#352: NERVE

2016

Directed by Ariel Schulman & Henry Joost

Sci-Fi, Thriller.

Oh boy, now here is a film that had a promising concept and trailer. Nerve is basically a smartphone game similar to Pokemon Go, where you have to go out and socialise and do dares in public, filmed from your phone's camera for money, whilst people watch you online. The dares get more crazy and difficult as your progress through the game to the point where they are illegal. So yeah the concept of the film seems inspired by Pokemon Go and Impractical Jokers, only not as cute or as funny. In fact with it being set in Staten Island, I was half expecting the jokers themselves to make a cameo!

Emma Roberts and Dave Franco lead the film and are the two main daredevils. Whilst Franco is well experienced in the game already, Emma Roberts' character Venus goes from being a shy bookworm type, to a pro daredevil in the space of like one day! The whole film is completely implausible because you have to suspend your disbelief that every character in the film has a super hi quality internet connection that allows for seamless HD camera phone footage with the directing prowess of Stanley Kubrick. Every character in the film seems to have a high quality internet connection and knows how to do hacking skills. The more you watch, the more it feels like someone is smashing your brain in with a hammer. 

The film also tries to be so incredibly hip that it becomes annoying. There is a really grating Pop/RnB soundtrack that will sound dated in a few years time, truly one of the worst film soundtracks I've ever heard. Also there is SO MUCH PRODUCT PLACEMENT. It gets ridiculous, it's like every single big corporation wanted to get their logo in this film, it's really distracting.

Nerve is also devoid of any decent character development, and even the most insane dares in the film never really seem that gripping or tense. I didn't care about any of the characters and this film just annoyed the shit out of me. The film was made by the same directors as Paranormal Activity 3 and 4, and the Catfish film and TV series. Now as a positive I will say this was a more ambitious film and it looks quite good visually. Nerve never really becomes boring, it has entertainment value, but the script and plot of the film is true "leave your brain at the door" material. 5/10.

#351: STAR TREK BEYOND

2016

Directed by Justin Lin

Sci-Fi, Action.

The biggest talking point about the 3rd entry into the rebooted Star Trek film franchise is that JJ Abrams, who directed the first two films, left the directors chair (though stayed on as producer) in order to make Star Wars: The Force Awakens. His critical success of steering Star Wars back on track simply wouldn't have happened without his wonderful contributions to the Star Trek series, and the man is pretty much now the master of two of the biggest Sci-Fi franchises ever!

So how does Star Trek Beyond fare in the hands of Fast & Furious director Justin Lin? Well pretty well actually, especially considering the F&F films are utter trash! The look and feel of Star Trek Beyond really isn't that far from the previous two films. The visuals in particular look amazing, and all the characters are just as great as ever. They even carry on the tradition of using the music of The Beastie Boys, and this time the song "Sabotage" actually ends up saving the crew from a sticky situation, how awesome is that?

Star Trek Beyond isn't without its problems though. Whilst there is nothing really that wrong with the visuals (I missed the lens flare) or the characters, it just feels like another mission. The plot is quite formulaic, the characters meet up, get attacked by bad guys, get separated, then they have to unite and overcome the villains. The new villain is quite good, but certainly cannot compare to Eggs Benedict Cumberbatch's astonishing performance as Khan in the previous film. Rarely does the plot of this film seem deep or challenging. Other than having to fight the main villain, the characters don't go through too much of a heavy experience and it doesn't really have any of the dramatic weight as that wonderful scene with Spock and Kirk in the radiation chamber from Into Darkness. 

If you enjoyed the first two films in the reboot series, you'll probably enjoy Star Trek Beyond too, but it just kind of feels like an extra mission for the characters to undertake, and never really feels as bold or as exciting as the previous two films. Still, with the awful first trailer and the loss of Mr. Abrams at the helm, I certainly expected worse... 7/10.

#350: GRAF ORLOCK + GHOSTLIMB & BIG MACHINE - LIVE IN MANCHESTER

Tonight's bargain show saw US Grindcore band Graf Orlock play at the hard to find Aatma bar in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Joining them were Manchester's own noise rockers Big Machine and US Hardcore act Ghostlimb. The show saw a good turnout with even a couple of distros selling hard to find vinyl releases!

BIG MACHINE

Manchester based Big Machine make some big sounds despite only being a duo. They stepped in at the last minute after Mums were forced to pull out after losing their pedals. Best of luck to Mums and I hope the pedals are found! Big Machine played a set of high energy Noise Rock with just a drummer and a guitarist, with both adding vocals to the mix. Their guitarist Sacha Zucconi churned out some gnarly screams, whilst drummer Nick Colman would offer a mix of screams and clean vocals. Their short songs were made of jagged twists and turns, leaning towards a Math Rock influence. Nick Colman really stole the show with the most impressive and versatile performance this evening from behind the kit. He was just awe inspiring to watch, with an acrobatic way of playing every part of his kit. The only real downside of their performance were that the guitars and vocals weren't quite mixed loud enough compared to the drums, taking away some of the aggression. Some of the clean parts of theirs songs fell a little flat. Big Machine's sound reminded me of Leeds based Clenstch (who I reviewed earlier in the year), as well as Shellac and The Hyena Kill. 8/10.

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GHOSTLIMB

Travelling all the way from California to play a bargain show were Ghostlimb, a Melodic Hardcore trio featuring the guitarist of headliners Graf Orlock. Ghostlimb channeled a lovely balance between more Extreme Screamo/Hardcore combined with a pinch of old school American Punk Rock. The trio were full of good riffs, though the gravelly screaming vocals could have benefited from a more varied tone. Ghostlimb weren't quite as crazy as the two bands they were sandwiched between, but were still enjoyable enough and could give their songs oomph when required! 7/10.

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GRAF ORLOCK

Our headliners Graf Orlock hail from Anaheim, California. Graf Orlock's trademark is to combine lightning fast, spazzed out Grindcore, punctuated by samples from cult films to introduce each track. The quartet successfully implemented the film samples in a live environment, through the use of a sampler. The way the band would kick in to mad bursts of grind all in unison at the perfect moment was a sheer joy to watch and got the crowd's energy raised. Since there were some sound issues across the whole night, the backing vocals from the guitarist were much louder than their frontman, but he still managed to command the stage, often spilling out into the mosh pit and crowdsurfing. Their frontman had a really raw, throat shredding scream. Graf Orlock's songs were frequently noisy and unpredictable, injecting a sharp sense of humour as they bantered with the crowd. Their performance was suitably brief but very intense, with lots of energy. Graf Orlock come across as the kind of act that Grindcore purists might scoff at, but their live show cannot be denied, as they are simply a lot of fun and know how to have a great time! 8/10.

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August 9th 2016 @ Aatma, Manchester.

FRENCHIE'S LISTENING POST - JULY

Because I don't get time to review all the new music I hear in depth, I have decided to start doing some smaller reviews, rounding up the best (and worst) releases of each month! Just a short one this time as I didn't get a lot of listening time this month!

ALBUM OF THE MONTH:

DEATH GRIPS - BOTTOMLESS PIT

Industrial, Hip Hop, Hardcore Punk. Harvest Records.

Death Grips are a very difficult band to put into words. The trio are known for their violent and agro live shows, and despite announcing that they had split up a couple of years ago, it seems that plenty of new material and live shows keep rolling on. It feels like the momentum could come to a halt at any second, so a chance to hear new Death Grips material is vital. "Bottomless Pit" is definitely my favourite album of theirs yet, and it hit me instantly with "Giving Bad People Good Ideas", which smacks you in the face with Zach Hill's blastbeat drumming, roaring guitars that have a Hardcore and Black Metal kind of influence to them (made me think of Kvelertak), and of course MC Ride's macho stream of consciousness bellowing.

Death Grips continue to experiment and make weird sounds, with very abrupt changes. The slower Witch House/Hip Hop kind of styles aren't quite as prominent as their older works, aside from the fantastic "Eh" which harks back to the sound of their breakout album "The Money Store". Every track here is full of colourful production, wild aggression and silly, dark humour. The novelty and the intensity never seems to let up and it is one of those kind of albums that you just have to listen to and be swept away with, rather than have someone explain to you what it sounds like! I absolutely adore Death Grips because they are a band that have absolutely no subtlety, are completely crass, loud, obnoxious and in your face... Yet make completely innovative and scary music. That is something that is all too hard to find in these "why so serious?!" days we live in! 9/10.

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APHEX TWIN - CHEETAH
Acid Techno, Electronic. Warp Records.

Named after Richard D James' love for vintage synthesisers, "Cheetah" is his 3rd EP since the release of his Grammy Award winning "comeback" album "Syro". Usually Aphex Twin always sounds ahead of his time, but the two "Cheetah" tracks that open the record sound distinctly nostalgic, mixing Atari era Arcade game sound effects with old school beats. The compositions here are surprisingly linear, settling on 4/4 techno beats, a far-cry from his insane ADHD rhythms of tracks like "Windowlicker" or even "Minipops". The best track over these 30 minutes is undoubtedly "CIRKLON3", which was released with a new music video directed by a 12 year old boy. This song is distinctly cool and dance friendly, with the sounds of dripping, acidic synthesisers. Near the end of its 8 minute run, it shifts up a gear into a delightful wonky bass groove. As a whole the EP is closest in tone to "Analord 02" for you hardcore Aphex fans, or "Selected Ambient Works 85-92" for the more casual fan. "Cheetah" represents a rare time where Richard D James seems to be looking backwards rather than forwards, but the only troubling aspect of this release is that none of the other tracks really manage to outshine "CIRKLON3", with a lack of variation throughout. One for the more serious Richard D James collector, with wonderful artwork to boot! 7/10.

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THE AVALANCHES - WILDFLOWER
Hip Hop, Rap, Psychedelia, Electronic. Modular Recordings.

It will only take about 1 minute after you hit play before a huge smile appears on your face! I don't know why or how it has taken 16 years for The Avalanches to make another album, but they haven't lost any of their joy or scope in the process. With a great ear for sampling in mind, "Wildflower" is much more Hip Hop oriented than their debut, but still with plenty to make you want to dance. MF DOOM, Danny Brown and Camp Lo lend their rhymes. The sound of the album isn't worlds away from that Stones Throw Records sound, with an exquisite flow and track sequencing reminiscent of "Madvillainy". It is also similar to that 2004 classic because this journey of sound is very varied, quirky and full of positivity. The Avalanches implement a lot of psychedelic touches, with the sounds of flutes and acoustic guitars surfacing to emphasise the bouncing beats and basslines. Simply put, "Wildflower" is sheer bliss from start to finish! The Avalanches have come out of hiding at seemingly the perfect time to drop some good feels on the world, completely out of the blue! 8/10.

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CLIFF MARTINEZ - THE NEON DEMON

Original Score, Electronic, Ambient. Milan Records

The soundtrack to the film Drive had a strong influence on the direction modern electronic music would take, looking back towards the synth sound of the 70s and 80s. The latest film from Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn sees him collaborate with Cliff Martinez once again and the momentum of the Drive soundtrack continues. The 80s synth pop sound of tracks like "A Real Hero" is only glimpsed at here, with only two fantastic vocal tracks featured, "Mine Sweet Tempest" and a surprisingly great closing track by Sia. The rest of the soundtrack shows composer Cliff Martinez tighten up his craft even further, with an incredibly diverse Ambient and Electronic score. The album is full of dreamy motifs that reflect the themes of beauty in the film. A pounding rave track "The Demon Dance" by Julian Winding is another great highlight. The score works so well on its own devices that it will make you want to seek out the film. A truly immersive and atmospheric gem. 8/10.

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BADBADNOTGOOD - IV

Jazz, Fusion. Innovative Leisure.

BadBadNotGood are one of the leading lights in modern Jazz. As opposed to Kamasi Washington who has a nostalgic sound leaning towards the Jazz highs of the 60s and 70s, BadBadNotGood sound like they belong in 2016. Even though they are using more saxophones and natural instrumentation than on their previous albums, this is an album that can also appeal to fans of Indie Rock and Math Rock bands such as Three Trapped Tigers. The album has some phenomenally good instrumentals, combining the Hip Hop feel of their collaborative album with Ghostface Killah, with plenty of funkiness and twisting rhythms. "IV" is an album that has a lot of energy and playfulness. Though even when they slow it down on a highlight Soul track with a female vocal, they still sound invigorating. Perhaps their best work yet! 8/10.

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STEPHEN MARLEY - REVELATION PART II: THE FRUIT OF LIFE

Ragga, Reggae, Hip Hop. Ghetto Youths United.

If you didn't already think Bob Marley was incredible enough, you also have to take into account that his children are all highly talented too! The second part of Stephen Marley's "Revelation" series focuses strictly on the Ragga sound, basically combining Hip Hop and Reggae together, in a similar way to his brother Damian Marley, who did a fantastic collaborative album with Nas, "Distant Relatives". Fans of Bob Marley and the more traditional instrument based Reggae might not think much of it, but "Revelation" does a solid job of bringing Reggae to a modern Hip Hop audience. Every track features a collaboration, with Hip Hop stars old and new, including Dead Prez, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Waka Flocka Flame, Twista and many more. The productions are solid and most of the guest rappers actually turn up! Skip that appalling track with Pitbull at the end though! 7/10.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS - UNDERGROUND MUSIC COALITION COMPILATION

Extreme Metal, Grindcore, Hardcore. UMC.

For the bargain price of zero pence, you can download this fantastic compilation made by the great community at UMC, supporting underground extreme music all over the world and helping small artists to tour, get gigs and promote their music. This compilation features only the UK artists in the UMC, showcasing some of their latest music. The whole album shows so much talent, proving that the Extreme Metal scene still has plenty to say and deliver. My personal standouts include Forged In the Furnace of the Sun's ripping political Grindcore, Boycott the Baptist's brief "Fuck Off Trump" is a hoot, After the Abduction's technical deathcore, Pist's Pantera loving NOLA riffs and Impavidus revitalising the Gothenberg Melodic Death Metal sound! Please google UMC and download it for free!

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SEGA MUSIC TEAM - OUT RUN [REISSUE]

Electronic, Chiptune, Original Score. Data Discs.

The wonderful folk at Data Discs have done another fantastic job restoring classic Sega Mega Drive/Arcade games onto vinyl. This is a beautiful package with all new artwork with a cutaway sleeve allowing you to display your own choice of artwork. The vinyl disc has been remastered on 180 gram vinyl on a limited tri-colour disc. As for the music itself, this memorable 16-bit score has some triumphant and energetic themes that will bring a huge nostalgic smile to any gamers over the age of 25.

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