Object of Dreams by Object of Dreams

OBJECT OF DREAMS Fashion Ar t Culture

Contributors www.objectofdreams.co.uk

Andrew Abrahamson

Heather McGill

Rob McGrory

Louise Dalrymple & Dina Karim Jack Murray

Natalia Toner

Chioma Ohajuru

Leoni Newcombe

Peter Mears

Francesca Clarke

Tasha Shore

Simone Rodney Ben Thapa

Michelle McGreavy

Hannah Morris

04\ 10\ 14\ 16\ 20\ 24\ 32\ 34\ 36\

FUTURE FASHION VISUAL CRACK AT THE CINEMA FROM KATIE WITH LOVE RICKY ADAMS A SMALL JEAN GENIE SNUCK OFF TO THE CITY DERELICT DREAMS POLITICAL RIOTS THE DIRTY SOUND OF NOW OBJECT OF MUSIC PRESENTS...

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Contents

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Fashion, Politics, Film. As usual we had too many great things we went to, covered, reviewed and had contributed but not enough space. From moving house, starting new jobs, experimenting with photography and rolling around to some cool new music we’ve experienced it all. And, we went to Berlin, ate some sausage, danced to some Baltic beats - trust me, the sound of the future - and went searching for vintage clothes but found the most amazing magazine shop where we spent too much money. And so this is the Second Issue of the Object of Dreams rollercoaster written and styled in a time full of political controversy, exhausted graduates and a city discovering new music from Oye to Sound City to Matthew Street Festival. Another issue bang full of new discoveries. We don’t need no thought control. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Contributors: Words\ Deborah Murrish, Dina Karim, Jack Murray, Michael Holloway, Peter Mears, Simone Rodney Illustration\ Katie Craven, Simon Turner Photography\ Andrew Abrahamson, Ben Thapa Kathryn Easthope, Gabrielle de la Puente, Mark Mcnulty, Ricky Adams, Rob McGrory Fashion\ Andrew Collinge (make-up & hair), Eleanor Cook-Higgins (photography ass.), Hannah Ellen Eaton (make-up & hair), Kyrie Grainger (photography ass.), Leigh McNeil (style ass), Louise Dalrymple (stylist/shoot co-ordinator), Rob McGrory (re-toucher), Samantha Gardner (make-up artist) Layout\ Dina Karim, Heather McGill, Louise Dalrymple, Mike Mccr, Natalia Toner, Simon Turner, Tony Callaghan

Thanks\ Drome, Resurrection, Mike Mccr, Tony Callaghan, Strawhouses, A Death in Brazil, The Sky Pirates, Nick Ellis, Hannah’s Bar, Pulse Agency, Urban Strawberry Lunch, Mello Mello, Bill Elms, John Bridges, Home by MerseySTRIDE, Soundcity, Paul Brown, Jon Metcalfe, John Lewis, Urban Outfitters, Little Red Vintage, Carnivale, Another Media, Lee Isserow, Liverpool John Moores Fashion and Design department -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Object of Dreams showcases local artist’s work and is run as a community organisation with all the profits going back into the magazine and community. We run media workshops, showcase musicians, hold networking events and artist exhibitions. If you would like our services contact us at enquiries@objectofdreams.co.uk -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Contributors can contact us at enquiries@objectofdreams.co.uk For all advertising enquiries contact Dina Karim at dina@objectofdreams.co.uk Visit us at www.objectofdreams.co.uk Facebook/ Liverpool Magazine / Object of Dreams Twitter/objectofdreams Keep up to date with our daily snippets of art, culture, fashion news at www.objectofdreams. wordpress.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Editor\ Dina Karim Creative Director\ Louise Dalrymple ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FUTURE

From Lady Gaga to recycling these ladies have a lot say as they channel their degrees. A very eclectic,diverse bunch, these fabulous fashionistas and triumphs along the way.These girls are

This straight talking designer has an amazing rawness and edginess that translates to her beautiful collection. A girl who knows what she wants and how to get it, Chioma has bright plans for the future and plans to open her own boutique called ‘Midnight Velvet’ in Liverpool soon. What are you fashion favorites at the moment? I absolutely love platforms! What scouse girl doesn’t? Haha! They add instant glamour to every outfit. The most important advice I could give is customize, fashion is all about individuality and finding a look that is true to you. Don’t leave that cardigan you love in the shop because a button has fallen off it, get a needle a thread a sew a new one on! If it doesn’t work already, make it work for you! Your collection ‘Helix Enebular’ is amazing. What were the triumphs and challenges when making your garments? I am very proud of the fact I’ve made something structurally wearable and it still reflects the theme of religion as it has evolved through using all white materials, silks and pleats. I found engineering my designs to make them work effectively on a female form quite challenging. I overcame this through having regular fittings with the model and lots of late nights and coffee!

Chioma Ohajuru

FASHION

their experience, style and to fashion tips they inherited throughout provide a refreshing outlook on fashion, design and their challenges fashion design stars and, wow,do they shine!

Leoni Newcombe Leoni’s incredibly eclectic style is stamped all over her collection that exudes wacky, fabulous garments that breathe a refreshing originality into her work. Her motto is the ‘crazier the better’ and her innovative approach pushes the boundaries of fashion to create something that is uniquely captivating. Neon coloured furs, crazy clown prints and jumpers made entirely of socks - Leoni’s collection has it all, you have to admire a fashionista that isn’t afraid to stand out in the crowd. Who are your style icons? I find Prince so fascinating. Not just his style, but his whole being - the way he moves, sings, speak and dances. I draw inspiration from all this for my designs. It’s important to look beyond style to have an icon or to be inspired. Prince definitely has the whole package. Tell me about the inspiration behind you collection? It all stemmed from my friend’s phobia of clowns - extreme fears like that always fascinate me. I looked into the history of clowns and explored the darker aspects of their personality. One aspect that really stood out for me was how much their painted face was a part of who they were. It’s a lifestyle not just a job. I named the main clown image Clemente, I became really really consumed by the concept. Leoni’s incredibly eclectic style is stamped all over her collection that exudes wacky, fabulous garments that breathe a refreshing originality into her work. Her motto is the ‘crazier the better’ and her innovative approach pushes the boundaries of fashion to create something that is uniquely captivating. Neon coloured furs, crazy clown prints and jumpers made entirely of socks - Leoni’s collection has it all, you have to admire a fashionista that isn’t afraid to stand out in the crowd. 5

Do not be fooled by this fabulous fashion designer’s cute exterior, she has a style bite as well as a bark with fixations of high fashion and an unruly obsession with leather! This unconventional individual frowns on the boring and ordinary and alludes to the beautifully magical and wacky world of fashion. Why did you choose fashion design? I always knew I didn’t want to do something ordinary, I wanted something that would incorporate my love of art and design as well be inspiring and exciting. I think that fashion design is perfect for me, it is challenging and creative and creativity is something that has always been a part of me. What do you think is very this season and what is so last season? Invest in leather, not just jackets, dresses t-shirts. Celine this season featured some amazing leather pieces and it’s a lot more flattering than you may think. It’s also a good high quality material that will last a long time. I know it’s spring, but I really hate denim - the dark indigo time. It’s too boring, I think you should bleach it, stress it, take the scissors to it - anything but leave it as it is!

Michelle McGreavy

Tasha Shore

Tasha has effectively incorporated environmental issues into her latest collection ‘Elements of Eco’ by using recycled materials. Not only are her garments spectacular but the interesting use of resources she has used to produce them provide an interesting concept and provokes thoughts about wastefulness, but also about originality and drawing inspirations from the world in which we live. This fashionista is saving the planet one hem line at a time. What influences your designs and your work? I am influenced by surroundings, whether that be movement, shapes or weather. Anything that manages to capture my attention. Also the music I listen to can be very influential at it provokes certain thoughts of feelings that can control the way I approach my designs. Your collection is made from recycled materials. Are you passionate about recycling? I’m currently building a house and that made me reevaluate the way I look at materials. I’m not sure if i’m really passionate but i’m definitely more conscious, recycling is a much cheaper way of getting materials and its been very rewarding to see how i’ve created garments from something that previously was entirely different, although this was a huge challenge as well.

This fashion darling would not look out of place hanging out with fashion it-girl Alexa Chung, who Hannah also names as her fashion muse. This bubbly designer’s collection exudes a fabulously laid back, down-town New York look that is perfectly executed. How do you ensure your designs are up to date and on trend? The first place I go to for a fashion update are blogs. I like to read a whole range of different blogs but one of my favourites is ‘Fashion Toast’ by Rumi Neely. Who is your favourite designer and why? Oh I absolutely love Richard Nicoll! I’m going to ring him everyday begging for a job when I graduate! He’s amazing - I love the fact that he makes clothes you can actually wear. He reflects a fashion forward modern day woman and his pieces are very interchangeable. What is mishap?

your

biggest

fashion

When I was 14 I was a bit of a grunger! My trick to see if the pants were baggy enough was to put my head through the bottom of the pant leg, if my head fit they were grunge worthy! I think if you don’t have any fashion mistakes you’re not been exciting enough with fashion though. I can’t believe I admitted that! Are you going to print this question?!

Hannnah Morris

Francesca Clarke This innovative designer dreams big with plans to say ciao to English soils and travel to Milan to complete her master’s degree. Francesca’s designs are reflective of the woman she envisages wearing them: powerful and ambitious and admirably her intent in all her designs is to empower woman and make them feel beautiful and confident. Who are the designers you turn to to draw inspiration from in your collections? I find Italian designers the most inspiring - all fashion that comes out of Italy is really sexy and clean. I love the sophisticated polished look and within the world of fashion Italy is where I see myself the most. I love Dolce and Gabana, their designs are always captivating and beautiful. Who’s style do you admire and why? Obviously Lady Gaga, she is renowned for her amazing style as much as she is her music. I love how she always pushes the boundaries and still manages to shock people which is really rare these days as so many people have great style! I also admire Audrey Hepburn and Dita Von Teese as they always look immaculate and polished - they have a real signature style and I love that about them. INTERVIEW BY SIMONE RODNEY

PHOTOGRAPHY/ BEN THAPA & KATHRYN EASTHOPE HAIR & MAKE UP/ ANDREW COLLINGE MODELS/ BOSS MODEL MANAGEMENT - KIRSTIE BENNETT, CAMILLA, RACHEL MARSTON, ASHLEY BROWN FOOTWEAR/ JOHN LEWIS LIVERPOOL ONE

VISUAL CRACK AT THE CINEMA Lee Isserow tells us of his love for movies and plans for Liverpoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first truly independent film studio.

Catch the Stitches trailer at www.objectofdreams.co.uk Visit www.opiatefilms.com to watch the delightful animation Help at Hand. www.englishfordirtyforeigners.com 12

Photos provided by Opiate of the People Films

Six years ago three friends and I gathered at Lee’s home drinking absinthe and wearing tutus to party on down at the Krazy House, this was our first encounter and what an unostentatious character he seemed at first. The prolific filmmaker, director, writer and animator Lee Isserow is the head of Opiate of the People Films, a collection of multi-award winning British film-makers pushing the boundaries of independent films in the UK. With over a decade’s experience of scribbling in notebooks, loitering on film sets, producing dark humour pieces and generally just being Lee we finally sat down to catch up on his latest capers. The last I heard he was getting kicked out of the US after randomly decamping to New York. And with his new film Stitches just released on DVD I was about to get information overload. Lee inherited Opiate of the People Films in 2001.By 2006 the company, a refuge for the independent film crowd, had collectively won 20 awards for their short films, including accolades from Filmaka, and were on short selection for the Northern Lights Film Festival and Shortwave Festival amongst others. Simply, the collective wants to “kick ass and do as many films as possible”. The most important thing to remember about Lee is his absolute passion for films - and that Liverpool ended up being his secret muse throughout these years to the point of him leaving the bright lights of NY/LON, LA and Paris for this eccentric city. L: “We don’t have a British film industry this is why we need Liverpool. There’s something about Liverpool, there’s this attitude that you can do it, you can do things without money, in New York you couldn’t do it off the cuff like here.” So what exactly has Opiate Films done? Let’s start with the web-series phenomena English for Dirty Foreigners, a personal favourite, which was first created for the BBC 2004 Comedy Soup. After 10 episodes EFDF was put on the backburner. EFDF owes its formula to the old public information films of the 50s, with its anologue, over-driven sound talking down to the audience, and where Old Imperial racist attitudes were a staple to the point of them actually being funny. Last year, thanks to The Art Organisation’s help, the merry band of Lee, Nico Xander, Trevor Fleming and Tall Paul shot a further 90 episodes over just two days. As we sip our organic beers at Mello Mello the question about his Hollywood by the way of New York exploits comes up, knowing full well he might not open up about this difficult time of love, money and fame...but after a moment’s pause he tells all.

L: “I had been conversing heavily with an online commentator of the female persuasion and since we got romantically involved I decided to go to New York City for love and glory. “I made a bunch of commercials for the web and TV, won awards and got picked to be an animator, which was an accident. I still think I can’t draw and only do it because I’m a masochist.” After four months Lee left the bright lights of New York for the silicon and mass movie capital Los Angeles, an interesting move sideways where he began to work on the Educational Christian Series, The Real Deal. Living the life of a hedonist, partying all day, earning a fortune and paying over 3000 dollars in rent, while doing the animation for The Real Deal, the relationship with his anonymous love fell apart. It was time to get back to the sweet call of Liverpool. An incurable romantic, at their core Lee’s films are forever about love and loss. L: “I always want to make these beautiful stories of people in love but it’s not perfect - it’s about love, loss and tragic endings. It goes beyond the metaphysical, people come into your life for a day or a year and leave you changed. “Our films are a synergy of talent, everyone feels that there is no one in charge. We get the help of everyone in the city. The Art Organisation has been fantastic - this city is awash with brilliance.” With Lee firmly planted in Liverpool his biggest goal for the near future is...drum-roll...to establish Opiate’s own independent film studio, somewhere where the scores of people looking to get their foot in the door can get develop their skills without having to debunk to the City. Setting himself new challenges all the time, he took the Johnny Oddball 28-day Feature Film challenge to produce a film in said time which became Stitches - it came runner up. The film is simply about a ‘meek girl who buys a pair of opera gloves that are loved by all who see them. Her confidence grows, but so does her anger, with murderous results.’ Alive Entertainment have also hired Opiate Films based on the Filmaka.com shorts to create the animated series Apathy Apartments, which is being pitched to American TV networks. Citing Darren Aronofsky, director of Requiem for a Dream, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director of Amelie, and Classic Disney as influential and worthy of his admiration, you begin to understand his films, draining in their beauty and slightly off, and a welcome change to Hollywood. By Dina Karim Contact Lee Isserow at l.isserow@gmail.com 13

Katie Craven www.flameforkatie.tumblr.com

“Taking pictures is something that I need to do, I love it. For me it’s like breathing. If I stopped breathing I’d be dead, if I stopped taking pictures I’d feel dead inside. I have always been passionate about photographing things that I have a burning interest in. It must come from within, otherwise what’s the point?”

RICKY ADAMS

fffffRicky Adams

A SMALL JEAN GENIE SNUCK OFF TO THE CITY

Dan Wears\ Jacket\ Merc @ Ressurection T-Shirt\ Zoo york @ Ressurection Shorts @ Drome 20

Nicola wears\ Playsuit & Jacket @ Ressurection Bracelet @ River Island Shoes\ Stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own Dan wears\ Jacket @ Drome Shirt\ Ralph Lauren @ Drome Jeans\ Nudie Jeans @ Drome 21

Nicola wears\ Shirt\ Fred Perry @ Ressurection Shorts @ New Look 22

Photographer\ McGrory Stylist\ Louise Dalrymple Sylist Assistant\ Leigh Mc Neill Make up Artist\ Sam Gardener Models\ Nicola Farr and Dan Wood @ Pulse Agency

Photography/ Rob McGrory Stylist & Shoot co-ordinator/ Louise Dalrymple Makeup Artist/ Samantha Gardner Models/ Dan Wood @ Pulse Agency Nicola Farr @ Pulse Agency Shot at Carnivale Liverpool

Dan wears\ Jacket\ Carhartt @ Ressurection T-Shirt\ Full Circle @ Ressurection Jeans\ Nudie Jeans @ Drome 23

DERELICT DREAMS 24

Fashion/ Dress - Whistles@John Lewis, Jacket - Ted Baker@John Lewis Fashion Opposite/ Dress - Little Red Vintage

Fashion Main/ Shirt - Little Red Vintage, Skirt - Urban Outfitters, Belt - Little Red Vintage, Shoes - Office, Socks - Primark Fashion Top/ Dress - Little Red Vintage, Shoes - Models own Fashion Bottom/ Dress - Ted Baker@John Lewis

DERELICT DREAMS/ PHOTOGRAPHY/MCGRORY STYLIST & SHOOT COORDINATOR/ LOUISE DALRYMPLE MAKEUP & HAIR STYLIST/ HANNAH ELLEN EATON MODEL/SOPHIE FRANCIS @ PULSE ASSISTANT/JO SHELBOURNE LOCATION/MELLO MELLO CAFE ST LUKE’S CHURCH WWW.MCGRORY.INFO WWW.PULSEAGENCY.CO.UK

Fashion/ Top - Reiss @ John Lewis, Necklace - Urban Outfitters, Cullottes - Reiss @ John Lewis, Tights - Primark, Shoes - Urban Outfitters Fashion Opposite/ Hat, Crop Top, Lace Top, Shorts - Urban Outfitters, Shoes - Office

URBAN STRAWBERRY LUNCH

RIXHIBITION

One of Liverpool’s unsung jewels of Capital of Culture is St Luke’s Church, otherwise known as the ‘bombed-out church’.

August 21

The amazing park, bottom of Hardman Street, is open to the public seven days a week and on a Friday and Saturday the church opens up its doors to reveal a secret garden, which occasionally features acoustic gigs, exhibitions and ﬁlm screenings. In 2001, Urban Strawberry Lunch, a Liverpool-based company of musicians, began laying the foundations to become Artists in Residence at the church. USL keep the doors open with earnings made from other projects, and from visitor donations with the average at just 41p! The building was partially destroyed during the infamous ‘May Blitz’ of Liverpool during World War II, remaining idle since 1941. The space has been lovingly tended to, refurbished and maintained thanks to the team behind USL, but the space relies on Liverpool and its people making the effort to make the church space a lunch time haven and to continue donating to the cause to avoid it permanently closing its doors. This summer’s programme highlights include the Kurasawa ﬁlm weekend and Acoustic Air Raid on August 6, plus a 2nd exhibition by the Fab Collective during August. St Luke’s Church is open 12 - 5pm on Friday and Saturday. For the latest upcoming events visit www.myspace.com/lunchatstlukes

Contributions from doodlers, painters, embroiderers, bands, sculptors, digital artists, fashion designers, poets, carpenters, jewellers, publishers, deejays, photographers, ﬁlm-makers and hopefully you will be at Arena House. The ﬁrst Rixhibition was at Adam Nankervis’ MuseumMAN in 2005. This year Rixhibition will be raising funds for Circus To Iraq, an organisation which plays to underprivileged children across the Middle-East. £1 of the £2 minimum door tax will go to the venue, every other penny will go directly to C2I. Venue TBC. Facebook - Rixhibition Rik (Organiser) 07706244043

VICTOR DÉMÉ

AFRICA OYÉ

FOUR CORNERS

Oyé, the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture, descended for one weekend only in Liverpool.

July 22 - July 27/10am - 6pm

Boukman Eksperyans of Haiti and Andrew Tosh of Jamaica took the stage in inspiring manner but it was the raspy, bluesy voice of Victor Démé of Burkina Faso that really brought home how lucky we are that such a festival, bringing together so much culture and music, exists in Liverpool. The festival is a truly international event that harnesses the spirit of multiculturalism and tolerance. With too many negative representations of Africa entrenched in images of war, disease, poverty and famine, Oyé seeks to redress the balance and highlight the fantastic range of cultures, foods, music and artists that make this great continent one of the most vibrant and inspiring in the world. See you there next year. All the performing artist’s music is now on sale at News from Nowhere, Bold Street.

Four Corners is back again at The Bluecoat following last year’s hugely successful exhibition. Now in its 5th year, it is Culture Liverpool’s major community arts participation project. People are at the heart of Four Corners, a wonderfully imaginative collaborative work that seeks to examine the quality of life of Liverpool’s communities through reﬂection and focus on ‘change’. This year cultural organisations AIR, Aspire Trust, the Bluecoat, Hope Street Ltd and LJMU Design Academy are working with hundreds of people in communities across Liverpool to create high quality participatory arts projects that explore the theme of Health and Wellbeing. The culmination of these collaborations will take the form of a week of activity at the Bluecoat. Also look out for activities to improve your own sense of health and wellbeing with yoga, tai chi in the garden, free family art activities and a range of healthy eating options in Espresso and the Upstairs Bistro. 31

POLITICAL The election and all its political problems from the past few months has lit a fire under our writers. With my inbox filled with letters, poems and features on Politics here are a selection of the pieces Object of Dreams was sent. - Editor

The deep grumble grew with the numbers, standing close to the front, excitement of the oncoming carnage filled me with the most divine rush, I felt like a warrior on the frontier of battle. We were on the news and our voices were now loud and obvious, the chants grew in volume, the fear and excitement almost over-spilling into violence and chaos. The standoff couldn’t last forever, as each side taunted the other into acting first. Crash.. They’d reacted, the volume went up and as the first person hit the floor everyone charged at the enemy, like a chain reaction setting off each person, I pushed the person in font as others pushed me, making ground as those at the front were beaten down and fell. Eventually it was me, the front; a wall of perspex, batons and screaming figures. I was whacked, my shoulder bashed by a truncheon, enraged, throwing slaps and kicks, not exactly 32

sure what to do, instinct took over, I was out of my wits, the adrenaline now ruling my body. Falling to my knee, I began to crush beneath the riot. Amidst the mayhem someone grabbed the belt loop of my jeans, dragging me aside and out of the chaos. Pulled from the crowd I was placed on a step of an old office building. My friend pointed to my forehead, blood was dripping from a deep scratch, the chaos went by like a heavy train of figures. I’d done my bit, I wanted more, but now the pain was setting in and we sat waiting for one of the medics to look at my head. Eventually the riot was gone, we’d made the news, I may have changed the world, it happened so fast. It was very exciting. By Peter Mears

RIOTS The Rise of Digital Enlightenment The glorious revolutionary age of 18th century pamphleteering is back. Citizens not with the pen but the keyboard are once again voicing themselves through the web, in what I would deem a golden age of ideas and influence just gathering momentum in this modern age. The Political Blog, left, right and centre, is rendering the often collective bandwidth of newspapers outdated. The choice of information has gone beyond what the papers once monopolized; blowing the cobwebs off cemented ideologies, and empowering the individual with a broader spectrum of news and reviews, ideas and objectives to choose from. Following the general election, the effects are being noticed as we speak. We are witnessing the changes of new media upon modern politics with certain Political Blogs putting pressure upon MPs.

Ramblings of a youth They are an expectancy, a ritual and a misunderstood moment of pleasure for the suppressed - angry and apathetic. Two days in which the week’s mistakes are forgotten about. Friday night, Saturday morning. The sickening scent of saliva and perfume will linger on Taxi seats. The deathly aroma of cheap curries and regret will haunt graffitied bus-stops. And as a 17-year-old is thrown out on the cold and unforgiving street and accused of fake I.D, three divorced sport fans will sing ghastly anthems about their ex-wives, cry into the arms of a Big Issue seller and whine that “football’s coming home”. And not one of these people will ever be as disgusting or as unjust as the actions of a smug Politician - high on his own position.

Spread by Twitter and Facebook, Blogs are entering the mainstream and being noticed, a mainstream swamped, prior to the internet, by national newspapers.

Would the scandal, the expenses scandal, have been as heated and as well covered if we weren’t in a recession?

The great thing about the Blog is its accessibility. With a great idea, a challenging opinion, its seeds can be easily sown unlike newspapers who are encumbered by advertising income or pressured by a politically correct agenda.

I think the answer lies not by looking at moats and homes but at crisps and donuts.

The Blog separates ideas and capitalism freeing it up completely. The evolution of the pamphlet, the Blog, is now more powerful than ever but its true strength has yet to be tested. Where popular democracy revolutionises a system, it’ll be blogging where revolution will begin and the next Voltaire or Thomas Paine will be heard. The difference between blogging and the pamphlet is saturation; the internet is saturated with a multitude of people fighting for hits. That said, with the Blog, novelty, ingenuity and fresh ideas rise above others and appeal to a larger audience. With the advent of smart phones and digital literature through the likes of the i-Pad, RSS and wi-fi’d cafés and pubs, Blogs are a welcome complimentary read to any daily news tidbit. The brightest minds will be noticed and with the Blog, institution and capitalism will not be able to stand in the way.

www.leftfootforward.org

www.publicreason.net

Worth Perusing www.nextleft.org

www.order-order.com

To claim for these pre-drunken night treats using your status and a loophole in a fraudulent system requires arrogance and a certain despicable lack of humanity. But the real tragedy isn’t that the real people, the people with hearts and other human characteristics have suffered, it’s that the MPs haven’t suffered enough. The Union Jack should mean more than three colours; it should mean more than nations. It is a symbol. Because these are the things that matter, it’s not about money it’s about pride. Pride is about loving yourself for who you are, whether you’re holding five pints in your hand and falling over or carrying your shopping bags through the park, whistling a Whitney Houston track. Roll on the revolution. It begins on Friday night. By Jack Murray 33

Top images courtesy of Mark McNulty Bottom image courtesy of Andrew Abrahamson

AFRIKA BAMBAATAA PA R T Y

PA L O M A F A I T H

THE DIRTY SOUND OF NOW Barely a month ago the Object of Dreams team and a hell of a lot of music lovers scurried between one venue and another trying to catch the latest local bands and international acts making it big this year at Liverpool’s Sound City. As well as the intensive music programme that featured bands and performers from over 20 different countries, there was a screening of The Other Side of Hip Hop; The Sixth Element with Ernie Paniccioli, Afrika Bambaataa in attendance and Oil City Confidential with a rare Q&A with Julien Temple and Wilko Johnson. Top acts hard to follow at next year’s Sound City...well, Sleigh Bells were a thumping, heart-racing, rousing success, so much so that I want to move to Brooklyn to bunk with them. We were enchanted, dazzled and confused by Wild Beasts and their voices, and not too mention Paloma Faith who had the crowd in the palm of her gloved hand, with her cabaret-style cover songs and burlesque outfits it was hard to top. This wasn’t just a festival to showcase bands - with the unfortunate absence of Korova it really put other venues on the map. The Shipping Forecast is definitely the new old Korova, with its cavern basement and top notch sound system, Mello Mello came out top for its relaxed and intimate gigs, and The Kazimier is coming out ahead of the rest for mid-sized gigs with its quirky space and stage.

Bands to watch out for: Sleigh Bells/The Maccabees/ Wild Beasts/Free Energy/Pink Film/Jimmy Lightfoot and The Disciples/Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster/Married to the Sea/Dirty Tricks/Hot Club de Paris/Sound of Guns “DIRTY TRICKS, a local band, whose quick, energetic sound is similar to both The Libertines and Biffy Clyro mixed together, a sound that leaves you standing there, hair stood on end, mouth shouting parts of the chorus, and arms still in the air.” Reviewed by Michael Holloway @ Hannah’s bar. “SLEIGH BELLS with their low-fi, school girl tunes and contagious catchy lyrics we said screw you to acoustic gigs for this trashy, electro-pop ecstacy.” Dina Karim @ The Shipping Forecast

SOUND OF GUNS

Full Reviews at www. objectofdreams. co. uk

“WILKO JOHNSON strutted like a buzzard onto the stage, his caustic guitar leading us through jagged songs while Norman Watt Roy...reminded us of how actually brilliantly innovative he was in back in the Blockheads.” Deborah Murrish @ O2 Academy “Like a stale wine, THE FALL get more and more dangerous with age.” Jack Murray @ O2 Academy

PLEASE THE EARS! & PLEASE DON’T! - Gig reviews Los Campesinos! @ O2 Academy In a set that fuses the most heart wrenching tales of guilt and guts with an exhausting energy, Los Campesinos! managed to dispel the myth of their twee-popping past and prove exactly what they are; a lonely cry of originality, spelt out in letters of wit and intelligence, crafted from a chewed Biro found underneath train seats and underlined in a felt-tip stole from a lover’s pocket. And with Gareth Campesinos, a lyricist out on his own in terms of originality and sensible cynicism; the undercurrent of powerful sentiment that runs underneath all their songs remains one of the most spine-chilling happenings in current popular music and confirms them as my favourite band of the last four years. SLEIGH BELLS

WHAT?! YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO THESE FESTIVALS YET... Edinburgh September

Festival/

July

early

Edinburgh fills the mind with limitless artistic possibilities, from the great visiting companies and artists in the International Festival to the Fringe’s tomfoolery and the Tattoo’s pageantry. Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival, Catton Hall, Derby/ August 13 - 15 The loudest music, the wildest mosh-pits, and the rowdiest campsite: Bloodstock is everything you’d expect from Britain’s biggest independent metal festival. Exit Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia/ July 9 11 Arguably Europe’s biggest summer festival - with something for everyone, from The Chemical Brothers to Faith No More.

live music

accordion/vocals

www.helenmaher.com myspace.com/helenmahermusic helen@helenmaher.com 07974426909

Islet @ The Kazimier There is currently a cliché in music journalism that there is no way you can describe Islet and I’m happy to admit that this cliché is one of immense realism. Crawling and climbing around the Kazimier, hooting and howling their way through hypnotic tracks of genre-crossing genius, Islet are fast becoming the leaders of an underground cult in which everyone plays the drums, everyone plays guitar, everyone sings and no-one goes home unless they are a) baffled or b) changed forever. If you were to try and describe them in one word, it would be a lexical item so rich in grand connotations that I would of course be immediately questioning for opting to deploy it; but guess what? I’m just that bold. The only possible word to describe Islet is SEMINAL. Titus Andronicus @ The Zanzibar Ask any Liverpudlian what they like in a person and one of the first attributes is likely to be passion. Passion is something that Titus Andronicus have in spades. Take the lines “You’ll always be a loser” and “The enemy is everywhere” these are lines built on the very foundations of song writing; sadness and hatred, disappointment and worry. For many bands, it takes three verses and a break to reach this climax of craftsmanship, for Titus Andronicus, they make you feel worthwhile every other line. Together and intimate, a collective of Titus lovers gathered in the Zanzibar and watched as a band clearly in awe of its art and in love with the romance of concerts practised the most majestic tragedy formed from Shakespearian woe and American desolation. Kids Love Lies @ Bumper As a rule of thumb, I don’t like bands that cover contemporary pop artists by just speeding up the song, so naturally Kids Love Lies who did just that with a Sam Sparrow song were never going to be my artist of choice. Not to be stopped there though, they indulge in that overly-aesthetic talent-show girl fronting indie band nonsense – only they fall short of having any real attitude or guile and instead mumble off into energetic examples of post-pop/punk predictability. Not for me, thanks. By Jack Murray 35

[Object of Music] presents...

STRAWHOUSES WORDS: Dina talking to Paul / PHOTOS: Andrew Abrahamson

OoD: Tell me a little about Strawhouses, your highs and lows, your music - your lifeline? Frontman Paul Donnelly: How long have you got?! It’s such an emotional journey from one day to the next - I guess one of the most obvious low/high scenarios was losing ex guitarist Rishi to his medical career, but then finding Chris to replace him. Standard highs we get are generally from writing a new track or playing a great gig, but probably the best thing we’ve done as a band is record the album, though that process had plenty of low moments to it too!! OoD: There is a certain Liverpool sound most bands play to, but you guys have moved on from this even though you’re local lads. So what is your sound, and how has the ‘Merseybeat’ influenced it? PD: Well, I started off roughly 10 years ago and that was with four scousers, though, we never wanted to sound like The Beatles, who, in terms of inspiring local musicians, are Liverpool’s biggest blessing and biggest curse. Cut to eight years later, and through to now, I’m the only local lad left in what has become ‘Strawhouses’, though everyone has a connection to Liverpool in some way. I never ‘got’ the skiffle sound that was inspiring everyone around the time that The Coral and Zutons were making their mark. We take our sonic influences from bands like Radiohead, Talking Heads and David Bowie. It’s better to have something to SAY than to try and have a sound!! Not that we go from metal to acoustic pop, mind, we sound like US pretty much all the time - mostly thanks to our producer Jon Withnall, and my vocal/ lyrics. OoD: What do you want your music to say to your fans? PD: Everything - the lyrics deal with everything about life. The great thing I find about writing is that, to me, there’s no taboo topic, there’s nothing I wouldn’t write about. The unfortunate thing is that I write mostly about the negative side of life - the breakups, the conspiracy theories, and the bad that people do - the greed and selfishness and corruption. I don’t know what that says about me and my mind set! Somebody saw the cover design to our album sampler promo the other day and asked if I sleep well (laughs). 36

OoD: We love the notion behind your name that ‘anything could collapse at any given moment’. Has this idea come from various knocks and tumbles you’ve had while working in the music industry, or are you simply just that dark and philosophical about life? PD: Funnily enough it wasn’t about the industry when I came up with it, but it certainly could be about that now!! It was all based around where the country was a few years back, socially and politically. It’s like people were all walking around in a trance, sleepwalking into a dictatorship, and everyone seemed more concerned about the voting on Xfactor. I’m aware I over-think things often to the point of them being ruined before they start- a torture many can empathise with...that idea is spelt out in the lyrics to Malaise... ‘I reason that just maybe I think things through, a little too much, so perhaps, Should I Just Try Less Hard?’. OoD: What’s next for Strawhouses? PD: Gig gig gig gig gig. Earn some money to spend on more releases like the one we’re doing. Get the album out!!! We should get back to some of the low-fi video blogs and webcasts we do too, because they’re very fun. Not let the industry, or anyone else for that matter, destroy the spirit of what Strawhouses is trying to do. Strawhouses single Malaise out July 5. Third single/album out early 2011. www.myspace.com/strawhouses

S T R AW H O U S E S

SKY PIR ATES

A DEATH IN BR AZIL