Wednesday 28 October 2009

coldsnstuff...


In case you haven’t guessed by the changing of the leaves from green to gold, the shortening of the days and the fact that it happens every year at around this time; winter is upon us. Yes-siree the time has come to dig out your winter hat and gloves and prepare your self for the imminent attack from cold and flu viruses. No one is immune to the common cold (the average adult catches two to four colds a year.) It’s ok when you’re a child and you can rely on a day off school as well as being tended to by family who ply you with lemon and honey tea and Cowpol (yum.) But now we are ‘adults’ and have work obligations and essay deadlines to meet we do not have the luxury of being able to take a couple of days off and not just that; no one actually wants to be ill. I have done some intense scientific research and come to the conclusion that there are several different stages of illness predominant in the student-type-persons. Firstly there is the most common ‘snotty nose and cough’ stage, then the headache, the sweats, followed the highly undesirable 24 hour dihorreah and vom combo alternatively there is the hypochondriac stage (usually just a hangover.)
And so, as I’m such a gem, I decided to extend upon the Department of Health’s genius ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ campaign in order to help you lovely Bath Spa folk shun the sniffles. What follows is a thoroughly researched and some may say controversial Do’s and Don’ts guide to avoiding illness this winter (not actual medical advice!)

DO: Maintain good hygiene by regularly washing your hands with hot water and soap.

DON’T: spend your weekends hanging out at Bath’s drop in centre.
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DO: Wear appropriate clothing, wrap up warm; short skirts and knee high socks may look good but no one looks good with a hacking cough and runny nose.

DON’T: start up a new hobby of smoking in a bid to be more like style icon Dot Cotton.

DO: Get plenty of rest to help strengthen your immune system (that’s more than three hours a night)

DON’T: continually touch your eyes and mouth after travelling on public transport, handy tip; if taking the orange bus into uni make sure you wear gloves and maybe even some swimming goggles (one can never be to careful!)

DO: preserve a well balanced diet - this does not include microwave meals and domino’s pizza.

DON’T: embark on a mission to break a world record of how many naked people you can fit into an outdoor pool mid November.

I would also recommend checking out Holland and Barrett’s super BOGOF offer and if all else fails I’m afraid you’re beyond all reasonable help, I suggest bombarding your local GP with phone calls regarding the symptoms of swine flue! Happy cold season!

Friday 23 October 2009

Venue Reviews BRIZZOL!


heeeem, so, this is another peice for the uni mag.. just some short reviews on Brizzol's best bars and clubs..so yeah.



If anyone said the night life in bath was brilliant they were lying, there are only so many times you can haunt a place before Moles becomes morose, Back to Mine becomes boring and Second Bridge becomes samey. So I suggest checking out the club and bar scene in Bristol, it’s only a £6 (and 15 minute) train ride and provides a wealth of different scenes. To begin with there are some great bars like Mr Wolfs which is a small, friendly and unique independent bar who claim to support diversity and showcase some of Bristol and beyond best acts, including Bath based Bath spa graduates Boy.Com who played there last Friday to a great crowd. Wolfs even serve delicious fresh noodles ‘till one in the morning from right behind the bar so you will never be hungry after all the dancing! Then there is Start the Bus in the heart of the centre of town another live music and DJ bar that caters for the painfully cool (and yet surprisingly friendly) kids of Bristol. Start the Bus have played host to such acts as The Filthy Dukes and Appleblim. With a great range of draft beers and cider as well as a great menu you can’t really go wrong with this quirky looking bar. In regards to clubs Bristol is home to some very popular super-clubs like Brizzol’s biggest club Syndicate (great for serious night-clubbers) and Motion skate park/club (great for the dubstep fans out there) but for those who like a smaller venue but with the same great atmosphere Theckla is a great place to start. Thekla is in fact a club on a boat which is moored in Bristol’s mud dock, so if you ever fancied raving it up pirate stylee then this is the place for you. Thekla is also a forerunner in promoting new and old artists over the summer hosting LaRoux, Esser and kissy Sell Out and many more. With two floors and a great smoking area that makes you feel like you’re on a cruse Thekla is a great night out however I would warn that if you want to see an artist in particular it is essential that you book tickets in advance (unless you want to be in a queue for an hour or so!) Thekla also has some regular club nights catering for all tastes including Hospitality; a massive drum and bass and hip hop night (first Friday of the month), Blowpop a indie night and Socialism for all you alternative dance fans (fourth Friday). So if you’re ever tempted to venture outside of the underground confines of Bath’s club scene I would strongly recommend it, a 5 seeter taxi costs around £30 which isn’t too bad split 5 ways or alternatively for all you hard core party people the first train back to bath goes at 5.30am and from personal experiences the benches outside Temple Meads just don’t compare to a nice warm bed!

Thursday 22 October 2009

October Album Reviews <3


Holla people, have been doing some writing for the uni Mag H20 and this is what i sent in (who knows if it will be used though!) have just been spending the day listening some new albums that have been relesed this month and have enjoyed myself very much, especially The XX (pic on the left) who i would strongly you check out!


Enjoy!



ARTIST: DIONNE BROMFIELD
ALBUM: INTRODUCING DIONNE BROMFIELD (Lioness records)
Kent’s Baby faced new soul singer and Amy Winehouse god-daughter and protégé Dionne Bromfield’s debut album has been eagerly awaited by the hard core bee-hive sporting Wino fans amongst us. Introducing Dionne Bromfield is a 12 track cover album and Dionne’s voice is undeniably good, however it is seems a lazy choice of material. The album includes My Boy Lollipop and mowtown super-anthem Aint no Mountain High Enough and Bromfield just doesn’t compare to the originals (who can compare to Marvin and Stevie!?) That Said Introducing Dionne Bromfield is a fun upbeat album which rightfully reclaims some classic mowtown and soul tunes into the mainstream. Mama Said, the first track release is a infections and will get you tapping your foot along, without a doubt there are big things on the horizon for this girl once she gets some new material to really show off her voice.
ARTIST: SHAKIRA
ALBUM: SHE WOLF (Sony records)
Did you know that Columbian born Shakira is the fourth richest (and surely bendiest) woman in music? Well she is and how can you not fall in love with the first track and album namesake She wolf especially with lyrics such as ‘I’m starting to feel just a little abused, like a coffee machine in an office.’ She Wolf opens with Shakira proclaiming that she is a ‘she wolf’ (albeit a bendy, hairless, leotard sporting she wolf) a funky disco bass riff like something off a CSS album, Shakira’s more modern electro tunes are a result of collaborating with producers Pharrell Williams (NERD)and John Hill who has worked with the likes of Santogold. What sets Shakira apart from the rest of the chart-pop-tarts out there is that she is odd! The album is worth a listen to even if its just to laugh at the lyrics!
ARTIST: THE XX
ALBUM: XX (The Young Turks records)
South London quartet The XX with duo male and female vocalists Romy Madley croft and Oliver smith their music has a dark emotive sound not dissimilar to the brilliant Whitest Boy Alive, fusing indie, post punk, electronic and dance with beautiful dulcet vocals. Track four on the album ‘islands’ is an achingly beautiful love song with simple yet stunning vocals proclaiming “I am yours now/ so I never have to leave/ I’ve been found out/ now I’ll never explore” Islands epitomises the brilliance of the foursome and how easy to like they are. The XX should rightfully be proud of themselves being self produced by their own synth-and-bass player Jamie Smith. The band are all graduates from London’s Elliott school who produced the likes of Mercury award winning dubstep wunderkind Burial and electro pop kings Hot Chip. With such shoes to fill one would think they would be daunted but this album is atmospheric and haunting and definitely recommended.




ARTIST: DJ TIESTO
ALBUM: KALEIDOSCOPE
I must admit I don’t know a great deal about house music but that doesn’t mean I am not happy to give it a listen, especially when I heard some of the people who have helped out Dutch House maestro DJ Tiesto. With the likes of ‘I’m like a bird’ singer Nelly Furtardo, Block Party’s Kele Okereke and even Iceland’s second most famous warbler (after Bjork, of course) Jónsi of Sigur Rós fame. With such a eclectic group of artist you would expect a slightly more varied album but it seems Tiesto has rolled all his musical mates up and cut them with a house-music cookie cutter and the tracks hardly any variation. Kaleidoscope isn’t a bad album however I imagine the next time I will listen to it will be when I hear it blaring out the speakers of a Honda civic ;)