Monthly Archives: October 2013

Why I love… Halloween

Feature: Angus Kirk Halloween. It’s one of my favourite times of the year: not only is it an excuse to have a party but to dress up too! From Halloween adverts to horror films, I love everything about this holiday.The … Continue reading

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Cuckoo Playlist: Songs for a spooky Halloween

PLAYLIST: HESTER ALDERMAN Halloween is upon us, so here are some spooky songs to liven up your party playlists, inspire some creative costumes or creep out your friends and family. Warning: This playlist features zombies, monsters, zombies and even Death … Continue reading

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Destroyed Dressed by Cara Brennan

Valley Press http://www.valleypressuk.com/authors/carabrennan/ Review: Nasim Asl Destroyed Dresses marks the first pamphlet of poetry from new-comer Cara Brennan. Twenty-three year old Brennan, a Writing Squad graduate who recently completed an MA in Creative Writing, published her mini-collection of poems in … Continue reading

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After Eden by Helen Douglas

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC ISBN: 9781408828694 http://www.hive.co.uk/book/after-eden/16591222/ Review: Emma Yeo The title of this book conjured images of a dystopian future or of a Garden of Eden awaiting readers. In the murky waters beyond the story is a tale … Continue reading

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Sky Larkin: Motto

Wichita Records Available Now Review: Jamie Shepherd It’s been three years since Leeds four-piece, Sky Larkin released an album so it would seem that now is the perfect time for a comeback. Despite last year seeing a major line-up change … Continue reading

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Cuckoo Playlist: Kings of Leon

Playlist: Fiona Lawson Still riding on the wave of their most recent album release, Mechanical Bull, I’ve ended up listening to all Kings of Leon’s back catalogue on repeat. With six albums-worth of songs to choose from it has been … Continue reading

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Everybody Loves…But I Don’t: The Lion King

Feature: Luke Davis There is a common misconception with films that ‘good’ is synonymous with ‘popular’. Take Avatar for example – while it broke numerous box office records, it barely had a plot to sustain fifteen minutes, never mind a … Continue reading

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This Is Not A Love Story

Gunilla Heilborn Dance City http://www.dancecity.co.uk/ http://gunillaheilborn.se/en/current-repertoire/this_is_not_a_love_story/ Review: Rebecca Atkinson This Is Not A Love Story is the tale of two reluctant heroes on the path to self-discovery. They dance, they sing, they talk about trivial, human topics and they are … Continue reading

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Ben Myers wins Gordon Burn Prize at Durham Book Festival

REPORT: KATE TAYLOR Saturday 19th October marked the first Gordon Burn Prize as part of Durham Book Festival. Established by friends, family, his publishers Faber and Faber and New Writing North after his death aged 61 in 2009, the Gordon … Continue reading

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The music that saved my life: Music for 18 Musicians

Feature: BEN TAYLOR Minimalism is often unfairly associated with sterile, cold music – some might argue that its use of phasing leaves no room for emotion and spontaneity, or that its glacial repetition is simply a bore. But Steve Reich’s 1978 … Continue reading

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Cuckoo Playlist: Songs to wind down to

Playlist: Jack Auty Truthfully Cuckoo, I have a lot of people telling me that the music I listen to is ‘sad’ and ‘melancholy’. My counter argument, however, is that I’m clearly constantly stressed, and have to wind myself down all … Continue reading

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Particle Velocity

Pheonix Dance Theatre Northern Stage http://www.northernstage.co.uk/ Review: Isobel Taylor-Herbert Phoenix Dance Theatre is a dance company founded in 1981 by three male dancers. Particle Velocity is the company’s 2013 tour, and consists of four pieces of choreography from both established and … Continue reading

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Cuckoo Playlist: tracks for train journeys

Playlist: Holly Cruddace If there’s one thing essential for a long train ride when it’s dark and cold outside, it’s the right songs to truly capture the lulling ambience of the rails. Here are five songs perfect to listen to … Continue reading

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Weather to Fly

OddManOut Live Theatre http://www.live.org.uk/whats-on-book/weather-to-fly Review: fionn Oakes First of all, why is everything I end up reviewing LGBT related? Like, seriously, it’s beyond any sort of joke now, Cuckoo. I’d like to firstly say that to not mention spoilers in this … Continue reading

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Days Are Gone: Haim

Polydor Records Available Now Review: Fiona Lawson The excitement surrounding this trio of sisters has gained momentum since the release of their EP ‘Forever’ last year. Subsequently, the long-haired rock chicks have put in their fair share of gigs and … Continue reading

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The Noise

Unlimited Theatre Northern Stage, Newcastle 4-12 October http://www.northernstage.co.uk/  REVIEW: Matilda Neill Unlimited Theatre’s latest play, entitled The Noise, is described as a sci-conspiracy thriller: a who-dunnit style mystery, with a courageous young heroin, who remains the only one asking questions, … Continue reading

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Gary Numan: Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)

Mortal Available Now REVIEW: jESSICA wEISSER Responsible for such tracks as ‘Cars’ and ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’, Gary Numan hit a self-admitted creative rock bottom in 1992. He has since ascended by way of breaching darker territory and bringing himself on … Continue reading

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Reading and Place

Feature: Ben Taylor I don’t know if I’m alone in reading like this (I’m probably not), but I tend to skip over the precise spatial details of rooms and settings in novels. I’m interested in atmosphere, colour and noises, but … Continue reading

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Prisoners

Dir: Denis Villeneuve Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano. 153 minutes, 15 Review: Emily Craig Prisoners is a gritty suspenseful crime drama directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Aaron Guzikowski. … Continue reading

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Mouse and the Cossacks by Paul Wilson

Published by Tindal Street Press ISBN: 978-1906994440 http://www.hive.co.uk/book/mouse-and-the-cossacks/17316159/ REVIEW: Kate Taylor Despite the impression you might get from the title, Mouse and the Cossacks is not a children’s book. The world it portrays is brutal, visceral and nasty: an old man’s cat … Continue reading

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