Month In Reviews: August 2011

We've actually been pretty busy bees over the past month, which is good going seeing as day jobs get in the way. Plenty of impressive stuff on offer, particularly in the albums department where the likes of Beirut and Grimes unleashed strong efforts. Film-wise, things were a little more mixed and we hope never to have to see 'Conan The Barbarian' again. For all those reviews and more, read on.

Listen: M83 Featuring Zola Jesus - Intro [Album Preview]

Words: Saam Das

I imagine I'm one of a select group of bloggers to not have been impressed by either the recent return of Zola Jesus (download 'Vessel') or M83 (listen to 'Midnight City') yet now the two have come together, I can't get enough of it. Listen to 'Intro' below, the magical collaboration that features on the forthcoming M83 album, 'Hurry Up, We're Dreaming'.

Album Review: Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks - Mirror Traffic

Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks - 'Mirror Traffic' (UK Release: 22 August '11) // Words: Simon Opie

Beck Hansen is the producer of choice just now for a certain genre and after his work with Thurston Moore previously reviewed here, he turns his attention to another veteran genius, Stephen Malkmus. This record shares with Moore’s 'Demolished Thoughts' a laidback interior and a polished exterior. Clearly relishing the experience, Stephen Malkmus and his band, The Jicks, give a confident performance – but is it too relaxed?

DVD Review: Killing Bono (2011)

'Killing Bono' (UK DVD Release: 29 August '11) // Words: Saam Das

Depending on your outlook, it might be a disappointment to learn that 'Killing Bono' actually has very little to do with its supposed subject matter. Instead, it's a tale of two brothers and their struggle to make it in the music industry, while their schoolmates go on to form one of the biggest bands going, in the eventual guise of U2.

Download: Kyla La Grange - Heavy Stone [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

We quite enjoy Kyla La Grange on FG, featuring her in both March and July singles columns - although we were a bit unimpressed by her live show at The Great Escape. It was in a clothes shop though. She's back with a new single, 'Heavy Stone', which is very kindly available for free download for a limited time below.

Film Review: Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

'Cowboys & Aliens' (UK Release: 17 August '11) // Words: Saam Das

Cowboys. And. Aliens. No, this isn't another poorly made knock off from the Asylum studio but the Jon Favreau-directed blockbuster starring Harrison Ford, Sam Rockwell and Daniel Craig, and a bunch of big-name executive producers including Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line though, all the fun seeped out of this ridiculous concept.

Rock En Seine: Sunday 28 August 2011 [Festival Review]

Rock En Seine (26-28 August '11, Paris) // Words: Simon Opie

On Sundays, Parisians dress down, so today’s fashion index was noticeably lower and consequently it was a bit harder to spot the Brits, of whom there were plenty in attendance. On paper the lineup didn’t look as strong as Friday (read review here) or Saturday but I got there early and started with the Crocodiles.

BBC iPlayer: Doctor Who - Let's Kill Hitler [TV Review]

'Doctor Who' Series Six, Episode Eight: 'Let's Kill Hitler' // Words: Saam Das

SYNOPSIS: "The search for Melody Pond sees the TARDIS crash-landing in 1930s Berlin, where the Doctor (Matt Smith) comes face-to-face with Hitler, as the time-travelling drama returns." (bbc.co.uk)

We're back again for the second half of this series of 'Doctor Who', picking up proceedings a little while down the line from the events of 'A Good Man Goes To War', much to my relief. Oddly though, 'Let's Kill Hitler' eventually proved to be more 'Let's Leave Hitler In A Cupboard'.

Rock En Seine: Friday 26 August 2011 [Festival Review]

Rock En Seine (26-28 August '11, Paris) // Words: Simon Opie

Zut alors! – For the first time in four years it’s wet and relatively cold for Rock En Seine, which, by the way, is not your usual music festival but a cross between the standard fare and a chic Parisian end-of-holiday party. Fashion conscious Parisians would of course rather die than look dowdy so they dress to impress even in the mud and rain. Great for the spectacle, but I did feel a bit out of place being the only person in thirty thousand sporting a fluorescent yellow waterproof jacket.

Film Review: One Day (2011)

'One Day' (UK Release: 24 August '11) // Words: Saam Das

Adapting best-selling novels for the screen is always fraught with danger. Luckily for me, I didn't have to worry about any of the potential problems with the film adaptation of David Nicholls' novel 'One Day', having not read the source material. Instead, I simply went in the cinema and came out having seen a fairly inoffensive romantic drama with aspirations of being a mainstream version of '(500) Days Of Summer'.

Remixed: Givers - Up Up Up (Duologue Remix)

Remixed is a column that will highlight remixes we actually think are worthy of praise, be they old or new. Because most remixes are rubbish. // Words: Saam Das

We've had our eyes on Duologue for some time now and we've liked Givers even longer than that. It's odd that they would come together but this is clearly a case when opposites attract. Download the glitchy take on the uplifting 'Up Up Up' below.

Competition: Win 3 Copies Of Knuckle On DVD

The hard-hitting documentary 'Knuckle' came out in cinemas at the start of this month and is now brawling its way onto a DVD release on September 5th. To celebrate its release, we're giving away THREE copies of the DVD. With 'Trainspotting' writer Irvine Welsh adapting the film for an HBO television series, here's your chance to get hold of the original. Enter below for your chance of winning a copy of 'Knuckle' on DVD.

Album Review: Beirut - The Rip Tide

Beirut - 'The Rip Tide' (UK Release: 29 August '11) // Words: Rajan Lakhani

Although 'The Rip Tide' is Beirut’s first album in four years, it’s been very much worth the wait. By many accounts, this is their most accessible effort so far which has led some fans to accuse band founder, Zach Condon of selling out. The criticism is unfair as this record arguably finds Condon at his most open and it feels like the natural next step in Beirut’s already incredibly varied career.

Film Review: Conan The Barbarian (2011)

'Conan The Barbarian' (UK Release: 24 August '11) // Words: Saam Das

The world has clearly been screaming out for a remake/reboot/reimagining of the Arnold Schwarzenegger duet of Conan films from the mid-1980s. And thus the world has got what it deserved. I don't normally like to belittle or stick the knife into projects that people have spent years of their life on but 'Conan The Barbarian' is really quite poor.

TV Preview: Strike Back Project Dawn

'Strike Back: Project Dawn' // Words: Paul Dean

Aha, I thought. A second series of Chris Ryan's 'Strike Back' is a second series of opportunities to see Richard Armitage stripped to the waist and tortured in a variety of foreign countries, before being inevitably saved from some messy end in the very nick of time. Again.

Listen: Spector - What You Wanted [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

Following up their impressive debut single ('Never Fade Away') comes the new video for single numero two, 'What You Wanted', out in September. Spector once again combine a solemn, romantic nostalgia with early-to-mid-noughties American indie stylings. Watch the video below, filmed in hipster hangout du jour, Efes pool bar in Dalston.

Download: I Break Horses - Winter Beats

Words: Saam Das

From the opening bars of 'Winter Beats', you know that something special is coming. A swirling ode to shoegaze to celebrate the release of the Swedish duo's debut album, 'Hearts'. Download the track below.

Film Review: The Guard (2011)

'The Guard' (UK Release: 19 August '11) // Words: Alicia McBride

'The Guard' is the film that a lot of people are referring to as "In Bruges 2". Partly because they both star Brendan Gleeson, partly because the director of 'The Guard' is the brother of the director of 'In Bruges' but mostly because it is very similar in tone and feel. Both are billed as comedies and while highly comedic in places, both have far darker happenings at the heart of the story.

Surfacing: Cold Specks

Words: Jack Thomson

There's very little information to be found online about Cold Specks, other than the fact she is 23-year-old Al Spx from Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, who now resides in London and makes the most beautiful music, describing it in her own words as "doom soul".

Film Preview: The Thing (2011)

'The Thing' (2011) // Words: Saam Das

When you remake something once then I suppose the floodgates have already opened. 'The Thing' posits itself as a prequel to John Carpenter's atmospheric remake of the 1950s original yet all the early signs point to this new film ostensibly being a remake. The new version supposedly examines the events preceding the 1982 film, focussing on the Norwegian team who first discover the alien being.

Scala Forever: After Hours + Seconds @ Roxy Bar & Screen

'After Hours' & 'Seconds' at Roxy Bar & Screen, London (21 Aug '11) // Words: Paul Dean

The late Scala Cinema at King’s Cross, now a nightclub, is infamous for having shown 'A Clockwork Orange' in the early 1990s, when the film was still banned in the UK. After being sued by Warner Bros, the arthouse theatre was effectively bankrupted and London lost a fine venue for alternative cinema.

Surfacing: Yes Lord Sugar

Words: Saam Das

Back in the early/glory days of this blog, when we were called Keep Hope Inside, I raved about two Liverpudlian bands - goFASTER>> and Elle S'appelle. I even included them in my tips for 2007 and tips for 2008, respectively. Sadly, neither band managed to break through. But in their death comes Yes Lord Sugar, full of the same infectious (boss)pop that won us over the first time round.

Film Review: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)

'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' (UK Release: 12 August '11) // Words: Ced Yuen

Nowadays, it seems that prequel-reboots of old franchises are all the rage. James Bond, Star Trek and X-Men have all been successfully revived, ready to entertain another generation. Next up is the 'Planet Of The Apes' series, which went stale despite Tim Burton’s ‘reimagining’ in 2001.

Surfacing: Cutthroat Convention

Words: Simon Opie

Unusual bands making a devilish noise are not for everyone but if you like a challenge then give Cutthroat Convention a listen. Their new EP, 'Peeling The Sea', consists of five messy tracks (although the Bandcamp release omits lengthy but quite different closer 'Gate 19'), which can trace their pedigree back to Boris and other similarly crazed Japanese rock bands. In fact, their ancient ancestors might have been a coupling between Can and Black Sabbath.

Review: Empire Presents Big Screen 2011 [Day 3]

Empire Big Screen (12-14 August '11) // Words: Saam Das

The final countdown. Following my brief escapades with 'Cowboys & Aliens' on Day 1 and the queue confusion/funny films on Day 2, Day 3 saw me run across London after a half-day at work to catch 'Conan The Barbarian' and the secret screening - which I rather surprisingly managed to get into. To find out what the secret film was, and for a summary of the weekend, do read on. There's pictures and everything.

Competition: Win A Copy Of Navy Seals: Shadow Justice On DVD

This week saw the release of 'Navy Seals: Shadow Justice' on DVD, and we have FIVE copies to give away. Although you can only win one each, you're almost guaranteed to win. Almost. The documentary from the Emmy Award winning George Forbes takes a behind-the-scenes look at the special forces unit that took down Osama Bin Laden. Enter the competition below.

Festival Review: Leefest 2011

Leefest (12-13 August '11, Highams Hill Farm) // Words: Kieran Toms

I think if you watched the news a lot last week then you might have decided that humanity was doing badly, with all the riots and financial crises. You could have been forgiven for thinking that we were, or are, all doomed or something. Which is maybe a roundabout way of saying that it was lovely to escape to Leefest, which was just a short bus ride from Bromley High Street in South East London, but felt miles from anything negative.

Film Review: Villain (2010)

'Villain' (UK Release: 19 Aug '11) // Words: Raman Kamboh

Over twenty companies scrambled for film adaptation rights of Shuichi Yoshida’s novel 'Akunin' ('Villain'). By the 2011 Japanese Academy Awards, the movie won prizes in all four acting categories and was nominated for 11 others (including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Score). Understandably, expectation for a film of such sweeping recognition is high. By and large, it does not disappoint.

Review: Empire Presents Big Screen 2011 [Day 2]

Empire Big Screen (12-14 August '11, The O2) // Words: Saam Das

After only managing to see 'Cowboys & Aliens' on Day 1, I actually managed to see some stuff on Day 2. Read on for short reviews of two raucous comedies, '30 Minutes Or Less' and 'The Guard' - the latter of which is out tomorrow. As well as some other stuff.

Surfacing: Golden Fable

Words: Saam Das

Remember that really annoying band (name) Tim & Sam's Tim & The Sam Band With Tim & Sam? Well, a couple of the main members of that band are back with a new project, the more palatable Golden Fable. The sound is similar to the former's experimental folk-pop, although the Golden Fable duo note that this new project is more vocally-led. Keep reading for details of how to get hold of their debut single for free.

Review: Empire Presents Big Screen 2011 [Day 1]

Empire Big Screen (12-14 August '11, The O2) // Words: Saam Das

Last weekend, I popped down to the inaugural Empire Big Screen event at The O2 in London. Unfortunately, I didn't expect to procure a last minute press pass so I was at my day job for much of the weekend. Oops. Read on for some thoughts on Day 1 of the Empire Big Screen event, including a brief review of 'Cowboys & Aliens'.

Download: The Rapture - How Deep Is Your Love

Words: Rajan Lakhani

Thankfully sounding nothing like the Bee Gees track of the same name, The Rapture have returned with a dance club thumper which is closer in spirit to their debut 'Echoes' than the disco-funk of 'Pieces Of The People We Love'. Built around a piano riff, 'How Deep Is Your Love?' recalls commercial house music in the early 90s. Listen below, and download at DFA Records.

DVD Review: United (2011)

'United' (UK Release: 8 August '11) // Words: Saam Das

The idea of a drama based around football might be off-putting. Until you hear about the likes of Dougray Scott and David Tennant being involved. And the continually brilliant Clint Mansell contributing the score. This isn't a film just for Manchester United fans, or even a film just for football fans. 'United' is the story of human tragedy surrounding the 1958 Munich Air Crash.

Small Screen: Torchwood - Miracle Day [TV Blog]

'Torchwood: Miracle Day' // Words: Sundeep Patel

This season of the sci-fi drama 'Torchwood' has the feel of an elongated movie; like shows such as '24'. As such, it is not the sort of series which a viewer can dip in and out of. The drawback of this nature of series is that the scope feels restricted. We can no longer face off against various foes from Cybermen to Weevils, nor experience the range of powers previously seen, such as telepathy and memory manipulation.

Album Review: *Shels - Plains Of The Purple Buffalo

*Shels - 'Plains Of The Purple Buffalo' (UK Release: 11 July '11) // Words: Simon Opie

*Shels emerged from the break-up of a band called Mahumodo in 2003 - the split also created British post-hardcore outfit Devil Sold His Soul whose excellent 'Blessed & Cursed' album we reviewed last year. *Shels is a somewhat different undertaking, judging by this, their second full-length album.

Listen: Funeral Suits - Florida [New Video]

Words: Saam Das

We're rather fond of Irish trio Funeral Suits here at FG, with Jack giving them the Surfacing treatment recently. Unfortunately, their London gig this week (with fellow Surfacing alumni Pushing Hands) was cancelled amidst our fair capital's chaos. But we have good news in the form of a video to perhaps their best track, 'Florida'. Watch and listen below.

Competition: Win Tickets To The American Express Symphony At The Park

We've teamed up with American Express® to offer one lucky reader and three guests the chance to win tickets for one of the most exciting events this summer, the American Express Symphony At The Park. Enter the competition below to see the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra provide their own wonderful renditions of famous film score music on August 21st.

Playlist: Label Love

Words: Saam Das

You'll have heard the news of the destruction of the Sony DADC distribution centre in Enfield by now - we wanted to help support the independent music labels who have lost most of their stock as a result of the rioters in London. (Independent DVD companies have also been affected - see how you can help here.) Below is a 30 minute playlist covering some of our recommendations of tracks/albums that you can purchase to support the labels.

Film Preview: Margin Call (2011)

'Margin Call' (2011) // Words: Raman Kamboh

Last week’s global financial bloodbath has rebooted the public’s indignation about a financial services system in which so few can impact so many. There will, therefore, scarcely be a more appropriate time for FG to preview the promising 'Margin Call', a drama/thriller set in an unnamed New York investment bank 24 hours prior to the onset of the 2008 financial meltdown.

Album Review: Grimes - Geidi Primes

Grimes - 'Geidi Primes' (UK Release: 7 August '11) // Words: Jack Thomson

Having gained a dedicated following in the blogging community releasing 7” singles from the likes of Health and Forest Swords, and quirky LPs from Nite Jewel and A Grave With No Name, London’s No Pain In Pop have re-released the debut LP from 22 year old Montréaler Claire Boucher, aka Grimes.

Film4 Summer Screen: Chinatown (1974)

Film4 Summer Screen 2011: 'Chinatown' // Words: Saam Das

Having never attended any of the hallowed Film4 Summer Screen events, I was excited to be head down to Somerset House for 'Chinatown', a Roman Polanski film which I'd never seen. What's more it was crowned as "best film of all time" by The Guardian, as well as winning the Oscar for Best Picture. The stage was set.

Download: FOE - The Fox [New B-side]

Words: Saam Das

We've been a fan of Hannah Clark since her involvement in the infectious Arthur. Those days are long gone though and she's firmly establishing herself as a provocative, fascinating solo artist - FOE. She's releasing a new single on Stella Mortos/Vertigo, and they're kindly giving away the b-side for free. Download 'The Fox' below.

BBC iPlayer: Lymelife (2008)

Words: Saam Das

SYNOPSIS: "Darkly comic drama about unhappy families. Growing up as his parents grow apart, teenager Scott (Rory Culkin) yearns for more-than-friendship with neighbour and classmate Adrianna (Emma Roberts)." (bbc.co.uk)

Download: Owen Pallett - Hard To Explain [The Strokes cover]

Words: Saam Das

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Strokes' debut LP, 'Is This It?', blog powerhouse Stereogum recruited a bunch of artists to record cover versions of each of the album's tracks. It's a mixed bag but Owen Pallett's orchestral cover of 'Hard To Explain' alone justifies the tribute album's existence. Download the track below.

Listen: Rapids! - Comets [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

Last month, Surfacing alumni Rapids! released a double A-side single which I somehow missed. Seeing as the Bournemouth quintet didn't get a big up in our July singles round up, here's a separate internet pat on the back for 'Comets' and 'House Of Sand And Fog'. Listen to the tracks below.

Supernormal: 2011 Festival Preview

Supernormal Festival (19-21 August '11) // Words: Kieran Toms

It’s not easy to do something that is completely out of the ordinary, yet on your own terms, particularly when creating a festival, where the choosing of bands is often influenced more by financial concerns than artistic integrity. Yet Supernormal Festival seems to have done it.

Film Review: Super 8 (2011)

'Super 8' (UK Release: 5 August '11) // Words: Saam Das

In this saturated summer of sequels and superheroes, I suppose we should be sincerely congratulating JJ Abrams, the writer/director of 'Super 8' for producing an original (and actually rather good) movie. But 'Super 8' is only original in its broadest sense - the film owes much to the Steven Spielberg and the characteristic Ambln Entertainment films of old.

Singles: July 2011

Words: Saam Das

I can't think of a particularly interesting introduction so this will have to be a bit of a Ronseal ("does what it says on the tin") paragraph. Much like how the search of Lawd Sugar's business partner is over, so is the wait to find out ten of my favourite singles from July 2011 - the photo above hints at the winner of the Single Of The Month. Check them all out below.

Film Review: Captain America - The First Avenger (2011)

'Captain America: The First Avenger' (UK Release: 29 July '11) //
Words: Ced Yuen

Marvel Studios’ master plan is going well. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Thor have each made the jump from page to screen, their adventures paving the way for 'The Avengers'. All that remains is Captain America, the last to be adapted before the characters can be assembled next summer.

Download: Illness - Break-Up Tape

Words: Simon Opie

I’d estimate that over 90 per cent of people in bands continually deliberate for how long they can continue to put time and effort into their enterprise without any financial reward to show for it. Illness – whose debut album of guitar-and-drums-driven instrumental songs, 'Some Vegetable Waste' we reviewed earlier this year – have decided to break-up, for whatever reason(s).