ART. . GAMES. LIFE. 16 09

03 Editor’s Letter 27 04 Disposed Media Gaming 06 Wishlist 07 BigLime 08 Freeware 09 Sonic Retrospective 10 Alexander Brandon 12 Deus Ex: Invisible War 20 14 Game Reviews Music 16 Kylie Tour 18 Kylie Retrospective 20 Varsity Drag 22 Good/Bad: Radio 1 23 Doormat 25 Music Reviews Film & TV 32 27 Dexter 29 Film Reviews Comics 31 Death Of Captain Marvel 32 Blankets 34 Comic Reviews Gallery 36 Andrew Campbell 37 Matthew Plater 38 Laura Copeland 39 Next Issue…

Publisher/Production Editor Tim Cheesman Editor Dan Thornton Deputy Editor Ian Moreno-Melgar Art Editor Andrew Campbell Sub Editor/Designer Rachel Wild Contributors Keith Andrew/Dan Gassis/Adam Parker/James Hamilton/Paul Blakeley/Andrew Revell Illustrators James Downing/Laura Copeland Cover Art Matthew Plater [© Disposable Media 2007. // All images and characters are retained by original company holding.] dm6/editor’s letter

as some bloke once mumbled. “The times, they are You may have spotted a new name at the bottom of this a-changing” column, as I’ve stepped into the hefty shoes and legacy of former Editor Andrew Revell. But luckily, fans of ‘Rev’ will be happy to know he’s still contributing his prosaic , and now he actually gets time to sleep in between issues. If my undeserved promotion wasn’t enough, we’re also happy to announce a new bi-monthly schedule for DM. Natural disasters and Acts of God not withstanding. And if that isn’t enough to rock you to the very foundations of your soul, we’re also putting the finishing touches to a newDisposable Media website. Which means you’ll be able to get a Disposable fix every day with a blog, reviews of music, games and films, and anything else that we can possibly cram on there. It’ll be live before our next issue hits the net, so keep checking www.disposablemedia.co.uk regularly. But no-one likes too much change, so we’ll continue to use our team of great writers and designers to let you know about the most interesting, obscure, and just damn great bits of popular culture that other magazines seem to miss. And there’s some pictures of Kylie as well. Enjoy! — Dan dm6/news

Well, it’s been a While since the last issue. stuff has haPPened. //disPOsed media here’s What briefly… //games ii has launched, everyone loves it PlayStation 3 has a launch date. Nobody really cares, though things are soon to pick up with and Sensible W(including Disposable Media) except to moan about the price, launch titles, size, Soccer XBLA due in the next few months. After that, the entire though Nintendo decides to leave network features, backwards compatibility, control pad industry has a sleep and waits for Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto everyone playing Wii Bowling whilst it and well, you get the idea. The 360 is 4. Both will be rubbish. In the meantime, everyone sells their PSP, makes some games. We hope for quiet, albeit not literally of course, kidneys and children to buy DS Lites even if they already have Mario Galaxy before our Wii Elbow save for the Halo 3 Beta, one and the delightful Cooking Mama. DM spends most of its gets really serious. sorry, Crackdown — spare time playing Lumines Mobile and Call of Duty 3. Still.

//music ossibly) following the success of Take That, everyone Small Ideas. It’s out April 30th. Go buy. him, has a number 1 single for a few months. NME ‘discovers’ (Pdecides to reform. Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Arcade Fire release Neon Bible. Everyone loves The Gossip. So do The Sun. Everyone else ‘discovers’ Machine and (hopefully) Blur are the bigger names doing the ‘one it, apart from Newsnight Review and the internet. that the Kings of Leon are rather good. Again. Mark last tour/LP’. Interpol decide not to split after all and start We’re undecided. Ronson is still brilliant, even if he has messed with recording what will be the of whatever year it’s released in, Apparently born in a stage school barn under a The Smiths. Keep an ear out for his ‘covers’ album, unless it’s in this year, which will probably go to wandering northern star, Mika is the new Scissor it’s rather smashing. 65daysofstatic and their new LP, The Destruction of Sisters and despite no one admitting to liking

//film & tv scars time again. Is it us or are they twice a year make embarrassingly middle-class and overly prepared that Transformers doesn’t make us sob uncontrollably. Onow? Not that it matters as everyone worries speeches — the loser of Pop Idol cries when she Heroes arrives in the UK with the Sci-Fi channel surely more about the red carpet than the actual awards, receives her award. Congratulations to Ennio getting it from the same place as everyone else: Newsgroups. We which is just as well considering the winners. The Morricone though for getting a special award, shame quite like it, though not as much as Dexter but certainly a lot more Academy makes amends for years of stupidity and he had Celine Dion sing to him to mark the fact. than the shambles of Lost series 3 and 24 series 24 or whatever finally gives Scorcese an award or two, people Elsewhere, the world prepares itself for the most its on now. applaud for a long time. Others, okay, Helen Mirren, insane summer of cinema releases ever and DM prays

//comics rankly, little has changed in the land of comics since we last Meanwhile, #7 of Civil War has finally escaped so Marvel is anything to go by fwrote a Disposed Media page and that wasn’t even last running out of excuses not to go back to normal. Stuff happened, it has every issue. 52 is still ploughing ever onwards and because publishing a things were said but we don’t want to tell you what and especially chance of being better comic every week for a year clearly isn’t enough, another special not here. Suffice to say, there was a fight. than a new TV series event is planned at the end of the run. Nothing major, just World Elsewhere, having jumped away from the Wonder Woman appearing. Especially as War 3. With multiple issues in a single week, it seems that DC flick, Joss Whedon has gone back to the world of Buffy, with the last few series of Buffy haven’t stopped getting carried away. series 8 appearing as a comic book. If his previous comic work is were…oops, run out of space. games

dm6/games dm6/news

Well, it’s been a While since the last issue. stuff has haPPened. //disPOsed media here’s What briefly… //games ii has launched, everyone loves it PlayStation 3 has a launch date. Nobody really cares, though things are soon to pick up with Guitar Hero and Sensible W(including Disposable Media) except to moan about the price, launch titles, size, Soccer XBLA due in the next few months. After that, the entire though Nintendo decides to leave network features, backwards compatibility, control pad industry has a sleep and waits for Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto everyone playing Wii Bowling whilst it and well, you get the idea. The 360 is 4. Both will be rubbish. In the meantime, everyone sells their PSP, makes some games. We hope for quiet, albeit not literally of course, kidneys and children to buy DS Lites even if they already have Mario Galaxy before our Wii Elbow save for the Halo 3 Beta, one and the delightful Cooking Mama. DM spends most of its gets really serious. sorry, Crackdown — spare time playing Lumines Mobile and Call of Duty 3. Still.

//music ossibly) following the success of Take That, everyone Small Ideas. It’s out April 30th. Go buy. him, has a number 1 single for a few months. NME ‘discovers’ (Pdecides to reform. Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Arcade Fire release Neon Bible. Everyone loves The Gossip. So do The Sun. Everyone else ‘discovers’ Machine and (hopefully) Blur are the bigger names doing the ‘one it, apart from Newsnight Review and the internet. that the Kings of Leon are rather good. Again. Mark last tour/LP’. Interpol decide not to split after all and start We’re undecided. Ronson is still brilliant, even if he has messed with recording what will be the album of whatever year it’s released in, Apparently born in a stage school barn under a The Smiths. Keep an ear out for his ‘covers’ album, unless it’s in this year, which will probably go to wandering northern star, Mika is the new Scissor it’s rather smashing. 65daysofstatic and their new LP, The Destruction of Sisters and despite no one admitting to liking

//film & tv scars time again. Is it us or are they twice a year make embarrassingly middle-class and overly prepared that Transformers doesn’t make us sob uncontrollably. Onow? Not that it matters as everyone worries speeches — the loser of Pop Idol cries when she Heroes arrives in the UK with the Sci-Fi channel surely more about the red carpet than the actual awards, receives her award. Congratulations to Ennio getting it from the same place as everyone else: Newsgroups. We which is just as well considering the winners. The Morricone though for getting a special award, shame quite like it, though not as much as Dexter but certainly a lot more Academy makes amends for years of stupidity and he had Celine Dion sing to him to mark the fact. than the shambles of Lost series 3 and 24 series 24 or whatever finally gives Scorcese an award or two, people Elsewhere, the world prepares itself for the most its on now. applaud for a long time. Others, okay, Helen Mirren, insane summer of cinema releases ever and DM prays

//comics rankly, little has changed in the land of comics since we last Meanwhile, #7 of Civil War has finally escaped so Marvel is anything to go by fwrote a Disposed Media page and that wasn’t even last running out of excuses not to go back to normal. Stuff happened, it has every issue. 52 is still ploughing ever onwards and because publishing a things were said but we don’t want to tell you what and especially chance of being better comic every week for a year clearly isn’t enough, another special not here. Suffice to say, there was a fight. than a new TV series event is planned at the end of the run. Nothing major, just World Elsewhere, having jumped away from the Wonder Woman appearing. Especially as currently playing . . . War 3. With multiple issues in a single week, it seems that DC flick, Joss Whedon has gone back to the world of Buffy, with the last few series of Buffy haven’t stopped getting carried away. series 8 appearing as a comic book. If his previous comic work is were…oops, run out of space. alexander brandon / deus ex: invisible war / blocksum / sonic the hedgehog / okami / ghost rider / battlestations midway games/rant here’s a relatively unknown condition that causes some people to feel uncomfortable Twith their limbs – healthy, fully functioning limbs – to the point that they cannot bear to have them on their body. For sufferers, to be anything other than an amputee is to be cluttered, untrue to entertainment of all forms has always been obsessed with meaning, justification, their self. It’s called body identity integrity disorder. and perhaps in the case of a game like Tetris, the need for a story is invalid; it just I read about it in the other day. I is. But if you look to the Final Fantasys and Halos of this world, the story frames think we all, to a certain extent, have an internal and guides your actions. With each sequel the grows more convoluted. More need to deviate towards order. It’s the same feeling and more Hollywood scriptwriters are being taken on board. That’s fine, and the that caused me, as a youth, to cut the labels from movement towards more complex games has naturally had its detractors; for my teddy-bears (“real teddies don’t have labels!”) the immensely enjoyable Wario Ware (although, interestingly, much of and with a few snips, completely diminish any the appeal of the Wii incarnation ‘Smooth Moves’ lies with the colourfully potential value they might hold as antiques. It’s realised, and at times hysterical, introductory and concluding plots for each also the same frame of mind that made the section). Generally, though, it’s becoming exhausting: it’s not that we’re being

wishlisT illusTraTion: rachel wild adam parker Tells us overloaded with ; it’s that we’re being overloaded with whaT he would wish for shoddy fiction. For everyDeus Ex, there’s a million Psi Ops or – To make gaming beTTer yeah, I’m going to say it – a Zelda, which, however enjoyable they wish Three: beTTer may be as games, appear quite flimsy in the face of any serious wriTing for games critique. tidy-em-up Tetris such a success, and in this I mean, light and dark worlds? Gods that thank you for new gaming generation (finally) bring about collecting a few raindrops – which they in all their sacred power could not – and the adoption of wireless, amputated, restoring light to the land? If you’re just looking to switch your brain off and controllers (unless you count the dreadful 360 entertain yourself after a hard day at work (and admittedly Zelda’s Twilight Core pack anomaly). sections were beautifully realised and fun to ) that’s fine, but in any other Some people - perhaps in that same heated medium, such simplistic would clearly be seen as the preserve of rush for streamline purity of experience - dismiss children (“turn that stupid cartoon off and do your homework!”). the value of a decent story to games. They’re a We must begin to strive for first-rate writing, and not allow ourselves to be sideshow, they say; a means to an end. I’ve never patronised with , inoffensive, easy-to-translate-across-regions plots any been satisfied with this view. Western longer. Where is the challenge, the humour, the sadness? As graphical realism in games increases, the special kind of poignancy – unique to gaming – that “lighT and dark worlds? emerges from the machinations of ever-more-complex game engines – the gods ThaT Thank you for unscripted emulation of the real – grows. And it will do so proportionately. Where collecTing a few raindrops once you might have felt a twinge of sadness for a fallen comrade on some and resToring lighT To The World War 2 battlefield, in time it will increasingly be incidental, plotless details: land?… ThaT’s fine, buT in the way the light plays between leaves of a tree, or how a snowflake settles on any oTher medium, such the ground; these observations, recreated through polygons and algorithms to simplisTic meTaphors would provide much the same shared emotion as with the work of a photographer, or clearly be seen as The indeed any artist, that says – “Yes. I noticed it too.” preserve of children.” games/rant hen I casually asked Jeff Minter if I could buy the rights to make a movie Wbased on his classic game Hover Bovver, I wasn’t entirely sure in my own mind what I was going to do with them afterwards. The fee for these rights is still unpaid, by the way. I’ll See, here’s the thing…videogamers don’t have a movie. Sure, there are sort it out at some point over the next few months, videogame movies, but that’s not the same thing. Videogamers don’t have a as plans for “Consolevania Presents Hover movie that they can treasure and say “See that film? That’s my film, that film.” Ice Bovver: The Movie: A Videogame Movie” get Hockey fans have the glorious Slapshot. Baseball fans have The Natural, Pride properly underway. of the Yankees and Field of Dreams. Murderers have Henry: Portrait of a Serial The script for “Consolevania Presents Hover Killer and Paedophiles have everything. Gamers have nothing. Bovver: The Movie: A Videogame Movie” is pretty It would be ridiculous to expect that the Consolevania crew, with zero money much complete, but it’ll take a few more drafts to and limited experience, could make a videogame movie that matters. Utterly knock it into an acceptable shape. Then, most ridiculous. But we’re going to try it anyway. We’re going to try to secure some likely, things will change and change again as we funding from people within the games industry, while explaining to them that

biglime illustration: JAMES DOWNING this issue, dm’s very they’ll see nothing back, because we’re giving away the film for oWn ranting scotsman free. It’s an impossibility, but we’re going to do it anyway. robert florence gets Most likely, “Consolevania Presents Hover Bovver: The himself into a spot of Movie: A Videogame Movie” will be a disaster and I will be a (hover) bovver. laughing stock. But if it makes one or two people out there go start to shoot the thing. So what is the thing? “Man, I love that film where the guy goes totally Solid Snake at “What is the thing, exactly, Rab?” That’s me doing the end” then it will have been worth doing. your voice there. All limp wrists and everything. Hover Bovver is a wonderful game. It’s still wonderful. It’s the kind of game Well, first of all, it’s not a straight of where you bite a pillow while playing. But the best thing about Hover Bovver the storyline of Hover Bovver. Don’t worry, I (and the reason why I’ve decided to attempt to make a film inspired by it) is that haven’t gone all Uwe Boll on the fucker. There it’s unmistakably, unashamedly British. I fear sometimes that the “British memory” aren’t any big-titted fire-breathing dragonbeasts in of gaming is being lost. When you look at opinion on the internet, it seems that it. The main is still Gordon Bennet. But in almost everyone is speaking from some shared background – and most the movie, his second name is pronounced “Benet,” commonly these days, that shared background is an American one. It’s all like how the French and poofs talk. And there are reminiscences about the NES and the Genesis. I don’t like it. certainly lawnmowers in it. Handsome creatures, As corporate gaming websites suck up American news and opinion and spit it these lawnmowers. Heroes of youth. everywhere, there’s a danger that new British gamers are losing touch with what it meant to be a gamer in Britain. I’ve been shaped by peculiarly British glories videogamers don’t have a movie. like Skool Daze and Jet Set Willy, and there are a lot of people like me out sure, there are videogame there. I think we have our own outlook. Our own way of seeing this hobby of ours. movies, but that’s not the same And it’s a little bit of that I hope to capture with “Consolevania Presents Hover thing. videogamers don’t have Bovver: The Movie: A Videogame Movie.” Which is, by the way, just a working a movie that they can treasure title. I think it’s currently a bit on the short side. and say “see that film? that’s my film, that film.” games/freeware locksum is an atypical “zone” game, And this creativity separates Blocksum demanding strong nerves, excruciating from other tile matchers; it puts extra pressure bprecision, and calculated responses to on you firstly by demanding that greater the unrelenting assaults that greet the avatar, numbers of tiles are grouped together and providing aesthetics that are functional without then by allowing you to directly manipulate the being overpowering, and laying bare the “mental identity of these tiles. That leaves no-one to arithmetic” skeleton used in many puzzlers. blame but yourself when you try to ambitiously Yes, it’s a maths game, but hopefully the create and group nine “9” blocks together (and, promise of “zone”-like intensity has kept you in the case of your correspondent, fumble from flipping the page. In the game, the player stupidly and end up creating a “13” block, must eliminate various blocks before they fill making everything much harder.) It’s one of the playing field completely. So far, so what? those beautiful games that adds an illusion of The difference here is that each block is freedom and creativity to the problem solving. numbered (and coloured for aesthetic Then there are the bonuses; novice players pleasantry); and to eliminate them the player would be wise to steer clear of huge number must ensure that the number shown on a block combinations lest they fumble whilst the playing is the number of blocks adjacent to that block field fills with more new blocks (unless you get which share that number. a special block can eliminate all blocks of a In other words, if there are three blocks certain numeric identity.) Observe Blocksum labelled “3” they will vanish, allowing space being played by an experienced player, however, for more blocks continue filling the play area. and you’ll witness high combo setups in Currently it still sounds like other block- anticipation for higher numbers that will soon blocksum matching puzzlers; you’re just moving blocks appear onscreen... or even long waits for the A gAme thAt proves to be As tAxing on with the same number next to one another playing field to fill with easy, small numbers at the mind As it is on the fingers… instead of the same colour. Except in the start of the game, before the first level is And Also proves very difficult Blocksum you can’t move the blocks; you can blitzed in one chained combo of small numbers. to teAr AwAy from. only sum them. Blocksum is difficult to explain in words but Using the arrow keys to move the in-game reveals itself with five minutes of play. cursor over a block, and then pressing and Presentation is also excellent; the slowly holding the button, you can then press a rotating backdrop is almost hypnotic, and the key to “sum up” your selected block with the -lite music makes things more adjacent block you highlighted with the cursor. atmospheric. Also, the backdrop changes at Let’s say we had two “3”s in a row, followed by a each completed level, and even when failure

“2” and a “1”. By moving the cursor over the “2” draws near there is a brief period of time where block, pressing and holding the button, and you can scan the play field for a combo

pressing right, the “2” and the “1” will combine opportunity before it’s too late. Anyway, if you’re to make “3”, and now that there are 3 “3” blocks reading this part of Disposable Media then the blocksum is in a row, they will vanish. But there’s more; simple graphics and straightforward gameplay difficult to “ before they vanish, there is a brief pause where concept should be an instant draw; Blocksum is explAin in words the player can set up more “3” blocks directly a wonderful alternative to the blockbuster but reveAls adjacent to the completed combination, and games of the new generation that focus too “itself with five these will also vanish and count towards the much on frills and filler, and I don’t doubt that I’ll minutes of plAy bonus. This means that each successful still be playing it long after you’ve read this. combination precedes a scramble to create more blocks of the same number. games/retrospective M is pretty certain that, like us, you’ve of previous games and maintained the more become disillusioned with the Sonic contemporary, “realistic” environs of Shadow, a Dfranchise, perhaps to the point where game which completely missed the point and you wish Sonic Team would stop pissing all placed an emphasis on shooting and “attitude” over our memories. Just look at the major rather than speed and acceleration. Heroes console releases at the tail-end of the series’ was so restrictive it might as well have been chronology. Heroes: flimsy. Shadow: a on rails. . Sonic’s 360 outing: laughable. Sonic games should be about Sonic, and These games have turned the brand into a Sonic alone. Shadow the Hedgehog was built joke; if they weren’t released under the Sonic around the characterisation of Shadow; with banner then some dignity might have been his moodiness and teen-angst, he’d look out saved before it was too late. Unfortunately it of place in Green Hill Zone, and his ballistic seems that one or two things are happening; combat and stationary assaults are the how Sega’S once-celebrateSpeedD either Sonic Team feels it’s their duty to antithesis of the franchise’s soul. Sonic icon haS become continue such a long-lasting franchise, or it’s Adventure’s levels shone when they didn’t a figure of mockery simply selling well. But why? involve Gamma’s tedious lock-on combat, worDS DAN GASSIS DeSign ANDREW CAMPBELL Trap DM thinks that fundamental flaws shared Amy’s hateful non-game or Knuckles’ between the latest titles are to blame; various “just-fuck-off-and-die” gem hunts; these elaborations on a formula that should be so were all far too uncharacteristic to be part straightforward. It’s obvious that franchise of a Sonic game. development is a very delicate that can go In fact, the Adventure games could have to shit all too easily unless the right been the closest thing to a half-decent 3D refinements are made. Whilst everyone Sonic we had. Oh, you can whinge all you like understands that these people are trying to about the crap animation, annoying voices and capture the biggest , surely that can the baffling soundtrack, but you’d be missing be done without such radical shifts in style? the point; the most urgent need is an When you first played the Megadrive game it annihilation of the character -up so that was beautiful: a lush 2D environment with the hedgehogs’ levels can flourish. Each of bright colours and an them, in some way or emphasis on getting another, is more true around the Sonic gameS ShoulD be to the series’ roots environment quickly about Sonic, anD Sonic alone. than any of the whilst bouncing on current releases. The enemies. Playing only exception would Shadow The Hedgehog, you were presented be Sonic Rush; a return to 2D roots with nice with a world straight out of any low-budget refinements and innovations, a bright palette, GTA rip-off, and you meandered around a typically brilliant Naganuma soundtrack, and slowly, before trying to find your homing attack brilliantly quick sections in each zone. Sonic and instead pulling out a gun. It was the games excel when they are about cutting a complete opposite of what you thought Sonic sleek, stylish path through each level using a games should be about. mix of good timing and control dexterity, and But what should they be about? Riders these things haven’t been possible in other was a spin-off that managed to be even worse characters stories. It’s simple, Sega; make a than Sonic , and wouldn’t hold much interest Sonic game a game about Sonic, rather than for the platforming fans. The 360 Sonic a game about Amy, Knuckles, Shadow, © SEGA elaborated on the new characters and abilities Gamma, Tails, Silver, Jet, Wave, Rouge… games/interview UnactoUnacto BornBorn His MUsic Has provoked aWe and painted deptH and HistorY into tHe Most alien and fUtUristic Worlds. He Has Worked on tHe soUndtracks of tHe Most -defining of titles, inclUding deUs ex, deUs ex: invisiBle War and . and if last.fM plaY coUnts are anYtHing to go BY, He’s still gaining proMinent for His past Works, and Has plentY More to coMe on tHe Horizon. Words: AdAm PArker disposaBle Media caUgHt Up WitH alexander Brandon. design: rAchel Wild

hen did you first know that and i followed suit. i then had the chance to already. i like it, but i don’t consider it nearly as You are perhaps best known for your you wanted to make music as write music for the first time thanks to the Ad well done as the “Strider” soundtrack for work on the Deus Ex soundtracks, but Wa career, and how did you get lib music card, the first example. Brad Fuller, George Sanger and you made several before and after that. into creating soundtracks for games? widespread commercially available soundcard Team Fat, many other game come Which are you most proud of? i’m not sure exactly when i knew i wanted to for the iBm Pc and clones. into play here. As far as non game music the Unreal, to be sure. Tyrian was my first and still make music a career, but i knew i wanted usual greats are there: John Williams, James is excellent in my opinion. And lately, Gauntlet: games to be a career when i was around ten Who are your main influences? horner, Alan Silvestri, Basil Poledouris (God Seven Sorrows had a great adaptive years old having played numerous arcade hirozaku Tanaka, michiru Yamane, club rest his soul), mozart, Wagner, Satie, debussy, soundtrack with an orchestra; it just didn’t get games and like so many others geekily kukeiha and other finek onami and capcom mussorgsky, and this list goes on forever… much recognition. knowing it would be “the next big thing”. music composers. Oddly enough Nubuo Uematsu , Van halen, Steve Vai, A Tribe came into play when a friend of mine started isn’t on this list but perhaps that’s because his called Quest, Public enemy, Global Music is clearly integral to the taping game soundtracks on a tape recorder music has been so lauded by everyone else communication, Postal Service, etc. etc. experience of immersion in games, as games/interview

“i kneW i Wanted gaMes to Be a career WHen i Was aroUnd ten Years old Having plaYed nUMeroUs games in the future? arcade gaMes and like so ManY otHers geekilY knoWing it WoUld Be “tHe next Big tHing” Not at all. Looped music will always have a role in games; it just depends on the game’s design. In a traditional menu where a player many gamers will attest. Why do you will spend a maximum of one to two minutes think this is the case, and how do you at a time, looped music works well there. EA set out to enhance this? among other people are changing how game Music in games just as in films provides menus are done though, so this might not still something outside reality that can influence be relevant. emotional response and drive decision making. Most of the time though, the visuals darwin once said that music was used and gameplay are what inspire the themes as an early precursor to language. it can that simply enhance the moments even more. clearly be laced with meaning, and Take Unreal. A lot of inspiration visually was finding structure and patterns in it is derived from Rodney Matthews (in some integral to whether we find it appealing levels, not all), and the music reflected that or not; music can often be described as otherworldly nature. The same goes mathematically beautiful. How for Gauntlet. In Tyrian the music was more important is appealing to ‘the brain’ in thematic and action oriented, and you know, if developments in ? it was done by a live band it just wouldn’t have The connection between the brain and worked. The visuals and audio need to go electronic music is one of experimentation together properly in terms of resolution. primarily, not as much about emotion; or at least it isn’t yet. Society still associates itself the music in Invisible War varied in far more readily with acoustic instruments, but style quite a lot from the original Deus perhaps future generations will find cultural Ex: was this a change that emerged ties to the synthesizer much more warm and from your own evolution as an artist, or inviting. And in my opinion, they should. Hell, I was it more defined by the game, and already equate certain Tom Petty songs with the vision of ion storm? an Oberheim synth to an old rustic town. The musical direction of that game primarily came from Harvey Smith. I like both the music What projects are you working on at the from both games for different reasons. In the moment? first game the music stands well on its own ‘Happy Feet’ was just released and it’s actually but isn’t nearly as tied to gameplay (it tries but pretty enjoyable as a children’s title. I did some doesn’t do that well at it). In the second the voice over and audio direction work on that music is dismal and barren listening to it on its one since the music was licensed. There are own (unless you’re depressed and want a some original titles we have in the works but I combination of The Cure and Brian Eno), but “societY still associates itself can’t say what they are… yet. Otherwise, I’m while playing, boy does it make the far More readilY WitH acoUstic also working on a personal project called environments and atmosphere pop. instrUMents, BUt perHaps ‘’ that you can find out more about in fUtUre generations Will find future posts on my newsletter blog ‘Club can you see interactive music cUltUral ties to tHe sYntHesizer Silicon’, which can be found at: completely superseding ‘static’ pieces in MUcH More WarM and inviting.” www.clubsilicononline.com games/retrospective

“i’m still Playing through deus ex, for the first time. i Words: AdAm PArker “[deus ex] Was the best Pc Played through invisible War design: rAchel Wild game i ever Played - bar none. countless times, just to see after the cult success that folloWed the first game, the seQuel Was a Watered all the different endings. the obsessive level of interest surrounding its doWn version for the xbox it Was still fun; trying out seQuel’s develoPment Was inevitable. the generation.” using the different mods, analysis of screenshots took on a more - mrhatfield and helPing out the different desPerate edge through forums and factions. it’s just a shame games sites alike; to the Post-matrix that the seQuel never Quite games-Playing audience, “Playing basketball in reached the genius of the this Was imPortant. battery Park; shooting first game.” civilians and throWing them - mr do disPosable media, in the sea; buying as many With a little helP from cigarettes as i can and seeing “desPite long loading our friends at if i could kill myself through times and tWo aPParently rllmukforum.com, excessive smoking (i could); butchered/cut doWn levels, looks back at reading the neWsPaPers; the Ps2 version [of deus ex 1] deus ex: invisible War. discovering i could hack the is one of the best Ps2 games atms; throWing vases out of ever.” ith the release almost upon us, out aPartment WindoWs; finding - tssk came the revelations: one single out that seemingly token ammo type for all weapons, W characters - such as isaac, removal of the skill upgrades from the first And then, when the game was actually out: the lucky money bartender “[it’s] funny hoW [deus ex 1] game, an interface that had gone through bile flowed. Cult fans hated what Ion Storm had – have oPinions on chinese and the original half-life numerous iterations ultimately settling on done to their beloved series. The screens triads and the government; Were both mods of creaky something too bulky and, frankly, ugly. The demoed at E3 didn’t make it to the final game. Deus Ex fans’ collective heart sank, but their Huge swathes of the project had apparently there Was attention to detail old engines… Proof if it Were fingers were crossed. been cut. In the name of profit, seemingly, Ion in this game like no other.” needed that genius takes They couldn’t go wrong… could they? Storm had sold out the PC crowd. - Qazimod time and you simPly cannot They couldn’t ruin Deus Ex? What had gone wrong? legislate for hoW clever, Acceptance diluted previous disbelief. It is telling that, when we asked the opinions creative and groundbreaking Minds were made up before the game was of Rllmukforum members on Deus Ex and “oh my god, jc! a bomb!” game develoPers can be When even released. Cue the blame game: it was the Deus Ex: Invisible War - long after the dust - teQuila they’re not [mucking] about cross-platform launch that caused this, said the stirred by the sequel’s release had settled - the Writing engines.” PC fanboys. It’s the Xbox’s fault. replies should be weighted so heavily in favour - linkster The console ruined our game. of the original. >>> games/retrospective

As a rule, sequels are less popular anyway - to look back invisible War’s tight corridors and were at some dubious spiel by your superiors, and a Terminator 2 notwithstanding - and this principle to old games melodramatic fmv feel, early on in the times slightly different colour hue of the canisters. In is particularly true of an industry which relies on whose negative game, like a real steP backWards. compelling: short: the edgy, intelligent hacker underworld of continued hardware upgrades; inevitably some reception is all too the post-human the first game was neutered. punters are going to be left behind. But now, in fresh in the memory. Omar with their After all that, though, the feeling you get the years after Invisible War’s release, we see a The plot of Invisible War mirrors its militaristic body upgrades are clearly borne of the when you play through Invisible War is not one game which, for all its past graphical flair, predecessor somewhat: you start off knowing same wonderfully imaginative minds as the of pessimism. The soundtrack, gratefully, is just restricts you far more than its prequel ever did. little of your past, as part of an organisation that Morpheus AI. as exceptional and evocative as in the first The reception of a game at launch is all- you will later defect from. Invisible War continues There is, however, something about the slick game, crafted as it is by Alexander Brandon important. Arriving in a post-GTA 3 gaming this convention with rather less success, lighting, clean faces and smooth, pastel surfaces (see our interview with him on page 8.) The landscape, Invisible War’s tight corridors and however: where you took part in several that jars with your expectations after the dark, plot, too, at times goes in similarly bold, ‘hard melodramatic FMV (after the confident, exquisite missions for UNATCO in Deus Ex - developing, jagged, trench-coated appeal of the first game. sci-fi’ directions. use of the in-game engine in the first game) perhaps, a certain affection for your And there are absurd, unforgivable Invisible War carries the same soul of the feel, early on in the game, like a real step surroundings (an affection which would later be simplifications: all-purpose multitools function original, albeit only a piece of that soul, existing backwards. Computer technology may have shockingly altered) - Invisible War threw you out as both lockpicks and computer terminal in the shadow of its roots, regrettably skewed in moved on and come down in price (and will of the Tarsus Academy almost immediately, as hacking devices. Some of the mods in the first favour of what was believed a larger, console provide, naturally, a smoother play experience) you fled from religious terrorists. Perhaps it was game – like the spy drone, for example – looked gaming audience would want. Invisible War is to but the Xbox version, certainly, will never gain part of the intention to leave you feeling and felt like they might blow up in your face the Deus Ex as Reloaded and Revolutions are to the quicker loading times, nor improved framerates; unwanted - to put the choices in your hands first time you tried to use them, yet : divisive, not what was expected, and, and for the PC fraternity, there are brighter right at the start - but your apparent value to the supposed danger of using ‘black market’ above all, unnecessary. prospects on the horizon now, without the need academy contradicts this. The characters upgrades in Invisible War is only suggested by Sequels are less popular anyway. games/reviews

kami plays like a free roaming With a huge landscape to explore his ambitious addition to the switching which gets the blood ORPG - roping in elements of occasionally a loss of direction tXbox 360 catalogue mixes pumping. Zelda, Shadow of the Colussus and occurs- but not only is the gameplay brains and brawn as you take control The graphics cope with the large even finding time for wacky top notch, the distinctive Japanese of U.S and Japanese naval fleets. distances needed, while icons and Japanese humour (Mafia sparrows artistic stylings make it a treat for With ships, planes, aircraft crew members warn you of the anyone?). Playing as Amaterasu - no your eyes too. carriers and boatyards, you’ll need various types of battle damage. Even normal wolf, but a sun god no less - Paul Blakeley the simple and intuitive strategic more impressive is the lack of lag your job is to save the world. map to control much of the action. with eight players online, as you Altering the landscape plays a But if you’d rather take over from the team-up to destroy your enemies. pivotal role and can be achieved by a reliable A.i. captains and pilots, the The only flaw is the lack of a co-op flick of your celestial brush - water in manual controls are equally well mission . your way? No problem just draw a designed, and provide the adrenaline lilypad, creating an organic stepping rush strategy games can lack. dan thornton stone. The further you progress the You’ll balance steering, firing more powers you gain and the more weapons, ship repairs, and your OkAMi enjoyable Okami becomes. HHHHH BATTlE- overall strategy, and it’s this STATiONS HHHHH “nOt Only is the gamePlay tOP nOtch, MidWAY “the manual cOntrOls are well the distinctive artistic stylings make designed, and PrOvide the adrenaline (PS2) it a treat fOr yOur eyes tOO” (XBOX 360) rush strategy games can lack.”

y no means revolutionary, camera, which can leave you running intendo’s latest non-game prediction was right, is not bad for a BGhost Rider does just enough in circles to locate unseen baddies. naddition to its Wii channel free download. Go on, you know you to satisfy fans of the cult comic hero. Meanwhile the bike sections are lineup proves to be deceptively want to, how can you resist those As you walk and ride through limited to rollercoaster tracks which game-like. What is the point on unbearably cute little Mii animations? countless demons, there is lots of provide a break from the main voting on random ‘do you prefer this rachel wild satisfaction to be had from action, rather than equal enjoyment. or that?’ questions, i hear you ask, dispatching them with your chain, A shed load of unlockable extras especially when the connection shotgun, and cinematic special will entice fans, including complete times are so long and annoying? moves. Plus your iconic motorcycle comics and fellow comic hero Blade, Because it’s communal. Because it’s comes complete with missiles, and but there just isn’t enough to jump fun. Because you get to predict what the ability to jump and slide over and Ghost Rider over other similar titles. the outcome is! There have only under obstacles. dan thornton been a few Uk poll results so far, But despite a flaming skull for a but the thrill of seeing what other Wii head, and the impressively fearsome owners think, broken down by GhOST RidER bosses, you’ll be limited and EvERYBOdY gender and region demographics, frustrated by a fixed third person HHHHH vOTE chANNEl and more importantly, whether your HHHHH “By nO means revOlutiOnary, ghOst “nintendO’s latest nOn-game additiOn rider dOes just enOugh tO satisfy tO its wii channel lineuP PrOves tO Be (PS2) fans Of the cult cOmic herO.” (Wii) decePtively game-like.” music

dm6/music

currently listening to . . . / varsity drag / radio 1 / bunch of myspace stuff / acoustic ladyland / field music/ kings of leon music/gig review

TH, 2007 uAry 8 Ay JAN , MONd y wEMBLE TOur, MPBeLL cOMING Ca rL HOME andrew HOwGI Design: ON A LIvE - S NIGHT LIKE THIS E keith andrew INOGu orDs: KyLIE M w

Tours

T be many ‘comeback’howgirl T The press in muchD, There won’ThaT ge minogue’s eman kylie D This year Te massive Trings D a few s of a frenzy as ia pulle homecoming.m eDespiD here’s no getting away from it. For anyone whose only contact with Kylie DisposableD in some Minogue comes in the form of anD calle Time T D loans in To headlines splashed all over the red-tops, or ol T along the exposé style snaps printed almost weekly ’s and the like, this concert – and indeed To makeT hei pops in Heat one of T wembley. this entire tour – was about her recovery from DaTes a cancer. But for the 10,000 or more who managed to get their hands on tickets during last spring’s record-breaking sell-out, illness could not have been further from the mind. This was a night of music and entertainment – a night that left the impression that one could not exist without the other. It’s a given that Kylie didn’t just stand on stage for two hours, belting out one hit after another; inevitably – and as much publicised by the press – there were more than a few costume changes involved. But the costumes, along with the eight unique themes that surrounded them, providedCan’t Get their You own Out Of My highlights. Fusing music/gig review music/gig review

aT This poinT in Time - ouTsiDe soho’s sTrip clubs - wembley arena was probably The mosT liberal place in The worlD. only aT a Kylie concerT, so They say.

TH, 2007 uAry 8 Ay JAN , MONd y ArENA appeal. It was the kind of surprising wEMBLE LL performance that could only bring a smile to TOur, aMPBe cOMING everyone’s faces with a general feeling of rL HOME andrew HOwGI Design: “how did they do that?” It’s because of this family feeling that ON A LIvE - S NIGHT LIKE THIS uE Ds: keith andrew LIE MINOG wor The retro feel didn’t stop there, either. Ever Kylie’s performance was able to seamlessly Ky conscious of her past and the bearing it has fuse 80s classics like Head with Doctor Who was an inspired move; had on her career, perhaps the most stirring with some of the more obscure album tracks Tours seeing a troop of Cyber-adorned dancers moment of the night came in the form of the from commercial-bomb marching out in time to the song’s opening appropriately named “Everything Taboo” without the blink of an eye. While the kids may T be many ‘comeback’howgirl throngs was a true highlight, as well as an section, which featured some of Kylie’s more not have known some of the Stock/Aitken/ T The press in sas muchD, There won’ThaT ge minogue’s eman astute reading of the singer’s fanbase. unmentionable early-90s-rave-tracks Waterman tracks from Adam, that didn’t stop kylie D This year Te massive Trings None of these changes caused any delay, intermingled with the likes of Shocked, them welcoming them with the same gaiety D a few s however. Between each , long, scaling (itself mixed with Cece that was gifted to excellent renditions of the of a frenzy as ia pulle homecoming.m eDespiD here’s no getting away from it. For outros and intros (created by Brothers in Peniston’s Finally) and What Do I Have To likes of Slow and . Showgirl is anyone whose only contact with Kylie Rhythm’s Steve Anderson, no less) winged Do. As well as giving a nod to some of the more a celebration of the many facets of pop DisposableD in some Minogue comes in the form of D calle Time their way around the arena, hinting at the older members of the audience, it also kicked than a glorification of one of its stars. an o T D loans in T headlines splashed all over the red-tops, or possible tracks to come. As a result, it was off a party atmosphere that reigned supreme So, there was no surprise when ’s ol T along the exposé style snaps printed almost weekly Tar’s and the like, this concert – and indeed often possible to spot the crowd physically for most of what followed. Vogue cropped up, albeit fused to its benefit To make i in Heat The pops straining for the first recognisable note or bar, Like the worst wedding reception ever, with a much-loved track lifted from Kylie’s one of T wembley. this entire tour – was about her recovery from DaTes a cancer. But for the 10,000 or more who usually so they could scream in its welcome. there was still something endearing about Fever album – Burning Up. But its place here managed to get their hands on tickets during Make no mistake - this was a concert seeing a couple in their 50s dancing their was not political or even an attempt to be last spring’s record-breaking sell-out, illness designed to milk adoration from its crowd, with hearts out, while two 12 year old girls with meaningful, like Madonna’s “I Love Kylie could not have been further from the mind. almost twenty years of touring resulting in a flashing tiaras leapt up and down next to them Minogue” t-shirt at the Brit Awards a few This was a night of music and entertainment – refined production. Songs, many of which like they needed the loo. Over in the corner, a years back. As with the entire performance, a night that left the impression that one could not exist without the other. have been performed on numerous occasions crowd of what seemed like stag do-ers were Vogue is an example of at its best It’s a given that Kylie didn’t just stand on before, were lifted to their pinnacle and fixated at the stage watching every move Kylie – a signature dish, if you like. For the three or stage for two hours, belting out one hit after treated in a way that suggests Kylie and her made in adoration. Or, were they in fact spying so hours Kylie was on stage, she sold all forms another; inevitably – and as much publicised team now know how to draw the best from the two lesbians openly necking in the front of pop music. by the press – there were more than a few the most diverse of line-ups. Most of note was row? Whatever the case, at this point in time - It was a party and a carnival of noise. One costume changes involved. But the costumes, the adaptation of The Loco-Motion, brought to outside Soho’s strip clubs - Wembley Arena that left everyone with a huge smile on their along with the eight unique themes that surrounded them, providedCan’t Get their You own Out Of My life like never before by the addition of a was probably the most liberal place in the face, and was a suitable testament to one of highlights. Fusing brassy big-band and just a smidgen of sex world. Only at a Kylie concert, so they say. pop music’s most enduring ambassadors. music/retrospective

TriAls Of An

words: keith andrew Impossdesign:Ibleandrew CaMPBeLL

Almost twenty yeArs espite those infamous song lyrics, psince rthe loco-Incessmotion there’s never been anything lucky (or first topped the chArts dlucky, lucky, lucky, for that matter) in , Kylie about Kylie Minogue’s twenty years in the minogue’s showgirl musical spotlight. When it comes to summaries, the tabloid press certainly have a homecoming tour hAs knack for over-simplification; plucked by Peter been something of A Waterman and co. from a dodgy perm, a job as celebrAtion for pop a mechanic and one of the weddings of the AficionAdos, mArKing 1980s (perhaps only second to Charles and her intention for A Diana) and shot to international superstardom mini-comebAcK in 2007. and an almost constant stream of hit singles disposAble mediA tAKes and to the present day. A looK At just whAt But for those brave enough to follow mAKes A Minogue’s career from I Should Be So Lucky girl mAKe heAdlines on to Showgirl, her story is one equally stained the other side of by flops and career faux-pas as it is lifted by the globe. #1s and gold hot pants. Unlike many of her compadres, Kylie is currently adored by the massed ranks of the press – whether due to the feeling of compassion that surrounded her recent illness, or the headline-grabbing tour music/retrospective music/retrospective which hit the UK at the turn of the year – and This period was one easily brushed aside seemingly alien matter to people who’d it’s hard to imagine her being toppled from by her peers; here was Kylie Minogue, never willingly spent a night in the middle of a that spot. Pre-Spinning Around however, the attempting to do something ‘trendy’ in a bid to farmer’s field inN orfolk. picture was not so rosy. Kylie Minogue was a ride the crest of the Brit-pop wave which hit At De-construction little had changed. Her relic. A has been. A classic ‘where are they the UK in the mid 1990s. Labelled quite work with the Manics, with Brothers in now?’ contender. simply as ‘indie Kylie’, the years which followed Rhythm, or with any of the artists and When Australian singer/ Nick saw Miss Minogue actually working with many producers who collaborated with Minogue, Cave approached Kylie to sing on his The dance icons - names such as the Pet Shop was about exploiting another fruitful facet of Murder Ballads album, released back in 1997, Boys, Pete Heller, and (of her musical persona. she herself admitted at the time that there ‘Clubbed to Death’ fame). Yet it was her Even when she joined at the weren’t many artists out there with less collaborations with the Manic Street turn of the millennium – a move that saw the TriAls Of An credibility than “Kylie Minogue”. From having Preachers that stole the gaze of the press and added ‘bonus’ of mass popularity rear its head successive top ten hits at the turn of the bore the most negativity. Despite the fact that once again – tracks such as Can’t Get You words: keith andrew eighties (indeed, the final tally rested at a both and I Don’t Need Out Of My Head in 2001 and Slow three Impossdesign:Ibleandrew CaMPBeLL then-record breaking thirteen consecutive top Anyone are both solid pop records to their years later managed to spark a resurgence in six singles), things changed when Kylie finally very core, the fact that Kylie had even electro-pop music in the charts – a spark that parted company with Waterman’s ‘hit factory’ considered working with James Dean had been missing for long enough to make in 1992 after a manic five albums in just four Bradfield was seemingly enough to warrant the two aforementioned tracks sound entirely years. Indeed, it was a sad end to a period national condemnation. un-radio friendly upon first listen. Hard to that had consisted of notable pop fluff but As a result, much of her debut album with imagine now, admittedly. also genuine trend ; the Kylie that De-construction – the appropriately titled It’s perhaps this ceaseless progression while the hits were certAinly hArder to come by And her following hAd stArted to resemble the pretentious espite those infamous song lyrics, Almost twenty yeArs dregs of A wine bAr, her tAKe on music hAdn’t chAnged; do whAt you love, And do it well. psince rthe loco-Incessmotion there’s never been anything lucky (or first topped the chArts dlucky, lucky, lucky, for that matter) had adorned the charts post-Michael Kylie Minogue – and the album that followed from dance to indie to acid jazz to electro and in AustrAliA, Kylie about Kylie Minogue’s twenty years in the Hutchence was one that played a key role in almost three years later were vastly back again that, in part, explains a large minogue’s showgirl musical spotlight. When it comes to selling an emerging dance scene to a overlooked by the industry and the journalists portion of the singer’s abiding appeal. While summaries, the tabloid press certainly have a commercial audience. that populate it. While 1997’s Impossible there’s an inevitable new look ushered in with homecoming tour hAs knack for over-simplification; plucked by Peter It was, therefore, perhaps unsurprising Princess is a cacophony of different each and a new ‘Kylie’ logo adorning been something of A Waterman and co. from a dodgy perm, a job as to those in the know that Kylie went on to influences, ranging from trip-hop to some each album cover, the music playing in the celebrAtion for pop a mechanic and one of the weddings of the turn down more lucrative contracts in order simple down-and-dirty dance, its predecessor background has always been solid and strong AficionAdos, mArKing 1980s (perhaps only second to Charles and to sign to the relatively unknown and paid to the likes of acid jazz and the enough to support the more superficial her intention for A Diana) and shot to international superstardom dance-orientated (and now sadly defunct) then burgeoning scene. Not elements that are seemingly tied to fame in mini-comebAcK in 2007. and an almost constant stream of hit singles De-construction. To casual observers, this much Brit-pop there, then. the modern day. disposAble mediA tAKes and albums to the present day. ‘second coming’ still means little more than But, as far as Kylie Minogue is concerned, Yes, it’s about that bum. Yes, it’s about A looK At just whAt But for those brave enough to follow the produced Confide In it was business as usual. While the hits were that video. Yes, it’s about that outfit. But, it’s mAKes A melbourne Minogue’s career from I Should Be So Lucky Me in 1994 – a track which went some way certainly harder to come by and her following also about the combination of the #1s with girl mAKe heAdlines on to Showgirl, her story is one equally stained to restoring professional integrity to an artist had started to resemble the pretentious dregs the precious album tracks you know only a the other side of by flops and career faux-pas as it is lifted by who, following almost three years away from of a London wine bar, her take on music small number of people besides yourself the globe. #1s and gold hot pants. Unlike many of her the singles stand, had lost most of her hadn’t changed; do what you love, and do it have even heard of. In the trials of Kylie compadres, Kylie is currently adored by the commercial sparkle. But Kylie Minogue’s three well. Back in the early 1990s, when Lucky, Minogue, the music is most certainly a massed ranks of the press – whether due to years and two albums at De-construction Loco-Motion and co. were still fresh in the guilty party. the feeling of compassion that surrounded her never troubled the higher echelons of memory, Minogue switched almost completely Let’s just be thankful she’s never resorted recent illness, or the headline-grabbing tour the music charts after Confide’s initial and embraced the dance scene, even penning to snogging Christina and Britney on stage, impressive debut. a few rave tracks.. She managed to make eh? That’s what I call ‘lucky’. music/gig review

triumph over

advarsity: varsity drag at the portland arms : Words: dan thornton design: andrEW CaMPBELL photography: angus Farquhar

age Won’t Weary one unsung hero of u.s. punk pop, as his neW band takes on a loW- budget tour of europe.

here’s an informal, almost ‘invite-only’ air to the tiny back room venue of the tPortland Arms. It takes a certain type of fan to have tracked the movements of Varsity Drag lead singer Ben Deily since his departure from The Lemonheads almost 20 years ago. But if his departure preceded the rise of acoustic hippy Evan Dando to star status, Deily’s mournful pop-punk odes to unrequited love have a cult status which endured throughout his absence from ben deily speaks... music/gig review recording – save for Pods, which lasted from dm: “Why on earth did 1992-1994. you decide to tour But now he’s back, and bringing with him europe in the middle the same high tempo pop-punk melodies that of Winter?” made him the unsung hero of the early bd: “We released the Lemonheads albums. He might have a day job album in the summer of in advertising, but Deily’s voice still epitomises 2006, and after years of asking, a crazy teenage angst, unrequited love, and regret in a German called Florian offered to arrange a manner unmatched by bands half his age. And tour but it would take six months, putting the rest of Varsity Drag have got his back, with us in January. That fell through, but Aston, the Mohican-sporting school vice principal Will the boss of our label Boss Tuneage Anderson on bass, and long-haired, stepped in, and arranged it instead.” bespectacled and shirtless drummer Ian Miller exhausting himself to maintain the dm: “do you still get nervous, even high-speed rhythm. after all this time?” It’s almost a surreal homecoming for Deily, bd: “Not any more. What’s the worst they who grew up in Cambridge, albeit Cambridge, can do to me? Even if people shout things, Massachusetts. Following a late start, and one it’s fun and encouraging. The only thing support act reduced from five piece to a solo that scares me is going to places like act by a bass player stuck on the motorway, Wakefield tomorrow and not knowing if there’s a sense of urgency to make it through we’ll find a place for everyone to stay.” deily’s voice still epitomises “he mightbut have a day job in advertising, much of the new album and still include the teenage angst, unrequited love, classics. But that doesn’t stop some comedic dm: “What’s your favourite song to by bands half his age.” interludes between Deily and Anderson, play live?” and regret in a manner unmatched obviously both enjoying the delights of touring bd: “7 Powers is a really good song to cheap lodgings around Europe. play. It’s a draw between that and Skinny Stand out tunes from the new album, ‘For Ties. But I’m getting to like playing Crying Out Loud’, are the power trio of Postcard. We’ve never really played it live, ‘Skinny Ties’, ‘Billy Ruane’, and ‘Miles of even in The Lemonheads.” Ocean’. All three are honed and crafted slices of punk , thumping bass and pounding dm: “seeing as you work in drums, topped with poetic vocals. All three advertising as your day job, what match the earlier ‘Ever’ and ‘7 Powers’, and would be the taglines for ben deily?” inspire as much and dancing in the bd: “Now I’m on the spot. I try and think of crowd. In fact, you can almost see the years some and put them on my website (www. being stripped from the more middle-aged bendeily.com), but I’m struggling now. How members of the audience in a way make-up about: “Ben Deily – he means you no companies would kill for. harm” The only chance to grab a breath is when Deily takes the mic alone for ‘Postcard’, a Varsity Drag’s album ‘For Crying Out beautiful and emotive eulogy to a departed Loud’ is out now, available on Boss love. And when he sings “I know it won’t go on Tuneage record (www.bosstuneage. as such, but I’ll hope we’ll keep in touch’, a com). For Pods CD’s and the latest roomful of fans, both new and old, is hoping news, visit www.bendeily.com or he means it. join the Drag at www.myspace.com/varsitydrag. music/opinion

woRds: DAN THORNTON & IAN MORENO-MELGAR RadIo 1 desIgn: RACHEL WILD welcoMe To good vs. bad. eveRy Issue we pIck on soMeThIng MusIc RelaTed and pRaIse IT and shouT IT down aT The saMe TIMe. ThIs Issue IT’s RadIo 1.

good bad he fact we’re even having this argument John Peel show? When I’m stuck in an office t’s all too easy to claim that something is of break boundaries and give opportunities to acts is proof that Radio 1 is worth supporting. with a bunch of orange-skinned nattering merit when comparing it to something that that wouldn’t get airplay on local stations. TWhen was the last time anyone felt harpies, all I want is something loud enough to Iclearly isn’t. Trying to claim that Radio 1 Essentially, Radio 1 should be dictated by its inspired enough to love or hate “insipid local drown them out. It’s when I get home in the offers an enjoyable radio service because local listeners and their tastes, their opinions or even FM”, playing the blandest hits of the 80’s, evening I want to hear music from people radio doesn’t is lazy. I should make it plain better, by what the DJs recommend. This is not 90’s and today? intending to be dead by 21. before I go on, that this little ‘rant’ applies solely the case. Instead, it’s a vague mess which tries Commercial radio stations might be an easy You could switch to internet-based radio, to Radio 1’s daytime schedule. The evening to jump onto tastes and fashions long after target, but that’s only because they’re uniformly but in all honesty most of them have a back and night time schedules are wonderful and they’ve become apparent. The daytime DJs are rubbish. Except for five stations in London, the catalogue of about 15 songs. Or you could frankly serve to highlight how dull their vapid shells, their own tastes drowned out by rest are part of a small number of national watch digital video jukebox channels, playing daytime schedule is. their insistence on using their shows as a way networks, playing the same shows, at the same the same bland hits, but with pictures. of pushing their own ‘cool value’ time, across the country. And at least you can Radio 1 is increasingly the only place where TRyIng To claIM ThaT RadIo 1 offeRs and attempting to be part of the identify Radio 1 presenters, rather than the you might be forced to listen to something fresh an enjoyable RadIo seRvIce because zeitgeist (is Jo Whiley even in the anodyne clones who assemble for “Breakfast and new, enjoy it, and find yourself rushing out local RadIo doesn’T Is lazy ‘target age’?) Add to this the with Kev/Trev/Gaz and Sue/Tina/Kelly”. to buy it the same day, unless you’re in the playlist which is the backbone of The BBC has to tread a fine line between U.S. and you’re stuck with college radio. Funded almost exclusively by the license the music played each day which forces the keeping an audience big enough fee, Radio 1 fails as a public broadcaster during DJs to play whatever the playlist boss wants. to justify itself as a national RadIo 1 Is IncReasIngly The only the daytime as a form of entertainment. Local Which currently is the former boss of Kiss FM, service, and being different place wheRe you MIghT be foRced To radio is funded by advertising and as such, has hence the ridiculous amounts of faceless dance enough to do the same. The lIsTen To soMeThIng fResh and new its hand forced. It HAS to play ‘safe’ music, it music that creeps into the playlist and gets daytime shows play a pretty wide HAS to play music that appeals to as many repeated for months on end. range of music, and in the evenings the station So let’s be honest here: arguing against people as possible and to offend nobody; its aim But with rising listening figures, maybe it’s suddenly gets a whole lot more specialist. You Radio 1 is basically saying you’re far better than is to be inherently inoffensive. Paid for by its just my grumpy self that resents being forced to could argue that every show should be breaking those that enjoy the daytime shows, and to listeners, Radio 1 should be a wide and varied listen to Fedde Le Grand 4 times a day? new and obscure bands, but in all honesty did prove it you’re willing to risk never being mix of styles and genres featuring new, Working in a bunker that can only receive Radio anyone ever actually make it through an entire tempted by a new CD, or a new band. dT unknown, old, traditional or legendary acts. 1, my choice is limited and so my excuse is Radio 1 should champion new British acts, valid. How about Radio 1’s? IM BDCECDEFGCHKCFICGHEBGFEJGIECBEGDFCFPhoto credits: Martin Simonis & Jay Simons music/doormat

learly while advertising DM5 Starsky and Hutch theme, Madness and something happened that made but all smoothed over with an indie Cpeople from different genres and gloss. Occasionally it is clear that English countries become interested in sending isn’t their native language and sometimes it stuff to The doormat. It’s fair to say that seems like changes have been made to anoThEr ISSUE anD YET anoThEr indie/electronic music from the UK has appeal more to ears used to English with SELECTIon oF TaLEnTED MUSICIanS been pretty much all the page has been the last track sounding a bit too much like haVE SEnT STUFF To LanD on... subsisting on but suddenly we get our first , but they deserve the foreign ears hip-hop, our first metal, our first pure-pop, (and success) they clearly crave. two discs from the USA and one from America probably won’t be pleased to have Russia. As well as one that started life in a been beaten by Russia to get here first, but ThE DoorMaT Scottish school. ThE CoaLITIon sampler was literally WorDS anD DESIGn: ANDREW REVELL ILLUSTraTIon: JAMES DOWNING Remember, if you are in a band, know seconds behind and represents the first hip- someone in a band, know someone who hop to land on the doormat at the same runs a or anything like that all time. It’s fair to say it’s a mixed bunch with the bands listed below did was to send a most tracks doing nothing for me - sounding message on myspace (we’re myspace.com/ too earnest, too scant on production and disposablemediamagazine) or dropped an they certainly know how to whinge. That email and we gave them the address to said, the first proper track is exactly the send a CD to. That’s it. Every single band opposite to all of that, is confident and has that did that is now listed below being been spun several times. If that shows the advertised for free to twelve thousand way things are going in the future it might readers. Good eh? be worth keeping an eye on them. And yes, I After an postal journey lasting would have told you what the good track several weeks, DUSTVEIL managed to was called but I seem to have misplaced the make their CD the first to land on the track listing. Whoops. doormat from outside the UK. Maybe Back in Britain and back to the land of Russian influence, or maybe just the fact guitars, albeit considerably louder than I’ve they’ve got a flautist and a bunch of violins it had before, is SErpICo. Having spent too all adds up to a confident instrumental much time playing Guitar Hero recently I’m sound, reminiscent of everything from the quite grateful for any rock or metal that music/doormat DUSTVEIL myspace.com/dustveil

ThE CoaLITIon myspace.com/coalition9

lands on the doormat and even more so need of polish, then certainly a rough scrub. can’t deny enjoying making my way through when it has this sort of quality. If you’ve Various comments about trying to be a their album. never appreciated any band that shows off successful business doesn’t help, but when Really you should ignore this paragraph how many K’s they’ve got then this is they find themselves in a (business) situation as I’m not meant to mention FaThEr oF SErPICo unlikely to change your mind but it is to release a full album hopefully things will be Boon as they want to get all their publicity myspace.com/serpicoband thoroughly enjoyable. Despite being a band a little clearer. in the summer as they’ve secured formed in a Scottish school it has a real It’s hard to make a smooth transition when themselves a record deal. So this isn’t a sense of maturity to it and if you’ve ever going from metal into something that sounds review, I’m not saying that the disc they sent enjoyed Bad quite a lot like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, but here I is really quite good, not saying that they do Religion or The am. Really if you haven’t been put off by that certainly deserve their record deal and not MY PrIVaTE hELL Offspring description then there is every chance you’ll pointing you in the direction of their myspace.com/myprivatehell WanT To BE hErE (Crazy Taxi, enjoy this Sarah nIxEY album. “Famed” as MySpace page if you like some kind of mix nExT ISSUE? basically) then one third of Black Box Recorder, probably only between prog-rock, The Streets and the their EP is remembered by page 58 of the Guinness claim to fame of supporting the excellent EMaIL probably a safe Book of Hit Singles, the solo work is, well, (and sadly missed) Mclusky. But as this isn’t DISPoSaBLEMEDIa investment. It’s Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Posh voice (it sounds a bit a review, if you do go and check them out, ParanorMaL anD ThE @GMaIL.CoM anD delivered a little like a Bond girl narrating some songs), a bit don’t tell them I sent you. nIGhT VISIon CaMEraS WE’LL TELL YoU darker and a lot arty, electrical accompaniment and relatively As this is my last doormat (a replacement myspace.com/paranormalandthenightvi- WhErE To SEnD less poppy, but massive production values hold it together and is already inline apparently, they’re probably sioncameras YoUr STUFF. bound to appeal while it all works well it’s just too hard to get great) I’m going to use my powers for good. nonetheless. excited about. Beautiful Oblivion is probably KaT FLInT, reviewed in the first doormat, Cute that they the best of an album that goes on for much has just finished recording her new album. Sarah nIxEY have to mark too long and never feels like anything but Annoyingly it proves that record companies myspace.com/sarahnixey gigs as for over 14’s only too since being background music. still aren’t paying enough attention as she’s reviewed in Kerrang. Hearing the sound of an accordion was had to rope in her fans to pay to pre-order Clearly hearing that I am welcoming quite a relief to be honest and ParanorMaL an album that doesn’t yet exist. Despite anything a bit related to Guitar Hero, anD ThE nIGhT VISIon CaMEraS are a people, including those with a financial FaThEr oF Boon MY PrIVaTE hELL flung a CD over from fair bit different to the previous artist. The first interest, having access to so much great myspace.com/boonfather the other side of the pond. Once again loud track sounds like a French busker, the second music so easily, clearly people still need is a fair description with screams and like Velvet Underground and the third starts jabbing in the right direction. Which at least guitars mixing the way only screams and sounding a little like ELO. It’s clear you’re in means this still feels like it has a point and guitars can... but it just doesn’t quite all hold alternative territory, but it’s good enough to it feels nice to help out, even if it is just a together. Tracks have moments that work have snuck onto a Festive 50 list, it’s different little bit. KaT FLInT well, but it feels a bit too messy and if not in and while they’re not the most cheerful souls I Hopefully my replacement will agree. myspace.com/katflint music/reviews

hey may sport the most though, it lends a thrilling, improvised t a time when clever, inventive album to life, giving an edge to the Tmisleading band name since feel to it without detracting from the apop songs feel almost like a likes of In Context and Working To The Eagles of Death Metal, but it’s songs themselves. Opening track thing of the past, Field Music are a Work. Other highlights include the hard to imagine Acoustic Ladyland’s Road of Bones is a prime example - welcome - and overdue - breath of second track, Sit Tight (which is eclectic, experimental jazz rock it leads from a quiet melody fresh air. Tones of Town is their rounded off with some excellent up to their bizarre adage. If anything, into a sudden roar of guitars, before second album in less than two years, beat-boxing) and album closer She the homage is an appropriate one: winding back down with some slow and it’s better than most bands Can Do What She Wants, but really there are several moments of new sax. Other highlights include the could do in four. Layered, melodic there isn’t a bad track on here. Do album Skinny Grin that bear no brilliant single Cuts And Lies, and guitar pop is what these guys are all yourself a favour, and pick this up. slight return to Hendrix-style jams - fast-paced instrumental That Night. about, with strings, vocal harmonies James Hamilton AcOusTIc albeit with saxophone in place of the James Hamilton FIELD MusIc and delicate keys bringing vibrancy LADyLAnD guitar. There are plenty of other TOnEs OF and colour to every song. The guitar skInny GRIn influences thrown in as well, giving TOwn work is generally subtle and each song an unpredictable, understated, providing memorable sometimes chaotic feel. Rather than hooks throughout - but the disrupting the flow of the album HHHHH drumming is what really brings the HHHHH “plenTy of influences THrown in, “Tones of Town is THeir second album giving eacH song an unpredicTable, in less THan Two years, and iT’s beTTer someTimes cHaoTic feel” THan mosT bands could do in four”

ften lazily described as “The the chiming Ragoo and anthemic revious Aereogramme LPs are clear cinematic feel that works as osouthern strokes”, such Fans are two of their best tunes to pnot only bursting with an almost the perfect accompaniment for the comparisons do Tennessee’s kings date. Topped and tailed by savage anger (singer craig B often themes of love and loss that of Leon few favours, particularly as widescreen epics Knocked Up and exploding into a deep, primal permeate the LP. This is hugely their sophomore effort “Aha Shake Arizona, …Times lacks the frantic scream) but at their core tightly recommended listening from a much Heartbreak” showed a level of urgency of their previous albums, but structured guitars and poignantly overlooked band. progression and invention that made replaces it with superior songwriting tough lyrical insight. new LP My ian moreno-melgar their new york brethren look and skill. Difficult third album?y ou’d Heart... differs at a most obvious decidedly stale. This, their third never have guessed. level by removing the screams and studio release, is a much bolder, chris schilling replacing them with strings. Violins kInGs OF more experimental work that takes AEREO- are now the band’s weapon of LEOn some time to show its hand, but GRAMME choice adding another layer to the BEcAusE OF given a few listens will be lodged in My HEART dense structural compositions that THE TIMEs your brain for just as long as its HAs A now swell and sweep beautifully. forebears. The punky charmer wIsH THAT Each track was apparently written revisits Bleach-era nirvana, while HHHHH yOu wOuLD with a film in mind and there’s a HHHHH “THis, THeir THird sTudio release, is a nOT GO “violins are now THe band’s weapon of mucH bolder, more experimenTal work cHoice, adding anoTHer layer To THe THaT Takes Time To sHow iTs Hand” dense sTrucTural composiTions” film & tv

dm6/film&tv

currently watching . . . dexter / / keane / click / the science of sleep film&tv/dexter

words: Chris sChilling desIgn: ANDREW CAMPBELL dex appeal

It’s caused quIte a stIr In the us, and now It’s on Its way over here. dark, dry, and delIcIously dIfferent, dexter could well be the best new amerIcan tv show sInce the wIre. dIsposable medIa takes a look at thIs ‘slIce of lIfe’ drama.

ot many TV shows have a pilot new favourite programme. Assuming you’ve episode which features the lead not already downloaded it from the internet, nprotagonist brutally murdering that is. someone, but then not many TV shows are if there’s not many shows like Dexter, then like showtime’s Dexter: a dark, creepy and that’s because there aren’t many heroes like intense of a series which - when FX Dexter Morgan. A blood-spatter analyst finally gets round to showing it in the UK working for the Miami Police Department by over summer - might just become your day, it’s his out-of-hours activities that make film&tv/dexter him stand out from the crowd. His nine-to-five kills prostitutes, before freezing their bodies has him solving murders, but by night he’s and slicing them to pieces, arranging each one committing them - a serial killer who preys in a gruesome tableau - for a very specific only on those who really deserve it. This reason. As it turns out , the killer has a aspect to Dexter’s slayings make him connection to Dexter, knowing far more about ostensibly the good guy, but can someone him than we viewers do ourselves, and Season who kills in cold blood ever be the hero? One follows this story to a devastating When he’s played so expertly by Michael C conclusion, throwing in several intriguing Hall (who you may remember as David from revelations along the way. the majestic Six Feet Under) then yes - yes, As you may expect from the descriptions he can. Hall makes Dexter seem disarmingly above, Dexter is certainly not a family show. normal; friendly, charming and all too human, Each murder scene is shown in explicitly all the while hiding his dark secret from his graphic detail, while the later flashbacks to a colleagues. Yet, when the situation calls for it particularly disturbing part of Dexter’s past are he’s cold, calculating and brutal - stalking his gory and frightening. Yet despite all this horror, potential victims with forensic precision, then it’s a surprisingly funny show - often finding Which is something that could be said for sedating them until they wake up, naked and laughs from the darkest moments with a pretty much everyone in the show. These are bound to a table, ready for some surgery that wicked streak of jet-black . It’s the kind unusually fleshed-out characters - an aspect will have them shuffling off this mortal coil a of programme where you find yourself atypical of so many modern US dramas - little earlier than they’d planned. laughing when you feel you shouldn’t be - which helps make the show such a The show (and Hall himself) never lets you such as the moment when one of Dexter’s consistently brilliant treat. While one or two forget that Dexter is a troubled individual - victims fails to show remorse for his crimes. episodes may dip below the quality watermark frequent sequences flesh outis h “But I’m not sorry,” he shrills. “Neither am I,” set by the pilot (the occasional lapse into disturbing , gradually revealing the deadpans Dexter as he applies the killer blow. soapiness, or the earlier “murder of the week” tortured past behind this complex character. Further laughs come from Dexter’s leanings), overall it’s a remarkably solid first Dexter is raised by his foster father Harry, who sex-obsessed assistant Vince Masuka, whose season, with a final stretch that piles on the soon realises he’s not like other kids, and frequent crude comments at the most twists and character revelations. It will almost initially encourages him to sate his thirst for inappropriate moments bring a much-needed certainly have viewers on the edge of their “the fBI estImates that there sofas, wishing for the next episode to come are less than 50 serIal kIllers killing by slaying woodland creatures. Then levity to proceedings. Similarly, his love-hate Harry realises that Dexter’s ‘talent’ can be put relationship with ball-busting hardass round as quickly as possible. actIve In the u.s. today. we don’t to better use, instilling in him a moral code Sergeant Doakes (a wonderfully gruff Erik Its quality makes it all the more surprising get together at conventIons, that has Dexter hunting down people who’ve King) is a highlight; their verbal - and later that Dexter hasn’t been garlanded with share trade secrets, or escaped justice, and ensuring they can never physical - sparring adds tension, as awards; Hall has had nods from the Screen commit such crimes ever again. The Doakes’ hunch that Dex has something to Actors Guild and The Golden Globes but exchange chrIstmas cards. But neither resulted in wins, while Benz picked up sometImes I wonder what It’s aforementioned opening sequence has Dexter hide starts creating a fractious atmosphere killing a paedophile who has raped and in the department. the series’ only trophy so far for Best lIke for others.” murdered several children, and each episode Indeed, the performances across the Supporting Actress in the US’s Satellite — dexter morgan follows a similar path, with various miscreants board deserve praise - Julie Benz as Awards. It’s clear that this dark night of the being tailed by Dexter throughout the hour- Dexter’s girlfriend Rita (“I chose her soul isn’t to all critics’ tastes, but it’s bound to long programme, interspersed with snapshots because she was damaged”) brings a tragic pick up rave reviews - and likely some Daily of his daily forensic work. pathos to the role, while David Zayas’ Mail outrage - when it eventually debuts over His job winds up as part of a season-long detective Angel is charismatic and hugely here. But while Dexter’s internal darkness as Dexter finds himself on the trail of likeable. The Exorcism Of Emily Rose’s might be off-putting to some, it’s impossible a rival serial killer - but one who doesn’t have Jennifer Carpenter initially seems the weak not to recommend to anyone who likes their the same moral code as our anti-hero. Dubbed link as Dexter’s foster sister, but later episodes TV witty, gritty and adult. As drama series go, the Ice Truck Killer, the murderer in question show her to have hidden depths. it’s a killer. film&tv/reviews

uper-cop Nicholas Angel shotgun-toting Granny drop-kicked he first half ofClick is a great strangely underwhelming. And as S() is sent to the in the face. TAdam Sandler comedy, with the focus changes in an attempt perfect crime-free village in the The cast all perform superbly - some deliciously cruel jokes at the to moralise itself above similar country only to discover the villagers especially as Angel’s new expense of his neighbour’s git of a films, such as Jim Carrey’s are hiding a grisly secret. Think partner, PC Danny Butterman. He son, and an incredibly sexy Bruce Almighty, the second half Midsomer Murders with more provides the emotion and is the supporting role by Kate Beckinsale. really drags. murders and humour thrown in and funny man to Pegg’s straight man. The story of an undervalued Finishing off with a clichéd plot you’re half way there. A much needed shot in the arm architect, it utilises the likes of twist sours the enjoyment you’ve had The story flicks between action, to the local film industry, showing David Hasselhoff and a stuffed duck, from the one-liners and set-pieces, comedy and horror which there’s more to British cinema than to great effect, as Sandler’s and you’re left with a film which is surprisingly all works together to just rom-com’s. character gets a universal remote only really for hardcore fans of provide enough laughs, spooks and Paul Blakeley control which really does control Sandler and Beckinsale. action to keep most viewers happy. the universe. dan Thornton It’s possibly too long, but certain But there are some warning scenes are side-splittingly funny - signs early on, with the oddball HoT Fuzz you haven’t lived until you’ve seen a HHHHH ClICK character of Christopher Walken (15) (12) HHHHH “Think MidSoMer MurderS wiTh More “a clichéd SourS The //director: MurderS and huMour Thrown in and //director: enjoyMenT you’ve had froM The one- you’re half way There.” frank coraci linerS and SeT-PieceS”

ight close ups, no formal schizophrenia and the viewer is ou know how dreams are often It’s a complicated story of Tnarrative structure, lack of pushed further away from empathy yhard to describe objectively to friendship, love, ambition, family and obvious soundtrack and made in 32 into ultimately sorrow - his actions another person - at once a real all the randomness that goes into days; there is no doubt that Keane driven by guilt, remorse, loss and experience, but upon waking, too making our nighttime escapades so bears many hallmarks of an anger - our reaction driven by worry. unreal to make sense? Gondry, best strange, yet familiar. When the . That it competes The is slow, events known for his music , captures boundary between sleep and real life emotionally, visually and as uncomfortable to watch and the this perfectly in his third feature- breaks down, this is what comes out powerfully as any other film made in film ‘ends’ with no resolution but length, but still not quite - a mix of languages, visuals, truth the last 12 months is testament to what you put into the film you conventional, film. and fabrication, that you will want to its craftsmanship. certainly reap - Keane is a painfully If you’ve seen Everlong by the see more than once. The ever versatile Damien lewis evocative film that scares as much , you’ll recognise the big rachel wild is the titular William Keane, a man as it does inspire. hands; the craft material-inspired spiralling into mental illness after his ian Moreno-Melgar landscapes from Bjork’s daughter goes missing. As the film Bachelorette form the surreal KeANe progresses, Keane’s behaviour THe SCIeNCe backdrops to Stephane’s half-in, (15) comes to show clear symptoms of HHHHH oF SleeP half-out dream episodes. HHHHH “TighT cloSe uPS, no forMal (15) “a Mix of languageS, viSualS, TruTh and //director: , lack of oBviouS //director: faBricaTion, ThaT you will wanT To See lodge kerrigan SoundTrack and Made in 32 dayS” michel gondry More Than once” comics

dm6/comics

currently reading . . . the death of captain marvel / blankets / gray horses / copper / emo boy / civil war comics/retrospective words: Dan ThornTon desIgn: rachel WilD the death oF captaIn marvel many comIc heroes have dIed In battle. but the end For one changed thIngs Forever.

But in death he became honoured by his handled by Starlin’s artwork alone, allowing the fellow superheroes on earth, his sworn enemy shared moments to speak to the reader. the Skrulls, and all the more, by the first graphic In two full page images, the heroes of the ever published by Marvel. The cover even Marvel universe are first pictured assembled to featured an homage to visit the dying Mar-Vell, and on the back cover Michelangelos’s Pieta, with Mar-vell and the behind his grave to pay their respects. The Grim Reaper replacing Jesus and Mary. impact of these images seems a likely starting His epitaph begins, appropriately enough, point for the mass-hero mini-series with Mar-Vell starting to record his that followed in Galaxy Wars. t’s easy to be cynical after The autobiography. It’s only when a Mar-Vell himself struggles to Death Of Superman in 1993. routine fight leaves him struggling accept his fate, in light of his INow, when a superhero shuffles for breath that the nature of his superhuman powers, but his off the mortal coil, you expect them to return in illness becomes public knowledge, final moments are spent in a a new costume and four different holographic and the world learns what he has symbolic battle. His arch enemy covers. Back in 1982 things were different, already discovered via his cosmic Thanos “who is death and the and 25 years later The Death of Captain powers – he’s dying from cancer. lover of death” finally helps Marvel is still one of the most moving The story is as much about the Mar-Vell to resign himself to his moments in comic history. Editor-in- reactions of others as it is about fate, and succumb to the kiss of Chief Jim Starlin came to the title the death of a superhero. The death herself. knowing it would be cancelled, and emotions of his family, friends and The book doesn’t just feel in the process brought many a enemies are all beautifully studied, like a farewell to Captain Marvel, comic fan close to tears. Indeed, doubtless due to the loss of Jim but also to Jim Starlin’s father, aside from the 2007 story Starlin’s own father from the same and as such, the emotion pours Civil War: The Return (set before his death), disease just a few months earlier. from every panel. Years before the original Mar-Vell is one of the few The greatest graphic characters to be left to rest in peace. heroic minds “For death Is knockIng at my door, and Ignoring the DC Comics character of the are forced to not all my power can keep hIm out.” became same name, this character was the first question why they have never devoted acceptable adult reading, lined up in your local from the Marvel comic company to themselves to curing this deadly disease until it bookshop, this was a story that could be used carry the Captain Marvel title, as alien has affected one of their own, whilst Marvel’s to show the emotional impact possible in the military officer Mar-Vell of the Kree. greatest superheroes take turns visiting the comic format. Despite celebrating it’s 25th Originally sent to observe earth, bedside of their fallen comrade. Anniversary this year, the timeless skill of Starlin he decides to protect humanity, No reader can blame Spider-Man, when he – and the fact that cancer is still such a deadly and as a result, becomes a runs from Captain Marvel’s bedside, unable to disease which touches so many people – traitor in the eyes of his own deal with the situation. Scenes such as Mar-Vell makes the story just as poignant today as when warlike race. revealing his fate to his lover, Elysius, are it was written. comics/indie MAnTeAU de neige HAVe YoU eVer... Words & design: RACHEL WILD

...ArgUed WiTH An AnnoYing LiTTLe BroTHer? ...goT in TroUBLe WiTH YoUr PArenTs? ...Been AWAY on CAMP? ...FeLT oUT oF PLACe? ...PLAYed in THe snoW? ...drAWn A PiCTUre? ...THroWn iT AWAY? ...LeFT HoMe? ...gone To Uni? ...HAd A Crisis oF FAiTH? ...FALLen in LoVe? ...groWn UP?

eading a fairly hefty graphic novel One of the unique selling points of comics is whilst on a 4 day trip to France, in the ability to pick up hints from the artwork even rFrench, is not necessarily to be when you can’t quite understand the nuances recommended, especially when you aren’t of the dialogue, and hopefully you’ll soon come exactly fluent in the language. However, when to realise why this book is worth picking up in the book in question is Craig Thompson’s whatever shape or form is available. >>> Blankets, and this is the first ever time you’ve been able to get your hands on it, you can be forgiven for only getting half way through and having an unshakeable misconception that it’s set in Paris, even though all the signs point to the author’s North American homelands. comics/indie et’s start from the beginning shall we? is feeling, you can see how Craig the success, from literary as well as comic industry Blankets is largely autobiographical; character’s mind is working through his press. Unusually for a writer/creator/artist, a lot Blankets, along with Craig Thompson’s La coming-of-age retelling of Craig sketches rather than thought bubbles. Once of the applause has fallen on the ‘cartooning’ - other award-winning books, Goodbye Thompson’s own experiences growing up again, as with a lot of indie comics, Thompson tells a good it’LL be the pictures that Chunky Rice and Carnet de Voyage, are amidst an evangelical Christian family, a fraught the art is all black and white, but in a story, but - possibly published by Top Shelf Productions. relationship with a little brother, a girl he really, way that’s like a personal diary break your heart more more importantly in the often than the words They also look after such indie stars as Andy really likes, and lots and lots of snow. Basically compared to a full colour magazine, graphic novel world - Runton (Owly), James Kochalka (American it all comes down to real it just feels right. The cover he draws it gorgeously too. Elf) and Jeffrey Brown (Clumsy, Every Girl is life human emotions, “the idea was to try and of the English edition allows It’s such a classic that it’s a shame it has to describe what it feeLs Like The End of the World For Me) who will be in expressed on the page in a a blue hue to replace the end. Unfortunately the ending, when you finally the U.K. in May to visit Page 45 in way that nearly everyone to sLeep next to someone greys inside, but not much get there after over 500 pages, might be a bit for the first time.” Nottingham and Comic Expo in Bristol. Top should be able to relate to. more is needed. Some of a letdown. It’s better to be forewarned. Shelf also have some awesome According to Thompson himself, the novel grew things are better left unsaid y’know? This is Because after the rollercoaster of adolescence, on their site at www.topshelfcomix.com. out of the idea to try and describe what it feels not a documentary biopic, it’s a narrative, seen isn’t that what adulthood is anyway? Stable, See also: www.page45.com, like to sleep next to someone for the first time. from one perspective, totally subjective and steady, who wouldn’t be disappointed? But it’s www.comicexpo.net and Craig Thompson’s This theme of growing up, moving on, forming creatively remembered. the experience that makes it worthwhile, makes website at www.dootdootgarden.com your own decisions and finding your own Either way, all this was enough to gain it what it becomes, and gives us memories (and identity, with all the new experiences it brings - Blankets numerous awards and raving critical comic books) worth holding on to. how can anyone not empathise with it? Obviously for some, it’s a little too close to home - a Missouri library had to remove it from the shelves when protesters deemed it pornographic - and fair enough, it’s definitely not suitable for kids, mostly because they simply wouldn’t get it. The inherent complexity of emotions in real life are drawn out for all to see and while there’s not enough shown to excite ‘adult’ fans, aspiring adulthood is what the book is all about. Craig’s relationship with his school friends, his parents, his little brother, his religion, even his hair, go through enormous changes throughout the story, whilst his new relationship with a girl called Raina provides the catalyst. So, reading through in English, is it any better? Well, first off, you appreciate how much the visual language contributes to the story. The art complements the words, making up for things that dialogue alone can’t say, and providing the emotional landscape behind each chapter. It’ll be the pictures that break your heart more often than the words, once again echoing real life. Craig in the book is also an artist, and just as Craig the writer draws how he comics/reviews

t’s not unfair to say that if you like strange, wallpaper-inspired dreams, n these cynical times, it’s hardly America and iron Man now as IBryan Lee O’Malley’s work (Scott by day she explores life in America - Isurprising to think of a crossover leaders at loggerheads. Pilgrim, Lost at Sea) then you’ll like finding friends, and ultimately event as nothing more than a Millar’s intelligent writing enables this for a number of reasons. Firstly, herself, in three-coloured, rounded marketing ploy to shift more comics. a thought-provoking with Oni Press publishes them both. frame, graphic novel loveliness. Often that cynicism is justified but the U.S.’s own Patriot Act without Secondly the art style is quite similar, Rachel Wild not in this case. Marvel’s Civil War feeling forced. The storyline is a and lastly because he and Hope event is a worthy one, thanks largely natural one and brings a realistic Larson are a couple. Gray Horses to the pertinent premise; a touch to an otherwise fantastical deserves more than just a ‘sounds Superhuman registration Act is genre. McNiven’s pencils are crisp like’ review though because it comes introduced following the death of and detailed throughout, although into it’s own with dual language hundreds of people due to an did cause some delays during the dialogue - the , Noémie is over-zealous superhuman battle. seven issue run. No matter, it was a French exchange student - and Naturally such an act divides opinion well worth the wait. adorable visual onomatopoeia and throughout the Marvel Universe and andrew campbell attention to detail on every page. At quickly factions are created, with GrAy HOrSeS night she explores the meaning of HHHHH CiviL WAr former Avenger allies Captain (ONi PreSS) (MArveL) HHHHH “comes Into It’s oWn WIth dual “mIllaR’s IntellIgent WRItIng enables a language dIalogue and adoRable Mark Millar thought-pRovokIng allegoRy WIth the Hope Larson vIsual onomatopoeIa” & Steve McNiven u.s.’s oWn patRIot act”

opper is *technically* a a bargain. The only catch is that you mo Boy is an emo superhero. Why Don’t We All Just Die? are cwebcomic. it’s a self-contained have to wait 2 months or so in eNo, he’s not that guy out of My not for trendy teens, but for lovers story on one page, about a boy and between instalments, but sign up for Chemical romance, and while he of black humour and those who his dog and the adventures they find the mailing list, and wait to have this does have floppy hair, he’s certainly can recall their own angst-ridden themselves on which turn out to little bit of gorgeousness brighten up no geek chic fashion icon for the high school diaries wishing to see teach important lessons about life. your in-box considerably. Myspace generation. He is truly them illustrated in an appropriately yes, it sounds cheesy. it sounds like http://www.boltcity.com/copper melancholy hardcore emo. He is so nearly self-published, black and a billion other ‘comics’ out there on Rachel Wild emo, he can’t kiss a girl without white format. the internet, but with one important making her explode. His only friend Rachel WIld distinction. This guy can draw. He is the fat girl who has a crush on can break your heart and have you him, his power makes him wondering if a cartoon dog could be want to cry and he writes Smashing psychic, in merely seven panels. He Pumpkins-esque over star- can give you free art that will make scribbled pages. issues 1-6, COPPer you want to spend 20 dollars on a eMO BOy #1-6 collected in Volume 1: Nobody (WeB COMiC) print for your wall which will *still* be HHHHH (SLAve Cares About Anything Anyway, So HHHHH “kazu can gIve you fRee aRt that WIll LABOUr “hIs supeR poWeR makes hIm Want to cRy make you Want to spend $20 on a pRInt GrAPHiCS) and he WRItes smashIng pumpkIns-esque Kazu Kibuishi WhIch WIll *stIll* be a baRgaIn” Steve Emond poetRy oveR staR-scRIbbled pages.” gallery

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