Review: ‘Moiranex’ EP by Sleepless Wild

Lucy Neill reviews the EP ‘Moiranex’ by Sleepless Wild— a Suffolk-based quintet with hip-hop and alt-rock sounds fresh on the scene in July.

Sleepless Wild are an Ipswich based five-piece, founded in April, who have a unique blend of hip-hop, rock and alternative music, all fused together with vocalist Lewis Clarke, guitarists and vocalists Fagan Alexander and Ade Parkinson, bassist Josh Lee and drummer Rayna Vandèl.

The 6-track EP includes the songs Cut Scene Conversations, Stay, Benny Was Cold, Jackie Jones, Stay (Part 2) and This Hype. The first song on the EP, 'Cut Scene Conversations', starts off diving into the rock side of their sound before hitting into the frontman's smooth rhymes, while still keeping the alternative element. The catchy riffs leading to the melodic vocals from Fagan and Ade really tied the song together. Lewis' upbeat lyrics mixed with the alt-rock from the rest of the instruments is something you don't hear often; it's such a exceptional tangle of talent, two genres working perfectly with each other. It's no wonder Sleepless Wild have already had such great feedback on their sound. 'Cut Scene Conversations' ended with a slower, slightly reggae-ragga-ish-but-not-quite tune with the more melodic vocals, a good choice in the first track to introduce the rest of the EP.

'Stay', the second song on Moiranex, is slowed down a lot in comparison to Cut Scene Conversations. A more relaxing track, and a shorter one too. Both Lewis' vocals and the melodic vocals weave together with the rhythmic 'jazz-funk' guitar parts and flirtatious lyrics. There are so many different parts to this song, different instruments and vocals working in the background to make 'Stay' the great track that it is.

'Benny Was Cold' comes next. Unlike the first two, the feel of this track is darker with different emotions projected through the lyrics. Not only that, but there's a whole story in this song, of violence and family and betrayal, while also having the balance of the different vocals and guitar work, playing with different tempos and vibes. The constant guitar melody in the background is almost haunting in reflection of the lyrics.

The first thing that comes to mind when listening to 'Jackie Jones' is the two different vocal styles mixed in with Jack Johnson, merged with Arctic Monkeys, and some Santana-esque tones on the guitar. It's an interesting and a confusing crossover - in a good way, mind. The song gives off mellow vibes, and it surprised me how the hip-hop essence could be shown really well with the relaxed soft-rock sound.

The fifth song, 'Stay (Part 2)', has the same theme to it as the second song on the EP, but has more playful guitar parts and is a little bit more upbeat, and focuses more on the melodic vocals in the chorus'. This song has a hip-hop base, with bit of indie-rock in the middle and the smooth vocals layered on top to give it flavour. While Lewis' lyrics are just as libidinous and flirty as they were in 'Stay', the lyrics from Fagan and Ade are more amorous, but at the same time, not head-over-heels kind of lyrics.

Concluding the EP is 'This Hype' - returning to the alternative-rock that came with 'Cut Scene Conversations', this song is loud and boastful and fierce. With big rhymes and catchy guitar riffs, this is the heaviest song on the EP. Also, there are no melodic vocals on this track, and that with the exuberant sound from the guitars, bass and drums, show that Sleepless Wild want the last song on the EP to go out with a bang.

It's safe to say that Sleepless Wild have certainly made an amazing first impression on the local music scene, especially for a band who only formed in April. They have such a sophisticated blend of sounds that's shown so brilliantly through Moiranex, something that I've never come across before and will surely take the music industry by storm. If all this sounds like a band in search of a style, you'd be wrong, as they're not searching for a music style that suits them, but have actually found and developed one that is such an interesting crossover of styles, and I think with just a little more production, this rather unique combination could be very big indeed.

Facebook—http://www.facebook.com/sleeplesswild

FALL INTO AUTUMN ○ TRENDS

1. Topshop 2. New Look 3. River Island 4. Cambridge Satchel 5. New Look

Tartan is the perfect print for the Autumn time with it’s darker shades and geometric print. Wear  preppy when paired with a structured blazer, oxfords and chinos or give it a more 90’s grunge edge if you wear the trend with some studded leather and distressed denim. Tartan is one of the most versatile prints of the moment and is something everyone can translate into their personal style.

SHOP THE PICKS

1. is this oversized tartan print tee from Topshop— wear a black long sleeved top underneath for the winter months or with some highwaisted jeans for  the fall.
2. Next up is this plaid shirt -an easy way to work the trend without anything to over the top: Purchase from New Look.
3. Velvet: Another huge Autumn trend and this River Island dress has the perfect mix of the two. The skater style of the dress is classic and the print gives a more contemporary vibe.
4. Tartan can also translate into accessories; the subtle touch of print on this satchel is so unique and unusual. Purchase from the Cambridge Satchel Company.
5. My final pick is this tartan scarf which has a mixture of both paisley and check: scarfs are a must in the Autumn and this  one from New Look is essential.

Tartan is overall a really converted trend this Autumn/Winter, after getting spotted on the catwalks in London Fashion Week. Definitely one to test out when you are looking for something unusual for the cooler months.

by Lucy Knowles

Introducing: Searching Alaska

Grapevine Live writer Lucy Neill introduces Searching Alaska—an Essex-based quartet who are soaring to success after just fifteen months

Searching Alaska are a four-piece from Grays, Essex, formed by vocalist Christina Rotondo, guitarists Jake Ringsell and Toby Campen, and drummer Jamie Abela. Since they began in July 2012, Searching Alaska have released a 5-track EP ‘Summits’ and an acoustic EP, a music video for their song ‘Our Defences’, and did a UK tour with fellow MTA Artist Management band Fenrir back in March. If that wasn’t already enough, they were voted through to the final 15 in Red Bull’s competition and played at Download festival in June!

So what’s their sound like? Hardcore noise with strong, melodic vocals, heavy guitar work mixed in with distinct percussion. If you were to ever see them live, for each song there’s always a strong, passionate performance shown from each of the members – the dedication in the vocals, the finesse in the guitar work, the clarity and timing of the drums – every detail counts, and Searching Alaska definitely tick all the boxes. And on top of all of that, they’re a good-looking bunch, too!

Why should you check them out? Because they’re some of the loveliest people I’ve met, and one of the biggest bands in East Anglia. Their sound is amazing, whether it be the acoustic or the heavier stuff, the band are so talented and I know for a fact that you will like them. (Plus I’m obsessed with their song ‘Puzzles’, so be sure to give that a listen!).

Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/searchingalaska

Fall Out Boy Back With A Bang!

Harriet Stevenson discusses the unexpected but fantastic return of Fall Out Boy!

It’s been four long years without Fall Out Boy from when they went on hiatus in late 2009. However it turns out now that nothing was going well within the band, with Pete Wentz getting superstar famous and Patrick Stump’s ego getting the better of him, but what’s past is past and now they’re back with a slightly different sound and “more” mature attitude!

Fall Out Boy announced their return with a BANG on Monday 4th February (making Monday for a majority of pop punk fans more bearable) – a new single, upcoming album and tour dates out for the not so distant future. In fact they played a show in Chicago the very day they announced they were back; needless to say it was a ‘fight to the death’ for the tickets. The same was the case when Fall Out Boy announced they would be playing one show at Camden Underworld in London on February 25th, the tickets were apparently sold out in 9 seconds flat as the venue only held 500 people. However Fall Out Boy showed their appreciation for the fans waiting out in the cold by (as rumour has it) buying them pizza!!

Their song ‘My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark”, which keeps up nicely with their tradition for long song titles, charted at no. five on the UK charts showing that although Fall Out Boy were away their fans never forgot about them! The song itself has a vibe with suggestion in the air that Fall Out Boy are most definitely back with the charm of their old days but with a heavier baseline.

One thing is for sure - I am definitely excited for what is to come and have a warm buzz about me knowing that Fall Out Boy are back for good!

Beauty is an art

Katherine Cudmore looks at controversial photographer Tyler Shields and asks is it art?

In the words of Katy Perry it seems the fun, fresh, fierce aspects of California Girls apply to the men as well, as L.A based photographer and director Tyler Shields is all three.

Kicking it old school by using film and rejecting Photoshop Tyler uses controversial props; raw meat and irons to name but a few, and celebrity subjects such as Linsday Lohan and Emma Roberts to create some truly striking images. Bright red lips, gleaming skin; everyone drips with glamour but Tyler scratches at this Hollywood facade by pairing his beautiful subjects with ugly things such as blood soaked secateurs. But there are more sides to this man than meets the eye. At first glimpse it may look like he’s making the same tired old statements about the falseness of Hollywood. But Shields goes deeper, representing fierce emotions through the use of bold colours and actions stirring feelings within the viewer.

And that truly is the sign of an artist. Someone that makes you not only think but feel as well.
Art is emotion and Tyler captures this perfectly.

April Fools!

April Fool’s day is a widely recognized and celebrated day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other on 1st April.

Many believe that this day of celebration originated from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392) where the vain cock, Chauntecleer, is tricked by a fox. While others believe that it originated because of the change of calendars: In 1582 Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar called the Gregorian calendar (which we still use today). He introduced this because the old calendar, called the Julian calendar, was ahead by 10 days as each year was a little too long. In the old calendar, New Year was celebrated from 25th March to 1st April; but as we know New Year in the current calendar is celebrated on 1st April. In France, people would forget the date of New Year on the Gregorian calendar and still celebrated it on 1st April; for this reason people would play tricks on them and call them “April Fools”.

In many cultures, tradition dictates that the pranking period must end at noon on 1st April, and any jokes attempted after that hour will bring bad luck to the person behind it. In addition, any who fail to respond with a good humour to tricks and jokes are said to attract bad luck themselves. However, any victims of joking are entitled to “turn the tables” after the hour of noon with the retort “April Fool’s gone past... and you’re the biggest fool at last!”

Although April Fool’s day sounds like a day to be cruel to others and trick them into stupidity; it should be noted that not all April Fool superstitions are negative. For example: Males who are fooled by a good-looking female are said to be fated to marry her, or at least enjoy a good friendship with her!

One of the most famous hoaxes was on 1st April, 1957 when the British news show, Panorama, broadcast a three-minute segment about a bumper spaghetti harvest in southern Switzerland. The success of the crop was said to be due to both an unusually mild winter and the "virtual disappearance of the spaghetti weevil." The audience heard Richard Dimbleby, the show's highly respected presenter, discussing the details of the spaghetti crop as they watched video footage of a Swiss family pulling pasta off spaghetti trees and placing it into baskets. The segment concluded with the assurance that, "For those who love this dish, there's nothing like real, home-grown spaghetti." The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest hoax generated an enormous response. Hundreds of people phoned the BBC wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. To this query the BBC diplomatically replied, "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best." To this day the Panorama broadcast remains one of the most famous and popular April Fool's Day hoaxes of all time. It is also believed to be the first time the medium of television was used to stage an April Fool's Day hoax.

Nowadays, April Fool jokes tend to involve persuading someone to do something silly; like look for hen’s teeth, striped paint, a long weight, a left-handed screwdriver or some other non-existent thing!
So remember to keep your wits about you, to avoid being fooled,
and take it as a joke, or it will be no fun at all!

The World's Biggest Fools

April fools day (April 1st) is one of the most light-hearted days of the year. A day where it is acceptable to play juvenile pranks on loved ones and generally make people look silly. Whether you rely on the old standards like “pull my finger” or the classic whoopee cushion, some go to great lengths to come up with elaborate hoaxes to pull on unsuspecting individuals.

Of course Americans are easy targets for these pranks, but the one Taco Bell pulled on 1996 would have fooled many. The American fast food chain announced in six major newspapers that “in effort to help with national debt” they were going to buy one of the country’s most historic treasures- the Liberty Bell. They proclaimed they were going to rename it the “Taco Liberty Bell”. Thousands of infuriated buffoons called up to express their anger. The best line of the day came when a member White House press was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold.

During an interview on BBC Radio 2, Patrick Moore (a British astronomer) broadcast that an exceptional astronomical occurrence would take place at exactly 9:47 am. Pluto was to pass directly behind Jupiter, in relation to the Earth resulting in temporarily cancelling out Earth’s own gravity, making people weigh less. Of course it was not true. However the BBC received hundreds of calls from people claiming it had worked! A Dutch woman called up and stated that her husband and she floated around the room together. One man even complained he had risen so suddenly that he hit his head and wanted compensation. What fools!
However my personal favourite prank was when the BBC aired a story about the Swiss spaghetti crop (clearly a fabricated plant), it was presented as a food source that was having a bumper year. The show included footage of Italian citizens picking spaghetti right of the trees!  They encouraged viewers to grow their own spaghetti garden; again the BBC was bombarded with calls from curious viewers wanting to know more about the subject. If only there was such a thing as a spaghetti harvest...

April fool’s day is a perfect opportunity to get some laughs and make people look ridiculous. What if April fool’s day isn’t a special occasion at all and just something someone made up that the whole world has fallen for..?