cases, as we have seen with Bethesda games over the last decade, these are so obvious, so undeniable, that it can be hard to believe they’ll ever follow through. Bethesda, though, are nothing if not predictable. Like many AAA developers their desire for profit over quality has become an increasing problem for a while now but, unlike most developers, many of their issues have been given a free pass.
“Bugs in open world games are inevitable!”
True, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be addressed. Bethesda is one of the biggest in the business after all, and many of their bugs are fixed within a week from fan modders, yet are never fixed officially.
“Their bugs are cute, like a puppy pissing on the rug!”
You’re free to think that, but you’ll still end up with the lingering smell of urine.
So when Fallout 76 came out and was just as much of a nightmare as so many longtime industry followers predicted, it’s difficult ’to appear surprised. What is notable this time, however, is that the irradiated Fallout 76 straw has finally mutated enough to break the brahmin’s back.
Backlash over this game is enormous, and with that in mind, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at just some of the issues which have plagued this release, to better illustrate the problems to the uninitiated, and hopefully raise some awareness about the dangers of purchasing a Bethesda game on release. Note that some of these have been fixed already, and many more will be repaired in the future. Does this make them acceptable on release for a full-priced supposed AAA game? Well, no.
Frame Rate
We expected it, but Bethesda managed to limbo under the bar of our predictions impressively nonetheless. In the current age of gaming we expect only a few console games to give out a constant 60 FPS, as most developers are more concerned with a more detailed game-world over a better-feeling experience. Mostly, today’s games settle for a locked 30FPS, with enough overhead to guarantee this rate almost constantly, with a few minor dips.
Fallout 76 not only had a frame rate which would rarely stick to 30fps in all but the most contained of scenes, but it even managed to hit as low as 12fps in these tests performed by notable YouTube game testers, Digital Foundry:
Tying into this issue was the inevitable problem which occurred when Bethesda chose to tie physics to the frame rate. This has long been known to cause negative effects when coupled with unstable performance, as was the case here.
If you look at the ground the game has less to render, and thus it runs faster. Because physics is tied to this, any player running around while looking at the ground will themselves run faster. Stare at your feet and outrun anything. Just like in real life.
Disconnections and Server Crashes
Entirely too common with online games today, yet always frustrating. As critics like Jim Sterling have pointed out – it’s one thing to demand always online connections from the player, but if you can’t deliver that as the developer then you are fundamentally abandoning your responsibility to paying customers.
This doesn’t stop at random outages either, as players themselves can crash the servers in an incredibly simple to replicate manner. The endgame in FO76 revolves around the dropping of nuclear bombs. This is actually quite a spectacle, and ties into a fond memory many players will have with Fallout 3. Drop more than a single bomb at the same time, though? Say goodbye to the server.
Part of this issue also comes down to the autosave system. Constant little disconnects are annoying as it is, but when you couple that with lost progress you end up frustrating in two ways for the price of one.
Power Armor
To become a high-level user of Power Armor in the Fallout games you need to treat it as a part of your own body. An extension of yourself, fused to the very core of your being.
76 took this a little more literally, with many players unable to escape their Power Armor without quitting the game entirely.
It even warps your character model in a nightmarish way, which is actually a bonus in my book, but not worth the hassle.
Even better, this is a glitch which existed within Fallout 4 which released over three years ago. Fans fixed it almost immediately, Bethesda never bothered, and now we see it again in 76. Of course, the online nature means fans can’t fix it for them, so we’ll see how long it takes Bethesda to figure out what the modders did years ago.
Missing and Invisible Enemies
Go to a quest marker to find an enemy. Not there and you can’t complete the quest? Oh well.
Alternatively, stumble across an enemy which exists beyond your tangible realm. Can’t see them, can’t hit them, but they can hit you.
Never mind, just log off for a few hours and hope they are gone when you come back.
No Push-to-Talk
Not a glitch, but absolutely a feature which all online games with voice chat should have with zero exceptions. In FO76, players are always transmitting over their microphone. Apparently, nobody who developed this game has ever played an online game before, as the results of this are immediately obvious to anyone who has.
Well, they’re immediately obvious to most that haven’t as well, but not to anyone on the 76 development team.
Want to get racist slurs yelled at you? Maybe you want to hear a baby crying in the background, the labored breathing of somebody with obvious apnea, or the screaming of somebody’s mother in the background.
If any of those sound interesting to you then Fallout 76 has you covered.
The Most and Least Effective Weapons in History
The Cryolater, as the name suggests, is a gun which uses cold to slow and kill an enemy. Annoying enough, but temporary. Only there is an extremely common glitch were anyone hit by this gun will be slowed permanently. Re-log if you want, makes no difference.
On the other hand, there is a glitch which commonly occurs with powerful weapons which causes them to hit for precisely zero damage. This can occur against both enemies and players and has been noted to happen as soon as the third shot fired when entering a game.
Just a Taste
These are just a few of the larger and most common issues which players have experience playing Fallout 76, with the full list being many times larger. This is also not taking into account the surrounding behavior of Bethesda, and their attitude when it comes to taking responsibility for their overwhelmingly predictable mistakes.
Many of us didn’t buy Fallout 76 on launch because we wanted to see how it would shake out. Many of us hoped for the best, and most of us were let down. Just the latest in an increasing trend of the biggest AAA developers releasing shoddy products, we hope that this can at least serve as a warning to the next developers who want to try to pull this behavior.
We know gaming is a business, but it used to be an industry of passion first, of quality and gameplay vision before all else. As Fallout 76 takes one further step into infecting gaming with big-business manipulation and profit over quality, we have to wonder exactly where the tipping point lies. Will we have to see more non-apologies and the likes of EA’s responses, or will big publishers and developers finally understand that they can only milk customers so far before they say enough is enough?
I would caution against ever buying a Bethesda game at launch, even the upcoming Elder Scrolls sequel. Yeah, I want it too, but Bethesda have spat in customer’s eye’s enough, and you shouldn’t give faith to those who constantly abuse it for their own short-term gain.
