Byroglyphics 'Subsidiary’

Evocative is the word that comes to mind when admiring artist Byroglyphics’
piece 'Departure Lounge'. Yet, what is it that makes his work so magnetic? Is it
the subject matter, the colour palette, the brush strokes, or the concept of the
artwork as a whole?

Currently on show at the Signal Gallery in Hoxton, the collage-type painting is
part of Byroglyphics’ experimental collection, ‘Subsidiary’ an exhibition which
places work like ‘Departure Lounge’ alongside contrasting pieces of art to evoke
a unique kind of thought process. Being Byroglyphics’, aka Russ Mills’ second
solo exhibition, he is this time around using his background in illustration and
animated film making to push the boundaries even further, using the freedom of
the digital medium to its fullest.

‘Subsidiary’ establishes a good mix of drawing and collages, applied through
various technical forms to emphasise the depth and profound darkness suggestive
of Mills’ subject matter. Additionally, the extreme use of shaded dark acrylic
adds intensity and character to his already powerful and suggestive pieces, many
of which depict portraits of appealing female figures that seem to emit an
immensely challenging image.

Many of Byroglyphics pieces carry with them accompanying titles which are just
as thought provoking as the works themselves. For example, listed among
antidepressants, ‘Desipramine’ and ‘Sinequan’ perhaps omit the same sense of
euphoria as Mills is trying to capture in the images these titles represent. His
strong brush strokes fulfil the artwork’s multi-dimensional potential, while the
accompanying drawing-effect forms lingering subtle emotions within each image.
The confidence and sex appeal in the subjects’ appearance emphasises this
aforementioned magnetism, especially in the portraits illustrated on Chinese
comic pages.
‘Subsidiary’ proves why Byroglyphics is a remarkable talent in the urban art
scene, drawing in people’s attention with his personal fascination for one’s
‘inner demons’. Unusual are his artistic features which combine distinctive
looks from the animal kingdom with realistic human figures. Perhaps striking but
not surprising, the majority of his exhibited artwork this time was marked sold
by the second day of the exhibition. 

Words by Katre Laan

The Infinite Music of French Horn Rebellion

Brooklyn New York has been somewhat a growing ground for talent like Yeasayer and Grizzly Bear and just to prove that the emerging talent is only becoming bigger we are now delighted with French Horn Rebellion and their debut album - The Infinite Music of French Horn Rebellion. The two piece band is composed by brothers Robert and David Perlick-Molinari, they are now ready to bang on our eardrums. So what is so special about these pair? Well the album is about 54 minutes long which is more than enough to make our taste buds euphoric. With 14 songs the album feels more like an endless track, intertwining one track after the other in an odyssey of musical chaos.

With ‘The Void and Fancy Free’ as the prelude to the album we engage in an orgasmic sound clash which to some might feel very close to some of the tunes in the post rock scene, mysterious in its own way but absolutely enchanting. From that we are taken into the abrupt musical world of electro-synthpop with ‘The Body Electric’ which sounds like the bastard child of Depeche Mode and We Have Band, something uncanny yet alluring and full of life - most like the album itself. Third in the debut album we find ‘Broken Heart’ which sets a different melody altogether with a more pop funky sound to it and vocals that form a comprehensible lyrical structure followed by ‘New Florida’, now this track is something odd, with echoing chants and tribal drums it creates the perfect soundtrack for an early nineties movie. 

On the other hand ‘Brasilia Girls’ is an upbeat electro fusion sounding like a chilled version of something Boys Noize would enjoy. In its own eclectics it does make a difference to the album itself and is just followed by ‘Mawson’s Peak’ – a personal favourite – with the Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem lovers not being able to resist pressing the repeat button when it comes to this track. Something trashy and obnoxious makes this track the perfect party tune, with a static beat and background noise it is the next step in the electro pop sound. ‘Antarctica/The Decision’ is track number seven and feels like a long interlude, being what we could call the middle track of the album it feels like a nice melodic pause to then get driven into the frenzy of track eight, ‘Up All Night’ sounding more like wonky pop and somehow indie like, it is credible, catchy and happy go lucky. To that we add track nine, ‘This Moment’ that sounds like a disco revival and one would think there is nothing missing to this album [because there isn’t!]. Having seen a DJ reawakening with Duck Sauce and Swedish House Mafia, ‘This Moment’ seems to be like the tune everyone will be playing in days time, having nothing to envy from the talents previously mentioned. ‘Last Summer’ already has the traits to become a classic of the indie scene, being a more vocal track and including a more instrumental approach when compared to the other tracks in the album. ‘Geomancer's Compass and Other Quasi-Scientific Findings’ is a relaxed non aggressive track, very electronic and powerful, connecting in perfect harmony with ‘Running Through The Wild’ both tracks sound rather like one with an incredibly long introduction breaking into synthesised voices. Almost at the end of the album we find ‘The Cannor Meets the Alien’ which any music lover would identify with experimental trip hop and from the likes of Bonobo it is an amusing and jazzy tune and feels like it is letting us know we are approaching the end of the journey. ‘What I Want’ is the closing track to the Brooklyn based band debut album and sounds like an experiment of noise which is what makes these boys – oh so – special. 

The album as a whole lies in perfect harmony with the genre hopping duo and finds niche sounds in every single track making the outcome sound unique and ear catching. It defies harmonic and rhythmic laws making it feel like a wild jaunt.

Words by Micaela Ortego Maciel

'The Infinite Music of French Horn Rebellion' is released on Monday 29th November

LENI WARD GIG REVIEW

I was immensely looking forward to seeing Leni Ward live at the Camden Lock Tavern for the release party to her first album Hope. What I was most interested to see was whether this lively lass from Derby could recreate the multi-layered sound which dominates her album, and she doesn’t disappoint.
With a piano, a synth, a drum machine, and a multitude of samplers and effects, Ward is always doing at least three things at a time. She individually creates the sound of a whole band, not simply to prove her talent, but also to demonstrate the significance of being a solo artist in relation to her music. 
After all, Ward has to do it solo because what she is singing about is her life alone, more specifically the break-up of a seven year long relationship. Such a unique sound proves Leni Ward to be the ideal example of how you can creatively express an experience, how every break-up can be a stepping stone to something truly innovative.
Coming on stage she seemed a little nervous, extremely unpretentious and completely natural. Starting off with the hook line of “One Last Time With You”, the first track from her album Hope, everybody in the room drifted into rhythmic movement. Following this, Ward sang her current single “I Want My Heart Back” and was accompanied on the catchy chorus by hoards of girls singing along.
Her next song “The Hunted” gets dedicated to two members of the audience, one of the only times she addresses family or friends during the entire gig; another being when she briefly refers to her ex-boyfriend, the apparent muse for Hope. Halfway through the set she speaks to the audience again, this time to explain how she always ‘popstars up’ ahead of a gig and is now rubbing her lipstick onto the microphone. She jokingly warns the crowd not to be shocked if she starts looking like a clown as a result, “over in Paris, everybody’s doing it” she adds.
Her obvious indifference to any ‘hipsterdom’ and the fact that her Dad could be seen filming the entire gig, are examples of what makes Leni Ward such a charming performer. She is not your stereotypical popstar, and she seemingly doesn’t want any of the offstage associations that go with that label. Her music isn’t about image, it is about her speaking of life’s harshness and how for her “the horizon’s now gotten so much wider”.
With these words, a sanguine melody and steady clapping introduces the single ‘Opening Doors’, causing one fan to emerge through the crowd and dance in front of everybody else. Following this, Leni concludes her set with the impressive acapella song ‘I Will Rise’, leaving the entire audience with a filled sense of optimism, providing a fantastic end to an impressive performance.    

Words by Lars Hertel

To celebrate the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, Hope, rising
starlet Leni Ward is giving away a Linton Brown remix of her album track, The
Hunted, absolutely free.

You can download it here: http://official.fm/track/176965

SMALL ACTS OF RESISTANCE

Black Rat Projects present "Small Acts of Resistance"

Vibrant, lively, and even a little surreal are a few ways to describe the latest pieces by six worldwide artists at the Black Rat Projects' Gallery. Focusing upon the struggles within society, the exhibition's artists have 'urbanised' fine art, making each piece truly innovative. Through a diverse range of mediums, each artist encourages viewers to take a second look and uncover the varying portrayals of social resistance in each piece. 

One artist, Matt Small, uses his art to reflect everyday native people in a vivid and powerful way. The size of his sculptures draws you in, but it is the way Small represents a nation in such a noble way which is most captivating. Featuring alongside Small is New York artist Swoon whose enormous installation of a disaster on mixed media adds a different dimension to the exhibition. The image of the small boy featured in Swoon's piece catches the observer's eye, and helps highlight the enormity of the disaster surrounding him.

Other artists involved in the 'Small Acts of Resistance' exhibition include Peter Kennard, whose love for photomontage speaks for a new era of social struggle. His collaborative project with Tarek Salhany focuses on an obscure layering composition based upon a newspaper surface, giving the black and white portraits a hidden emotion which as viewers we try to uncover. 

Danish artist Armstock's simple yet profound drawings also depict this sense of hidden emotion and resistance. As if the artist is one step ahead of us as viewers, the rough charcoal conveys the medium while allowing an observer to try to uncover and envisage the scene more vividly. The central focus of Armstock's work is interaction; between the work and the viewer, and  between tension and conflict, encapsulating the theme of social struggles. 

Know Hope is an Israeli artist whose work pieces together a combination of white birds, white flags and raindrops. His focus is on producing a kind of non-linear narrative in his work to establish a connection between art and the social environment it is created within. This direct connection between art and social environment is also dealt with by DotMasters who in a sense expose humankind by using their work to confront the prominence of vandalism in society. A selection of scenes from CCTV frames illustrates the violence occurring in current society, something which shocks viewers but also acts to inspire resistance and encourage more creative talent on the street. 

Words by Katre Laan

Pictures by Black Rat Press Office

THE HEARTBREAKS

You may not have heard of The Heartbreaks, yet. However, this indie four-piece are only just beginning to spread their eclectic songs across the nation.


They capture a romantic hold, with Motown influences and poetic lyrics; The Heartbreak’s upbringing in the lost seaside resort of Morecambe (once crowned third in the book ‘50 Crap Towns’) is apparent in their soulful tunes, as are the similarities to The Smiths, with opening lines like ‘The rainfall in Morecambe embitters me’, creating a mysterious sense of melancholy. However, their use of blaring guitar riffs and catchy melodies make for overall interesting listening - they express everything to do with the English shores, and what it embodies. ‘The British seaside has this sort of faded glamour to it; it’s tacky and tragic, yet at the same time, there's a real beauty to that’. The quintessentially British take on the world of music is rooted in their songs, such as ‘Liar, My Dear’ and ‘I Didn’t Think It Would Hurt To Think Of You’, recently described as ‘indie-pop at its finest’. With a dapper style of tighter-than-tight skinny jeans and buttoned up shirts, the Mod inspiration clearly reflects in their threads, too. Morecambe shores and an upbringing in the sleepy seaside town has undoubtedly enthused their musical style, with lyrics that evoke a real sense of nostalgia. The Heartbreaks are certainly not a band to dismiss; we will be keeping a beady eye upon them, so watch this space for more features and reviews.

Words by Alyss Bowen

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1

link href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CJess%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"> The much buzzed about penultimate feature of the Harry Potter series has arrived, and it's bigger and better than any of the six films that preceded it.

Here we see Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on a mission to discover (amidst an apocalyptic wizard world) the secret to Lord Voldemort’s immortality and power.

Having always enjoyed the films, but never considering myself a super fan, I approached The Deathly Hallows wearily; but as the curtains went up and the booming voice of Bill Nighy began, it immediately felt different to the previous films. And it is; with no sight of Hogwarts, the audience is brought out of the cosy comfort they’re used to, and into an unstable world. 

With Bill Nighy's powerful opening ‘These are dark times, there is no denying’, the darker, more macabre tone is set for the action to ensue.

The film pulls no punches; director David Yates fearlessly goes for it in all its fast paced, CGI wonderment. The set pieces are a step up from the past films - the standoff in the café and the chase scene in the woods are wonderfully done - it’s obvious that the filmmakers want to finish the series with an almighty bang.

The acting from the three main stars has also been brought up a notch; particularly with Rupert Grint’s Ron, who takes a far more serious turn, brilliantly acting out a seething jealousy for both Harry and his friendship with Hermione; the relationship of the trio has matured, is deeper and more sincere; the dancing scene in the tent between Harry and Hermione displays the actors’ chemistry and Daniel Radcliffe’s awkwardness. What may have been irritating before is now endearing.

A standout scene is an animation piece during the storytelling of Deathly Hallows; it is enchanting and gorgeously gothic. Much credit for the film can be given to cinematographer, Eduardo Serra, known for Defiance and Blood Diamond; he lends himself well, making this a meatier, darker instalment.

There are moments of haunting drama, and at times it is so spine-chillingly frightening that even the most stony-faced journalists were jumping out of their seats. Helena Bonham-Carter gives Ralph Fiennes' Lord Voldemort a run for his money as the disturbing and deranged Bellatrix Lestrange, and manages to steal every scene she’s in.

Harry Potter has finally come of age - helped not only by its darker, bleaker nature (and walloping action scenes), but also by the three central actors who have proved their worth in this film with strong, heartfelt performances and flourishing chemistry.

Now that the franchise is nearing its end, I wonder, why weren’t they all as good as this one? 

BODi BiLL London Show and Free Track Giveaway

Avant Garde alt pop outfit, BODi BiLL, are announcing a special one off London only show at The Garage on Saturday, December 4 2010. The trio from Berlin are on an exclusive Sinnbus Records tour across Europe with fellow label mates, Hundreds, this December. Showcasing material from their critically acclaimed UK debut album, Two In One, BODi Bill’s first ever London show certainly looks set to be a special one.

To celebrate this festive season, the band are giving away a spectacular remix of their album track, ‘One or Two Ghosts’, absolutely free. Berlin whizzkid, Phon.o, fresh off remixing tracks for Modeselektor and Boys Noize, lends his esoteric productions talents to the song.

You can download it here: http://official.fm/track/172889

LOUISE BOURGEOIS

The Fabric Works, Review

Walking down Saville Row, it is raining heavily; the automatic doors let us in at the Hauser & Wirth gallery and I am immediately taken in by the wonderful space. Louise Bourgeois’ The Fabric Works is displayed in a way which allows me to roam around the room slowly, appreciating every aspect of her work freely.

There is something inviting about Bourgeois’ work, her love of fabric and playing with string to create sculptural drawings is truly captivating. The fabric seems so effortlessly stitched together you have to resist the temptation to touch it, and instead simply observe the way Bourgeois clashes colours so well that they seem to blend together.

As I move to another part of the gallery, I am once again faced with a large spacious area in the middle of which is one of Louise Bourgeois’ famous spider sculptures. The room perfectly complements its scale, with each of the spider’s legs carefully touching the hard floor. As I move further into the room, the sculpture’s magnificence fully hits me; constructed from steel, the spider is so established in the room it overpowers me, and I become engrossed in how each piece of its body has been fixed together. It is daunting yet is just as inviting as Bourgeois’ use of fabric, at once drawing you into her beautifully graceful exhibition.

Words by Tehniyat Siddiqui

ALIEN BEAUTY: ALIEN FREEDOM

The Vyner Street Gallery is fast becoming the place to be on the first Thursday of every month. Located in Cambridge Heath and known as London's contemporary Art District, the area is bustling with people looking to discover the next best thing in the art world. The scene, mostly attracting stylish locals and the arty crowd, is as one might expect 'happening', and most surprisingly, you don't need your name on a guest list to catch a glimpse of Vyner Street's hidden gems. 

With emerging talents sitting alongside established names, a simple walk down this street will see you shifting from conceptual fine art to meaningfully arranged and composed objects. While the galleries, including Gift, Degree Art, East2Gallery, and Five Hundred Dollars all represent artists who all bring prominent, fresh and unique styles to the art market. 

Hosting specialised exhibitions, Vyner Street offers a well needed collective art presence. Most recently, Lucinka Soucek, one of Vyner's outstanding talents, presented her Wood and Trees exhibition using a woodcut technique to portray varying illustrations. The roughness derived from Soucek's technique created a vividness which draws the viewer into her work, causing us to focus in on the intense detailing which evokes a sense of intimacy and warmth. 

Alongside Soucek, Gift Gallery presents Elaine Wilson, whose artwork has plunged into studying female identity. The small sculptures of women in Victorian dress depict a conventional ideal which is contrasted by the way they are holding pointed guns. The emotions held within the sculptures aim to spark a curiosity in viewers in a bid to spark a consideration of femininity and female identity. 

If Gift Gallery doesn't satisfy you, take a wander down to Degree Art where Alien Beauty: Alien Freedom is currently being exhibited. Created by artists Robert Dunt and Alistair Baxendale, the exhibit uses mixed media and photomontage whilst contrasting new and famous paintings, to reveal the boundlessness of imagination in artistic creativity and perception. With inspiration including pop art, Alien Beauty: Alien Freedom promotes a sense of disarrayed and chaotic freedom at the heart of its subject. The chaos goes someway toward representing Vyner Street's amalgamation of diverse artistic talent. After all, where else could Alien Beauty: Alien Freedom stand alongside exhibitions such as Hannah Wooll's Natural Habitat?

The pop art influences of Dunt and Baxendale's work alone completely contrast with Wooll's charming and innocent subject matter. Her use of earthy colours help depict the humble female character at the centre of her piece, introducing an entirely different dynamic to the Vyner Street movement.

Dunt and Baxendale, Wooll, Soucek, and Wilson all represent the diversity of Vyner Street and its relentlessly changing face. Exhibitions may come and go on a weekly and monthly basis, but Vyner's dedication to being  commerical platform for the most innovative talents discovered at degree shows never falters.

12a Vyner Street , London, E2 9DG

3^rd – 28^th November 2010 12-6pm daily

Words by Katre Laan

RELENTLESS FREEZE

The Relentless freeze festival took place over the Halloween weekend, but there was nothing spooky about this event, which had some of the biggest names in snowboarding and music come together to create one massive, messy party from the UKs biggest winter sports and music festival.

Now in its third year, the event featured some of the best snowboarders competing in the LG Big Air World Cup event and freestyle skiers in the International Big Air. Some of the world’s best athletes took part in the event, with several competitors coming from the 2010 Winter Olympics, this was a serious event, and not for the light-hearted.

The LG Big Air was certainly a highlight, standing over 32m high, it used 500 tonnes of real snow. The event marks the third on the Men’s LG World Cup tour, and some of the best snowboarders took to the snow, trying to pick up points to help them win the title of World Champion. Competitors this year included Americans Colby West, Scotty Largo and quarter pipe height world record holder Simon Dumont as well as top British rider Dom Harrington making an appearance.

As well the Big Air event, there was also the International Freestyle Big Air to look forward to, being the only event of its kind in the UK. And if that wasn’t spoiling the audience enough, there was also the Battle of Britain competition, with the top 4 snowboarders and freestyle skiers going through to compete in the international competitions.

But if the winter sport wasn’t for your liking, then the music line-up gave even the most sport-phobic people something to enjoy with over 44 acts taking over two stages during three days. The acts included Pendlum, Mark Ronson, New Young Pony Club, I Blame Coco, Roni Size and Hadouken but to name a few.

Not surprisingly, the organisers are very proud of the event and speaking before the festival, Andrew Topham, Event Organiser for the Big Freeze festival commented that, “We are delighted that London has been chosen to host the third leg of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup series. For UK winter sports fans, the Relentless Freeze Festival offers a rare glimpse of the world’s best winter sports athletes including competitors from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Music fans can look forward to an eclectic range of live acts appearing on two stages across three nights. This year’s event will reinforce our position as London’s most exciting winter spectacle.”

For more information on future Freeze festivals, check out their website on www.thefreezefestival.com

Words by Eleni Cashell

Pictures by Hanna White

Jessie J

For once I was on time to something and boy was it worth it. Within a matter of minutes after my arrival the queue outside Hoxton Square went from non-existent to a mass of bodies fighting for the last few places in the venue. The room was filled to capacity as I spent the night on tip toes to get a glimpse of Jessie J's amazing hairdo and stunning street style.

If I was one of the people turned away I would have been very angry! Jessie was on top form tonight, the audience were on tenterhooks to her every word. Song after song she hit every note in her enormous range and wowed the audience with her amazing vocals.

Her soulful lyrics and versatile voice made every song a hit with the crowd as she worked her way through songs off her up and coming debut album. Cracking jokes left, right and centre about her mum (who had a front row spot) and her skilful writing of Party In The USA. She isn't just a singer, she is a bold performer with cheek, attitude and humour that really evoke her passion for music.

Saving the best till last, she finished off the set with her debut single “Do It Like A Dude”, to be released in December. Alesha Dixon was there to show her support and 1Xtra have already played the single, you can tell she is going to go far.

Keep your eyes on IDOL for more news about Jessie over the coming months, we her love and so should you.

Thomas Mehrtens

Imogen Heap DVD - "Everything In-Between: The Story of Ellipse"

Singer-songwriter, style icon and grammy award winning artist Imogen Heap is due to release a ‘behind the scenes’ story of her latest album, “Ellipse”. Delving into her home made recording studio you are transported through her writing and recording process with a very intimate view of her work. Unfortunately not everyone is prepared to sit through 360+ hours of footage; however the full running time of the film is completely crammed.

The idea was ignited by a fan asking Imogen to make a video diary of her tour around the Pacific. The habit stuck as she took her camera with her every step of the way and continued the addiction back in London.

The way the film is produced gives a real insight into the processes required to make a successful album. Without being an Imogen Heap fan (although why wouldn't you be?!) you can appreciate the hard work and determination that is necessary for a musician to succeed. It works through every single sound heard on the album (from bird song to squeaky floorboards) and how each is fused into the individual tracks.

To appreciate any film fully you have to see it yourself. The DVD is out now

Furthermore Imogen starts on her UK tour this Friday 5^th November. Tickets are available here: http://www.artistticket.com/link/?s=imogen+heap

Words by Tom Mehrtens