Massive Attack: A Bristol Story – New book by Melissa Chemam
I do love it when you can hear and feel the character of a city in a band or artist’s music. How you can hear New York in the music of Lou Reid and Velvet Underground and how Joy Division just sounds like a tense grey nineteen seventies Manchester. In turn, this music...
Some of the UK’s most remote locations
words Al Woods The idea of living off-grid is popular with people who are looking to regain their independence from the modern world without the need to compromise their quality of life. There are plenty of remote locations across the UK which prove appealing to those...
55 years of James Bond films
words Al Woods It’s been 55 years since James Bond made his debut 55 years ago, when the first Bond film Dr No, premiered on the big screen in October 1962. Ian Fleming wrote the original novel in 1958, which set in motion a multi-billion-dollar James Bond films...
T-Shirt: Cult – Culture – Subversion: A tale of reinvention
words Alexa Wang The T shirt may seem like a humble item but it has proved to be anything but. In fact, its simplicity has been its strength from the start. It’s stripped back white minimalism struck a cord in the fifties under leather and denim jackets. It was...
Turbowolf release Domino from forthcoming album The Free Life
There's been a lot of nonsense talked around the idea of authenticity in art and in music in recent years. I think what people are really after is believability in their bands and artists. Many bands come across as doing it by numbers, like a brand marketing exercise...
In search of the perfect bowl of ramen at Yamagoya
Words: Lawrence Hunt Ramen is the simple dish on which no one can agree and everyone has a strong opinion. Some ramen lovers stop when they find a specimen that ticks their boxes, and never go anywhere else. Others are still out there, trying everything in their quest...
Double IPAs and a mocha chilli stout – Stone Brewery have arrived
Glass after glass, can after can, craft beer has officially taken the UK by storm. It’s been over a decade since 2007, when Brewdog opened their doors in Aberdeen and began to brew kegs of hoppy, hazy IPA, influenced by the growing tide of West Coast breweries taking...
Welcome to Little Havana, Camden’s latest Cuban hotspot
Words: Kayleigh Petrie Cuba and Camden have more in common than you might think. Rebellious, warm (in spirit), and a love of rum and dancing make them a good match. All of which makes the opening of Little Havana, a new Cuban restaurant and bar promising salsa, frozen...
A speakeasy in an old Victorian jail – it’s Knowhere Special
Words: Rajan Virdee Just when you were starting to tire of London’s overdone ‘subterranean speakeasy’ thing, Knowhere Special comes along to reinvigorate your love of boozing below street level. Nestled inconspicuously amongst the bustle of Kentish Town’s high street,...
5 free activities to enjoy in London over Christmas
5 free activities to enjoy in London over Christmas - words Alexa Wang London is not the cheapest city in the world, but there are a huge number of free events and activities taking place throughout the year. The Christmas period is no different. In fact, there may be...
Bingo: The King of the Mornings – Interview with Daniel Rezende
Bingo: The King of the Mornings - Interview with director Daniel Rezende - words Paul Risker The Brazilian Oscar and BAFTA submission Bingo: The King of the Mornings is the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Daniel Rezende. More known for his editing work with...
How to choose a decent ground coffee – don’t be fooled by packaging
How to choose a decent ground coffee - don’t be fooled by packaging - words Al Woods When it comes to buying a decent ground coffee, we’re often drawn in by the packaging rather than the facts. Brightly coloured artisan packaging is supposed to entice us into...
Sip a better tipple this Christmas with Lant St Wine
Words: Rajan Virdee Ozzy Osbourne once observed that ‘wine is fine but whiskey’s quicker’. That may be true, but really, what’s the rush? Christmas is just around the corner, and those after-work drinks are invariably going to go on ‘til last trains. At least, that’s...
The most moving self-portrait ever painted – Giovanni Battista Armillei
The most moving self-portrait ever painted - Giovanni Battista Armillei - words Ian Whiteling Why is veteran Italian artist Giovanni Battista Armillei not visible in his affecting self portrait? Ian Whiteling travels to a small Etruscan town to find out, uncovering...
Expert advice for when you need to buy a suit
Expert advice for when you need to buy a suit - words Al Woods Many occasions call for the purchase of a new suit. Perhaps you’ve been invited to a wedding, a christening or maybe you’re looking to sharpen up for the office. Either way, a suit should be viewed as a...