Year: 2021

Gesticulations

Threadbare: Gesticulations walk us through their second album of the year

Gesticulations, fronted by Graham Ashton of The Shambolics and Way Cool Jnr., is seemingly in the midst of a purple patch of productivity. They have just released Threadbare, which is their second long-play album of the year, following from Sense of Purgency which dropped in April. Ashton has collaborated again with multi-instrumentalist and producer Benny…

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Interview: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson on uncovering the lost footage for his documentary Summer of Soul

Best known as the drummer and joint frontman of Grammy Award winning hip-hop band The Roots, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is adding to his already overflowing resume with the credit of director as his acclaimed documentary Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) releases across Australian cinemas.  Uncovering decades-lost footage of the…

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Film Review: You Cannot Kill David Arquette is an alarmingly bleak and emotional documentary about a fascinatingly off-kilter actor

At one point in his career David Arquette was poised to be a potential acting force among the other stars of his generation.  He worked the indie cinema circuit, he was profiled alongside such talent as Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, and Matthew McConaughey, his work in the Scream films earned him box office clout, and…

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Hawkins

Book Review: Murder, secrets and a thriller within a thriller on Paula Hawkins’ return

Acclaimed author Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train, Into the Water) returns with yet another nail-biting thriller. A Slow Fire Burning follows a cast of characters living along the Regent’s Canal in Shoreditch; each of them inextricably linked through events of the last few decades. The murder of Daniel Sutherland inside his canal boat…

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Film Review: Summer of Soul is a musical and political celebration that speaks to cultural re-evaluation

Somehow, a festival situated in the heart of Harlem, one that featured such performers as Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, and Nina Simone, had been written out of the history books.  In 1969, a year on from the assassination of Martin Luther King, over six weekends in Mount Morris Park, overseen by the liberal New York…

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Film Review: Streamline underlays a tragic narrative with commentary on the toxic masculinity within the sporting field

As easy as it would be to accuse a film like Streamline of adhering to the stereotypical tragic narrative that seems to be at the undercurrent of the majority of Australian dramas, Tyson Wade Johnston manages to include subtle commentary on the notion of toxic masculinity within the sporting field – here, specifically swimming –…

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Brigitte Bardini

Track by Track: Brigitte Bardini takes us through her debut album Stellar Lights

Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brigitte Bardini has just released her gorgeous debut album, Stellar Lights. It’s a collection of fourteen tracks, wonderfully diverse, showing a maturity way beyond what you would expect for a debut album. It perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise that Bardini produced eight of the tracks herself, and the other six were…

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Film Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an extravagant tale strengthened by the star-making turn from Simu Liu

Familiar with a little father-son friction thanks to his role on TV’s Kim’s Convenience, Simu Liu experiences similar, though considerably higher emotional stakes, but no less dramatic, as the titular warrior-to-be Shang-Chi in Marvel’s latest extravagant offering, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.  There’s the typical end-of-the-world dilemma to contend with, but Destin…

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Film Review: Under the Volcano is the fascinating tale of how AIR Studios became Atlantis

If you’ve ever wondered what Sir George Martin – the legendary Beatles producer – did after the Fab Four split then Under the Volcano is the film for you. Sir Martin remained prolific in the music industry and opened up his own studio-cum-playground in Montserrat. This state-of-the-art workspace was the birthplace of many hits and…

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WAAX

Track of the Week: WAAX “Most Hated Girl” (2021)

It’s been eighteen long months since we heard any new music from Brisbane rockers WAAX, but they have returned with a vengeance, blowing the doors off, with “Most Hated Girl” that dropped today. Lead singer/songwriter Maz DeVita says of the blistering new tune: “‘Most Hated Girl’ was definitely a COVID song that came out of…

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Call of Duty: Vanguard Champion Hill Alpha Impressions

Believe it or not, Call of Duty: Vanguard was just announced. And with that release trailer barely two weeks old, PlayStation owners got the chance to test a slice of the multiplayer pie that is yet to come; Champion Hill. For what’s being touted as a brand new mode, feels like a callback to the…

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Max Wolf

Exclusive Video Premiere: Max Wolf “Children on the Street” (2021)

Melbourne producer Max Wolf recently released his anthemic “Children on the Street”. It’s a pulsating, high-energy track reflecting the visceral rage against a system that doesn’t adequately support the youth. We are thrilled to have the premiere of the video for the track, which is as captivating as the song is powerful. Wolf blends his…

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The Shut Ins

Book Review: Katherine Brabon’s The Shut Ins is a subtle take on a different kind of social isolation

The Shut Ins – the second novel from 2016 Vogel Award winner, Katherine Brabon – takes its readers to Japan, pre-pandemic but post tsunami, and is a meditation on the all too timely and relevant themes of loneliness and isolation. Using a frame narrative of an Australian writer travelling Japan and feeling increasingly disconnected from…

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Step Up With the Latest NBA 2K22 Gameplay Trailer

If you’re an NBA fan like I am, this time of the year feels different. Spring is on the way for us Australians, and there’s just something special in the air. The fact that a new NBA 2K game is upon us, that is. Even though the wait is almost over, fans were gifted a…

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Interview: Siobhan Fallon Hogan on stepping out of her comedic comfort zone to tackle the American college rituals of hazing in Rushed

“Actors are egomaniacs, we need to be complimented at least once a day” It was that self-deprecating note that began a conversation between our Peter Gray and actress-turned-writer Siobhan Fallon Hogan for the film Rushed, a dramatic thriller marking the actress’s debut as a screenwriter.  Known for her more comedic stylings, seen in such efforts…

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Film Review: Rushed is a tender, yet furious drama about the hazing ritual culture of American fraternities

Siobhan Fallon Hogan may not be the most recognisable name, but you best believe she’s someone you notice when on screen.  Perhaps best known for her stint on Saturday Night Live, as Elaine’s roommate in TV’s Seinfeld, and films such as Men In Black, where her character was perplexed by the sugar intake of the…

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A Year Before Lockdown

2019 – A Year Before Lockdown celebrating Australian musicians by Australian photographers

As a live music photographer, the pandemic and resulting lockdown has been pretty bleak. Instead of going to multiple gigs a week, and capturing the joy and essence of live music, like everyone else I’ve been confined to home counting my legs. During this extended period of reflection, one of the seasoned photographers from the…

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Bose Smart Soundbar 300 Review: Are the compromises too much?

The Sonos Beam may hold court when it comes to budget-friendly, compact soundbars but Bose has emerged with a solid competitor that, in many ways, is one of the best. That’s no surprise really; Bose has always been impressive when it comes to packing audio prowess into more than just traditional Bluetooth speakers and headphones….

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Father’s Day Gift Guide 2021: Wines, Spirits & Beers To Get Dad This Sunday

You know what’s coming around this Sunday 5th September, and by now you should know what kind of last-minute gift you want to pick up for the old man. Yep, Father’s Day is going to be an important one this year. If he’s like most people in Australia right now, Dad is locking down amongst…

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Sennheiser CX True Wireless Review: Big sound and battery on a budget

Sennheiser’s pedigree when it comes to superior sound cannot be denied. Their Momentum 2 earbuds are still some of the best on the market, despite being released a few years ago. They’ve since started playing around on the lower end of the price spectrum, attempting to provide value that stretches beyond the price point. The…

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JBL Charge 5 Review: Incredibly rugged and a powerful performer

JBL’s Charge series has always justified popularity, and no more was that true than for the Charge 4. It’s still one of my favourite portable, durable speakers to take on a short trip away. The Charge 5 is a meaningful improvement over its processor, edging that out and reiterating JBL as a company that really…

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Kengo Kuma: From the Japan National Stadium to public toilets, good design is universal

The creator of the 2020 Olympic/Paralympic centrepiece is building stylish public toilets and looking at the city like a cat. With the Olympics and Paralympics proving a welcome distraction from the current issues impacting our daily lives right now, Kengo Kuma, is a man you should know. He’s the Japanese architectural icon behind the Japan…

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Film Review: Vacation Friends is a familiarly-minded comedy elevated by the wild energy of John Cena

Over the least few years John Cena has proven himself surprisingly adroit when it comes to executing comedy.  And a film like Vacation Friends, helmed by Silicon Valley executive producer Clay Tarver and featuring co-writing credits from Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Game Night), feels like the perfect vehicle to continue showcasing his wild,…

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Interview: Australian director Lara Köse and choreographer Zoee Marsh on collaborating for their short film, Red Passion

Created in partnership with Campari as part of its dedication in supporting local artists, Red Passion is a short film exploring the intersections of dance and film.  A trio of dancers expressing their evolution through solo, duet and ensemble pieces, the creative project from emerging Australian director Lara Köse and choreographer Zoee Marsh is now streaming…

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Tsushima Director's Cut

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut Review: The unbearable weight of compromise

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut marks the second time this game has come along at the right moment. Originally arriving at the end of the PlayStation 4 era, it was an amalgam of the ways game design had changed since the console’s inception. It was the last hurrah, a way to bring the PS4 era…

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No More Heroes 3

No More Heroes 3 Review: A good time gone bad

Since the original, No More Heroes has provided its fans with competent combat, expressive visuals and a consistent sense of humour that allows characters with names like Travis Touchdown to remain memorable and relevant. It is with No More Heroes 3 that Travis returns to a world of intergalactic assassins, fourth-wall-breaking jokes and a combat…

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Stella Farnan

Track By Track: Stella Farnan takes us through her debut EP Come Stay At Mine

Stella Farnan is an artist that caught our eye back in early 2020. With thoughtful lyrics, an adroit turn of phrase and superb vocals, we had her pegged as an artist to watch in 2020. Obviously that was a year to write off, but Stella popped up again early this year and we were delighted…

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Film Review: Don’t Breathe 2 is morally foul and unapologetic in its B-grade gratification

To say there was a certain amount of resistance when it came to the notion of Don’t Breathe 2 would be something of an understatement.  The idea that the original film’s villain – Stephen Lang‘s Norman, aka “The Blind Man”, who emerged from Fede Alvarez‘s tense 2016 thriller Don’t Breathe as a vile shut-in with…

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Overwatch to rename McCree, no future characters to be named after staff

Activision Blizzard will rename Overwatch character Jesse McCree in a future update. The announcement came via a social media post on official Overwatch channels. A message from the Overwatch team. pic.twitter.com/2W3AV7Pv6X — Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) August 26, 2021 “As we continue to discuss how we best live up to our values and to demonstrate our commitment…

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Interview: Gretta Ray on Begin To Look Around, music departments and London.

Australia was introduced to Gretta Ray when she was in her final year of high school, singing with her guitar at assembly as triple j breakfast hosts Matt Okine and Alex Dyson crowned her the winner of their Unearthed High competition in 2016. Her single “Drive” went on to gain nation-wide popularity, with the song currently…

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