Film Review: The Past (2013)

'The Past'/'Le Passé' (UK Release: 28 March '14) // Words: Saam Das

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi followed his critically acclaimed 2006 drama 'About Elly', with 2011's 'A Separation', winner of an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His latest offering arguably matches its predecessors, examining the increasingly disjointed life of a suburban French family, led superbly by an impassioned Berenice Bejo but with excellent performances throughout.

Listen: Marlais - Edward [New Demo]

Words: Saam Das

It's been a while since we've written about the enigmatic Berlin-based Marlais but he's been racking up the plays (22,000+ for 'Love Is Teasin'') on Soundcloud, thanks to support from his old pals Alt-J on Facebook. In this fickle musical world, new track 'Edward' has yet to break 1000 plays so it's time for us to step in again. Hear both tracks below.

Film Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' (UK Release: 28 March '14) // Words: Ced Yuen

It’s all about the timing. Captain America was a little dull in the 1940s – an all-round good guy, an unabashed symbol of wartime propaganda. But stick him in a freezer and bring him to the 21st century, and he becomes a badass outcast. That’s when it gets interesting. The idea of a man removed from his time is something the previous Marvel films have barely touched upon, with the exception of a few tech-related gags.

Surfacing: Grimm Grimm [New Act]

Words: Saam Das

London noiseniks Screaming Tea Party weren't ever really my jam, so to speak, so I'm surprised to find that I actually rather like one of their subsequent solo projects. Koichi Yamanoha has gone on to form Grimm Grimm, which is self-diagnosed as anything from psych baroque to acid folk. Regardless, we think it's anything but grim (grim).

Listen: Rae Morris - Do You Even Know? [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

We popped London soloist Rae Morris on our reserve list for our tips for 2014 and her recent form is stating her case for a move up from the subs bench. Following her guest appearance on Bombay Bicycle Club's recent single 'Luna', she's now unveiled her new single, the hypnotic 'Do You Even Know?' - find both tracks below.

Listen: Paul Thomas Saunders - Wreckheads & The Female Form [Album Preview]

Words: Saam Das

Leeds soundscaper Paul Thomas Saunders made a welcome return earlier in the year with 'Kawai Celeste', a wide-eyed dream-pop track that will be appearing on his forthcoming 'Beautiful Desolation'. We've got another wondrous track from said album with the bizarrely titled 'Wreckheads & The Female Form'.

Listen: RHODES - Your Soul [EP Preview]

Words: Saam Das

We did a little feature on RHODES toward the end of last year, around the time of his debut EP 'Raise Your Love'. He's only gone and blown those tracks out of the water with his newest effort, the beautifully entrancing 'Your Soul'. The sound of a potential on the verge of being fully realised.

Surfacing: Sylva Faye [New Act]

Words: Saam Das

It's quite rare for us to actually have any music we actually like appear on our Soundcloud. But Sylva Faye shared her excellent new(-ish) track 'Ever More' with us last night, and now I've got a job interview out the way, I can tell you more about this 22 year old multi-instrumentalist and her bewitching experimental folk offerings.

Listen: Then Thickens - Tiny Legs [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

We wrote about Then Thickens at the end of last year when they announced a new single, ahead of a tour with Nine Black Alps. So I'm getting a bit of deja vu, as Then Thickens unveiled another single, ahead of another tour with the aforementioned band. It's all good though, even with the rather odd new video for 'Tiny Legs', which features 'Misfits' star Joseph Gilgun having his face abused by wandering hands.

Film Review: The Zero Theorem (2013)

'The Zero Theorem' (UK Release: 14 March '14) // Words: Saam Das

Ever since his Monty Python days, Terry Gilliam has embraced the absurd, the surreal, and the satirical. Forming the supposedly final destination in his journey through dystopian satire, following the acclaimed 'Brazil' (1985) and '12 Monkeys' (1995), 'The Zero Theorem' reiterates Gilliam's position as a visionary director.

Listen: Youth Warrant - Strange Paradise [EP Preview]

Words: Saam Das

I must admit to being a bit of a sucker for pop-rock anthems - you might remember that I posted a Barenaked Ladies track (that wasn't seminal hit 'One Week') last year. Baltimore outfit Youth Warrant have just delivered their own free-spirited anthem in debut offering 'Strange Paradise', which you can listen to below.

Telly Text #27: Are You The One? + Ja'mie: Private School Girl

Words: Jordan Andrew

'Are You The One?'

Everyone seems to be after love these days with the increase of dating shows from 'Take Me Out' to 'First Dates' - airing our dirty laundry on television to get a date seems to be the way forward. MTV’s newest show 'Are You The One?' gives ten girls and ten boys the chance to find their “perfect match”. If they all find their perfect match, they win one million dollars to share.

Listen: George Ezra - Coat Of Armour [EP Preview]

Words: Saam Das

Bristol singer-songwriter started making some serious waves last year, culminating in a BBC Sound of 2014 appearance at the start of 2014. Not that many people got the memo when I caught him at Southsea Fest 2013. Safe to say, the dozen or so interested parties were suitably impressed however, and new track 'Coat Of Armour' captures Ezra's soulful vocals and warm-spirited music.

Download: FEMME - R.E.S.P.E.C.T (Aretha Franklin Cover)

Words: Saam Das

In case you didn't know, it's International Women's Day. I'm not quite sure who decides such things. Regardless, in celebration of women, Laura Bettinson aka FEMME (which means "woman" in French) is giving away a free download of Aretha Franklin's classic 'R.E.S.P.E.C.T'. Download the WAV file through the Soundcloud widget below.

Film Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (UK Release: 7 March '14) // Words: Saam Das

First, a confession. I am a Wes Anderson fan. However, one that is slightly wavering. 2009's 'Fantastic Mr Fox' had its moments yet failed to live up to the magic of Roald Dahl's novel, while 2012's 'Moonrise Kingdom' somewhat washed over me. Of course, the memories of Anderson's previous efforts remain strong but I was tentative going into 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' - which subscribes to Anderson's usual whimsical formulae yet is arguably his breeziest film yet.

Ed's Note: Some Thoughts On The Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition 2014

Words: Saam Das

Earlier in the year, we announced that we'd been asked to return to judging duties as part of the Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent Competition - giving three acts the chance to play at the 2014 edition of the fest. Well, the ETC longlist came out yesterday, so it's time to deliver some thoughts on our choices and the longlist itself.

Watch: Shura - Touch [Official Video]

Words: Saam Das

I must admit that I'm pretty taken aback by the amount of attention London act Shura has received in the last couple of weeks. But very much in a good way, as it's culminated in well over 100,000 Soundcloud plays of her latest track 'Touch' - moving away from her previous night-folk efforts and more into the realm of R&B, led by her continually haunting vocals. Check out the new snog-infused video for 'Touch' below.

Surfacing: JOSEPH [New Act]

Words: Jack Thomson

A song’s dynamic is without doubt one of its most important features. There is real skill in being able to craft a song that builds every step of the way. London-based JOSEPH has managed to achieve just such a feat with debut track ‘Swim Darker’, and it really is something special.