Hello lovely AM readers!
It would be impossible to start this weekly update without mentioning top story of the week, Lockdown take #3. This week has the UK has returned to a national lockdown leaving many of us stuck in a groundhog scenario of remote working/learning, home workouts, Netflix binges and procrastination walks for the foreseeable future. Not exactly the ideal way to start a new year but sadly a necessary sacrifice.
From us here at AM- we hope you are all staying safe and look forward to a time where we can all be sipping gin and watching live music together again some time in the (hopefully) not too distant future!
With all of us back in lockdown it will come as no surprise that we have been indulging in the best that streaming has to offer. The added bonus of this has been the discovery of some brilliant soundtracks notably, The Crown Season 4 which has impressed greatly through the combination of Martin Phipps‘s regal original compositions juxtaposed against classic eighties-tracks to capture the spirit of the era. It is a beautiful combination that showcases the importance of music as a poignant narrative device.
Similarly, Netflix costume drama Bridgerton has been causing a stir partly for it’s impeccable dresses and risqué (thirsty) content… however also due to it’s brilliant soundtrack that combines modern pop with a period drama aesthetic. It manages this by covering tracks such as ‘bad guy’ by Billie Eilish and ‘thank u, next’ by Ariana Grande, transforming them into instrumental performances executed by the wonderful Vitamin String Quartet. Be sure to check it out for a truly eclectic listening experience!
For those of you who have started to feel the visual fatigue of streaming, podcasts have surely been top of your agenda. Personally, I have been absolutely devouring a huge variety of podcasts as not only are they brilliant to listen to whilst on a walk, they also make me feel slightly less guilty about my increasing screen time!
This week my podcast recommendation has to be The Cipher, a BBC Sounds thriller which has had me hooked! It is a fiction podcast starring Anya Chalotra and Chance Perdomo that follows a gripping adventure full of codebreaking, murder and AI. Listening to this has totally got me back into audiobooks and reminded me of their ability to provide an instant escape from reality. Something I’m sure we could all do with right now!
If you are sick to death with home workouts and feel the need for a new approach, ‘Get Buzzing’ with Bez’ could be the antidote for you. In a fairly surprising move, Mark “Bez” Berry best known for his role as maraca playing dancer for Madchester band The Happy Mondays, has announced that he will be launching a YouTube fitness channel to inspire people to get moving! Who knows, maybe we have a new fitness guru to keep an eye out for…
Five years after his death, fans of the late David Bowie have been joining together to celebrate what would have been his 74th birthday and simultaneosly, reminiscing about his iconic legacy. On the 9th January, a star studded line up would come together to perform as part of a live streamed tribute concert in his honour.
As always, if you would like to get in touch with Apocalypse Music drop us an email at apocalypsemusicsite@gmail.com and follow us on social media!
Words by Hermione Kellow
Photo © Apocalypse Music
