Album Review: Los Campesinos! - No Blues

Los Campesinos! - No Blues (UK Release: 28 Oct '13) // Words: Saam Das

It's possibly fair to say that 'No Blues' sees Los Campesinos! at their most content since their enthusiastic debut 'Hold On Now, Youngster' back in 2008. Since then, the band has lost four of its founding members but they seem to have finally found a happier footing - 'No Blues' is perhaps their most cohesive effort yet, with a couple of particular highlights.

Film Review: Thor - The Dark World (2013)

'Thor: The Dark World' (UK Release: 30 Oct '13) // Words: Saam Das

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the Marvel film franchise was ease in which 2011's 'Thor' settled into the universe. Kenneth Branagh crafted a film that vividly brought the grandiose nature of Thor's homeland of Asgard to the big screen, while also cultivating a necessary undercurrent of humour to match the idea of a demi-god simply turning up in modern day America. Branagh may not have returned for this sequel but Alan Taylor carries on his good work.

Listen: RAINER - Hope [EP Preview]

Words: Saam Das

London duo RAINER released their debut single ('Money'/'Girls') in September and they're already gearing up for a new EP. Which seems to be called 'Hope / Satin / Glass / Dreams'. At least for the time being. Of those tracks, 'Hope' pulls together a wide selection of influences including classical and R&B and you can give it a whirl below.

Review: BFI London Film Festival 2013

BFI London Film Festival (9-20 Oct '13) // Words: Team FG

The 57th BFI London Film Festival may have started off in inauspicious circumstances - the online system for priority booking crashed - but concluded successfully with the Oscar contending 'Saving Mr Banks'. Along the way, we caught dozens of the festival's wide array of features, and here are some of our favourite films - many of which are soon to arrive at a cinema near you, if not already.

Album Review: Jesu - Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came

Jesu – 'Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came' (UK Release: 23 Sept '13) // Words: Simon Opie

Justin Broadrick played in Napalm Death, pioneered industrial music in the UK with Godflesh and numerous side projects, and now has a solo project, which is sometimes also a band, called Jesu. In addition, he has produced a whole host of big name artists and started several record labels. Many, including me, think he is a genius and if you’re as yet unconvinced, then try listening to Jesu’s new album 'Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came'.

Film Review: Muscle Shoals (2013)

'Muscle Shoals' (UK Release: 25 Oct '13) // Words: Saam Das

Alabama's Muscle Shoals is one of the most influential areas in the world - an area whose rich musical heritage is immediately intriguing. From the likes of 'Brown Sugar' to 'Mustang Sally', by way of 'Tell Mama', a visit to Muscle Shoals almost guaranteed a hit. Greg Camilier brings together archive footage and voxpops with an array of musicians to deliver a vivid portrait and tribute.

Surfacing: Go Wolf [New Band]

Words: Saam Das

It's somewhat rare for us to plunder the musical talents offered up across the sea in Northern Ireland, which is poor form on our behalf. As part of our apology, we're featuring the impressive Go Wolf from Belfast today - who recently put out a track on the most recent Kitsuné compilation, and have just been announced as one of the twelve acts to appear in the upcoming Belfast Music Week Showcase.

Telly Text #21: Orphan Black + Bates Motel

Words: Jordan Andrew

'Orphan Black'

Surfacing: Silhouettes [New Band]

Words: Saam Das

Wolverhampton's Silhouettes aren't actually that new but they were new to these ears and perhaps to yours too. The band have released a couple of EPs since their formation in 2009 but are only now gearing upto their debut album release, out in early 2014 through Integrity Records, headed by the terrific Prince-influenced 'Gold Tag'.

Film Review: Like Father, Like Son (2013)

'Like Father, Like Son' (UK Release: 18 Oct '13) // Words: Saam Das

Nominated for the Palme D'or, 'Like Father, Like Son' (its original Japanese title, 'Soshite Chichi Ni Naru') was instead a deserving winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Hirokazu Kore-eda's beguiling drama examines a situation whereby a hospital error results in two children being given to each other's parents - a fact that only comes to light six years after its occurence.

Listen: John Murphy - Sunshine (Adagio In D Minor) [Remastered]

Words: Saam Das

Composer John Murphy is responsible for some of the most iconic film soundtracks in recent memory, including 'Kick-Ass' and '28 Days Later'. He's released a new EP, led by 'Strobe', an extended version of the track that appeared on the 'Kick-Ass' soundtrack. Its origins however lie with the incredible 'Sunshine (Adagio In D Minor)', remastered not too long ago, and always worth revisiting.

DVD Digest #7: Hummingbird + The Purge + World War Z

Words: Maxamillian John

Aside from being this week's DVD release date, October 21st was also International Day of the Nacho! I know! Invented by Ignacio Anaya - 'Nacho' to his friends - as a dish made from leftovers for the wives of American soldiers out on a shopping trip, nachos are a terrible cinema snack but a perfect home movie snack. But which DVDs won't make you vomit your nachos out in disgust? Let's find out!

Live Review: Devil Sold His Soul @ The Borderline

Devil Sold His Soul live at The Borderline, London (17 Oct '13) // Words: Simon Opie

Favourite bands come and go but the band I admire the most is Devil Sold His Soul. We’ve reviewed them previously but three albums into their career - with more surely to come - they continue to astonish. The departure of vocalist Ed Gibbs earlier this year might have signalled a terminal decline but recruiting Paul Green has seemingly left them stronger than ever. Last week they came to The Borderline and stormed it.

LFF 2013 Reviews: 12 Years A Slave + The Lunchbox + We Are The Best!

Words: Saam Das

This year's 'BFI London Film Festival' may have drawn to a close but we have still a few reviews remaining before we deliver our festival highlights. As it happens, a couple of the following films may well find themselves in that round up. Here are our reviews of Steve McQueen's brutal '12 Years A Slave', Mumbai romance 'The Lunchbox', and riot grrl coming-of-age tale 'We Are The Best!.

Album Review: John Newman - Tribute

John Newman - 'Tribute' (UK Release: 14 Oct '13) // Words: Rajan Lakhani

John Newman has enjoyed a meteoric rise into the charts. He achieved a number one with his brilliant debut single 'Love Me Again' and his debut album 'Tribute' also duly reached the summit of the charts. Has a new great homegrown talent arrived or does 'Tribute' fail to match the buildup?

LFF 2013 Reviews: Don Jon + Inside Llewyn Davis + Only Lovers Left Alive

Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn & Raman K

'Don Jon'

Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes a remarkably polished directorial debut with romantic-comedy 'Don Jon', also starring as the titular Jon – a man of simple pleasures whose primary concerns in life include his body, his pad, his car, his friends, his girls and (most importantly) his porn. When he meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), however – a ‘solid dime’ – he’s forced to change his ways, and make a choice between love and, er, rigorous self-love.

Event Review: Dummy AGM 2013

Dummy AGM 2013 (28-29 Sept '13, London Fields Brewery) // Words: Saam Das

You're probably familiar with Dummy, the digital magazine/site that began back in 2005, with a current mission statement to cover 21st century pop music. The Dummy AGM was the first event of its kind for the team, collecting some of their favourite musicians in East London, including the likes of Brolin and Woman's Hour. Here's our rundown of the event.

LFF 2013 Reviews: Gone Too Far! + Kill Your Darlings + The Past

Words: Saam Das

'Gone Too Far!'

Film Review: Enough Said (2013)

'Enough Said' (UK Release: 18 Oct '13) // Words: Maxamillian John

On the 19th of June, James Gandolfini died of a heart attack in Rome. An actor hugely admired by his peers, his unexpected death gave rise to the usual heartfelt homages and disingenuous testimonials by those close to him and those in the media who felt the need to stay in step with the prevailing temper. It's all moot of course, because the only testimonial should affect the public discourse is in the man's work. As such, 'Enough Said' represents one of the most articulate tributes to Gandolfini's talent.

We Need To Talk: Sharkmuffin [Interview]

Words: Simon Opie

A few weeks back, all girl Brooklyn three-piece Sharkmuffin were my FG Sunday Selection. OK, so I admit that I was drawn in by three hot looking ladies playing self-styled slutcore (sic) with song titles such as the excellent 'Mermaid Sex Slave', 'Shit Talk' and 'Femebot' – all off an EP called 'She-Gods Of Champagne Valley'. Well, I’m only human after all. But we also wanted to delve deeper, and have a Q&A with Tarra Thiesen from the band.

LFF 2013 Reviews: Blue Is The Warmest Colour + Hello Carter + The Zero Theorem

Words: Saam Das

There's not long left at the BFI London Film Festival 2013 yet there are still plenty of films to catch. Today, we address the controversial French relationship drama 'Blue Is The Warmest Colour' and that lesbian love scene, as well as Brit comedy 'Hello Carter' and Terry Gilliam's colourful return with 'The Zero Theorem'.

Listen: Patterns - This Haze [Album Preview]

Words: Saam Das

It's almost perverse that it will only be in 2014 that Manc outfit Patterns unleash their debut album. I first wrote about the band almost three years ago, ahead of their In The City 2010 performance - a festival that sadly seems defunct now. Our first glimpse of the forthcoming 'Waking Lines' is 'This Haze', somewhat reflective of mid-career Foals.

LFF 2013 Review: Of Good Report (2013)

'Of Good Report' (UK Release: TBC) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

Jahmil Qubeka's neo-noir thriller 'Of Good Report' has experienced a rather rocky road to the screen, having been banned – and then unbanned, following protests – by the South African government earlier this year. Its depiction of a teacher’s illicit sexual relationship with an underage pupil is certainly disturbing and controversial, though it’s unclear what the film is trying to achieve – sharp social critique, or just a stylish and thoroughly South African take on the classic psycho-killer tale?

EP Review: King Kartel - Not Done Fighting

King Kartel - 'Not Done Fighting' (UK Release: 14 Oct '13) // Words: Glen Byford

King Kartel are here to drench these drizzly days in a wave of nostalgia for early nineties Brit-pop, when any bunch of lads with the right amount of swagger could pick up guitars and pick up a record deal with ease. And surely the baggy revivalism of Kasabian, Reverend And The Makers and The Pigeon Detectives must have been at the forefront of King Kartel's minds as they set their sights on studio sessions and perfecting the cutting-edge sound of lad-rock.

DVD Digest #6: After Earth + The Big Wedding + Like Someone In Love

Words: Maxamillian John

No critic knows pain like a DVD columnist. Films that make it to your local cinema are already in the minority by virtue of securing a distribution deal, and most of those are still rubbish, so imagine what I have to put up with while I trawl each week's releases looking for something other than straight-to-DVD and no budget fillers. And often it doesn't work. This week, as I sat through 'After Earth' (spoiler alert: it blows) and 'The Big Wedding' (it's worse), I genuinely started to question my life. Thank god for 'Like Someone In Love', which was an absolute joy and reminded me why I do this.

LFF 2013 Reviews: All Cheerleaders Die + The Double + How We Used To Live

Words: Maxamillian John and Saam Das

The BFI London Festival 2013 continues into its final week, and we have mini-reviews of subversive horror 'All Cheerleaders Die', Richard Ayoade's new film 'The Double', and the Saint Etienne-soundtracked 'How We Used To Live'. All spoiler-free, of course, and showing this evening should you wish to pop down.

Album Review: Cass McCombs - Big Wheel And Others

Cass McCombs - 'Big Wheel And Others' (UK Release: 14 Oct '13) // Words: Rajan Lakhani

I’ve built up a suspicion of double albums as their success rate is pretty small. They usually fall under the weight of the musician’s ambitions with even the most talented of artists coming a cropper and struggling to deliver consistency across an extended running time. Almost all double albums would have worked far better on a shorter format – even the off cited classics such as 'Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness' or 'Sign O’ The Times' have filler which diminish their impact. Can 'Big Wheel And Others' prove to be an exception to this trend?

LFF 2013 Review: Afternoon Delight (2013)

Words: Raman K

Housewife Rachel (Kathryn Hahn) is in a wonderfully middle-class rut. Behind the veneer of a huge suburban house, a successful husband and dinner parties with the other neighbourhood mums, lies a sexless marriage, boredom-browsing on social networks, and a therapist (Jane Lynch) who keeps her in perpetual insecurity.

Telly Text #20: Miley: The Movement + Wentworth Prison

Words: Jordan Andrew

'Miley: The Movement'

LFF 2013 Review: Chinese Puzzle (2013)

'Chinese Puzzle'/'Casse-tête Chinois' (UK Release: TBC) // Words: Raman K

Any French / German / Spanish student will have been recommended the 2002 classic by Cédric Klapisch, 'L’Auberge Espagnole'. In somewhat of a tribute to Europe, six students from the continent all coop together in a small Barcelona apartment to study on the EU Erasmus programme. They are young and hot-to-trot in an environment where accents are aphrodisiacs. Despite the collision of cultures they all build believably affectionate friendships.

Listen: Julia Easterlin - Go Straight Away [EP Preview]

Words: Saam Das

Brooklyn songstress Julia Easterlin is an artist who has escaped me until now, with the release of her impressive debut 'Vestiges' EP. I'm a bit of a sucker for loop-laden music, and Easterlin has mastered the art, as you'll find out on EP opener 'Go Straight Away' below, with a Bruce Springsteen cover thrown in for good measure.

LFF 2013 Reviews: All Is Lost + Gravity + Teenage

Words: Saam Das

Alfonso Cuaron's 'Gravity' is proving unexpectedly popular at the US box office - breaking the October record for takings, no less. 'Gravity' made its UK premiere at BFI London Film Festival this evening, and we've got spoiler-free mini reviews for that film, Robert Redford-vehicle 'All Is Lost', and Bradford Cox-soundtracked doc 'Teenage' below.

Listen: Sub Focus - Turn It Around (Feat. Kele) [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

Okay, so this one's a little bit behind the times, having come out toward the end of September. But it's well worth writing about regardless. Bloc Party's Kele Okereke again finds himself guesting on a producer's track, following his excellent RAC collab. 'Turn It Around' is another sparkling offering, with Sub Focus twiddling the knobs this time round.

LFF 2013 Review: Starred Up (2013)

'Starred Up' (UK Release: TBC) // Words: Raman K

The rehabilitation of young offenders is a topic that is fair game for political point scoring in UK mainstream media, sometimes obscuring the possible background of severe hardship and suffering involved in the lives of child perpetrators. However, debut screenwriter Jonathan Asser’s first-hand experience with violent British criminals shines through with a deeply authentic script and brutally involving story in 'Starred Up'.

Surfacing: Attu [New Band]

Words: Saam Das // Photo: Hollie Fernando

I missed Attu when they first emerged at the start of the year. Indeed, I missed Stefan Antoinette's previous music project as frontman of Delta/Alaska, associated with the Big Scary Monsters label. It's never too late to get on board a musical ship however, and the appearance of Attu's debut single is as good a reason as any. Listen to the hypnotic experimental pop of 'Don't Sleep' below.

LFF 2013 Review: Captain Phillips (2013)

'Captain Phillips' (UK Release: 18 Oct '13) // Words: Saam Das

One of our writers commented that they weren't interested by 'Captain Phillips' because it was likely to be "Tom Hanks being Tom Hanks in 'Captain Tom Hanks'". And yet, this should actually be one of the draws of 'Captain Phillips'. Hanks undeniably has screen presence. Coupled with Paul Greengrass' kinetic direction, this dramatisation of a 2009 ship hijack by Somalian pirates serves as one of the better Opening Galas at the BFI London Film Festival in recent years.

LFF 2013 Reviews: Computer Chess + Gare Du Nord + The Spectacular Now

Words: Raman K & Saam Das

The BFI London Film Festival begins tomorrow, opening with Tom Hanks vehicle 'Captain Phillips', and with over two hundred feature films on offer, we're kicking off with some bite-size reviews. Tonight we take on retro-mockumentary 'Computer Chess', sociological study 'Gare Du Nord', and indie romantic drama 'The Spectacular Now''. If you're yet to buy tickets to any of the festival's vast selection, please do also have a gander at our LFF 2013 preview.

Listen: Los Campesinos! - Avocado, Baby [Album Preview]

Words: Saam Das

It's almost hard to believe that Los Campesinos! are (dare I say, already) on album number five. And despite the fairly regular departures of the original seven founding members along the way, they seemingly remain as impassioned and as brilliant as they ever were. At least on the evidence of new track, 'Avocado, Baby', which hints at strong things for forthcoming album, 'No Blues'.

DVD Digest #5: Much Ado About Nothing + Bachelorette + Sharknado

Words: Maxamillian John

The Shakespearean rule of thumb is that a story ending in death is a tragedy, while a story ending in marriage is a comedy. This week brings us the release of Joss Whedon's adaptation of 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Bachelorette', both of which end in marriages, and 'Sharknado', which ends in a lot of death. Guess which one emerges as the real comedy! What does Shakespeare know, right?

Review: End Of The Road Festival 2013

End Of The Road Festival (29 Aug - 2 Sept '13, Larmer Tree Gardens) // Words: Tom Carpenter

The Dorsetshire countryside met my expectations in fine style. Accents were as strong as the cider, hay lorries drove backwards for miles down narrow country lanes and the gentle undulations of Larmer Tree Gardens played host to the perfectly-realised End Of The Road Festival.

Watch: Sons & Lovers - Ghosts [Official Music Video]

Words: Saam Das // Photo: bypip.co.uk

The accolade for probably my favourite act at the recent Southsea Fest goes to the stadium pop vibes of Sons & Lovers. They certainly thrived in the grandiose setting of the Kings Theatre, with their huge hooks and catchy choruses. New track 'Ghosts' is an excellent example of their anthemic fare, and we've also got a LOVELIFE remix of the track to share.

Preview: BFI London Film Festival 2013

BFI London Film Festival (9-20 Oct '13) // Words: Team FG

The world renowned BFI London Film Festival returns this month for its edition, opening and closing with a Tom Hanks double bill - diving head first into proceedings via hijack thriller 'Captain Phillips' and exiting with 'Saving Mr Banks', a biopic surrounding the film adaptation of 'Mary Poppins'. With tickets still on sale to many films, we've compiled a list of our most anticipated festival offerings.

Download: Laura Boyle - At My Side [New Demo]

Words: Saam Das

It's always nice to stumble upon good things. (Someone should invent a website that does something like that...) Tonight's pleasant discovery being a shiny new demo from London singer/songwriter Laura Boyle, downloadable for free. We haven't written about Laura since we enjoyed 'Wanderlust' last October so we're overdue a reprise.

Listen: KHUSHI - Never Never [New B-side]

Words: Saam Das

'Magpie' is as good a debut single as we've heard in a long time, and London solo artist KHUSHI is treating us yet further with its b-side, 'Never Never'. Combining quiet melancholy with a melodic warmth, 'Never Never' contrasts the gallantry yet matches the quality of its sparkling A-side. Listen to both below.

Month In Reviews: September 2013

Photo: imgur.com.

A whole host of music, film and television reviews this week - particular highlights including Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, 'Metro Manila', 'Blue Jasmine', and 'Scandal'. Without further ado, scroll down to check out those reviews and some not so glowing ones for the likes of 'R.I.P.D'.

Listen: Jonny Pierce - Home [Album Preview]

Words: Saam Das

With main project The Drums on hiatus, Jonny Pierce has been squirrelling away at a solo career of sorts over the last year or so. I've been looking forward to the final version of 'Home' since hearing an acoustic version recorded for Vogue - the wait is over, with a new recording surfacing on the latest 'Kitsune Maison' compilation.