Month: July 2021

First impressions: HBO’s The White Lotus is an understated representation of exaggerated comedy

The first episode of The White Lotus, the latest darkly comedic effort from the mind of Mike White (Enlightened), sets itself up as a more humorous Big Little Lies, offering a seasonal hook in the first few minutes that suggests the titular paradisal resort is anything but. A stoic Shane (Jake Lacy) sits at an…

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Interview: Don Cheadle on playing a villain in Space Jam: A New Legacy and sharing the court with LeBron James

No stranger to the world of CGI wizardry and starring alongside names of sizeable weight, Don Cheadle is utilising both his talent and knowledge for his latest big screen venture – Space Jam: A New Legacy – opposite Los Angeles Lakers MVP, LeBron James.  Talking with our own Peter Gray ahead of the anticipated sequel’s…

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9 acts you won’t want to miss at Brisbane Comedy Festival

Kicking off just as mask restrictions (hopefully!) ease in Brisbane next week, the Brisbane Comedy Festival has got a stellar line-up planned for its 2021 iteration. With so much to choose from, including legends such as Ross Noble, Akmal, Cal Wilson, and Jimeoin, as well as internet sensations Nat’s What I Reckon and Christian Hull,…

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What is Georgian Cuisine? 5 Mouth-Watering Dishes To Eat Before You Die (And How!)

The Republic of Georgia is a land nestled within the gorgeous Caucasian mountain range and is home to many things – friendly faces, rich history, beautiful scenery and, of course, food to die for. If you’ve never tried Georgian cuisine, let me sum it up into two simple words: cheese and wine. Food plays an essential part…

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all trailers State of Play

All the trailers from today’s PlayStation State of Play

We’ve rounded up all the trailers from today’s PlayStation State of Play broadcast in one convenient place! There were some surprise announcements, like a sequel to beloved PSVR hit Moss and new looks at previously announced titles like Lost Judgment. However, Sony saved the best for last with a nine-minute look at Arkane Studios’ upcoming…

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How To Celebrate Your Birthday From Home

After a year filled with different activities and emotions, people always look at their birthday as a sign of hope to make new plans for a better future. Typically, many people celebrate the occasion in many places – bars, an office event, or at a friend’s house. However, in many places of the world right…

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Anticipated Books

The AU’s Most Anticipated Books of 2021: Jul – Sep

We’re over halfway through the year. How are your 2021 reading goals going? Have all the mini snap lockdowns around the country had you turning to a good book? We’re back to take a look at a handful of the new titles coming out across the next couple of months. With so many books published each…

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State of Play Australian times

Where to catch Friday’s PlayStation State of Play in Australian times

PlayStation has announced the next episode of its State of Play broadcasts will kick off, in Australian times, Friday morning, July 9. The broadcast will be largely dedicated to Arkane Studios’ upcoming PS5 exclusive Deathloop.  Sony says this segment will run about nine minutes out of the twenty-minute broadcast. For more on Deathloop, you can…

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Dust of Us

Sydney electronic duo Dust of Us share their favourite Sydney spots

Sydney electronic duo Dust of Us recently released their latest EP, Never Had The Time. This is a collection of seven songs, imbued in moody vocals and succinct layered electronica. We were crushing on the track “Punching Bag” when it was dropped late last year, and have been keenly anticipating the release of this EP. It…

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Tkay Maidza

Album of the Week: Tkay Maidza – Last Year Was Weird Vol. 3 (2021 EP)

It’s about time Australia and the world stops sleeping on Tkay Maidza. After releasing more than her fair share of quality singles and EPs, Maidza is back with Last Year Was Weird Vol. 3, a slinky and complete progression from an act who’s more than ready to make an impact on the global hip hop…

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Reading Australian Writer

Book Review: Reading Like an Australian Writer updates the syllabus for Australian literary studies

How do we define an Australian writer? What is Australian literature? New South Books’ latest collection of essays, Reading Like An Australian Writer doesn’t seek to answer these questions definitively. Instead, using as its source material a line-up of well-known Australian literary figures and their books, it offers up a round table of discussions on…

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King Brown

Perth’s King Brown gives us their favourite local venues, bands and haunts

Perth continues to enhance its reputation as a creative hub, with resident rockers King Brown dropping their debut EP, Out In The Desert last month. It’s a quality collection of six tracks. It’s a bit bluesy, with some surf-rock leanings and superb story-telling. The strong vocals and searing guitars are a standout. It’s an exciting…

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Film Review: Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra is a fierce look at the dance company’s rich and complex history

If you want an example of the transportive power of dance then you need to look no further than Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra. This documentary packs a lot into its slender 96-minute run time, by tracing the origins of this First Nations dance troupe. This film draws together many facets and stories including the…

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Meghna

Meghna: Top 5 Movies I Watch Again and Again

We premiered “Bad Thoughts” from Australian/Indian artist Meghna last September, and have been keenly anticipating the follow-up. Meghna hasn’t disappointed, with the gripping “In My DNA”. The track was written about her parents and grandparents who grew up in India, experiencing poverty, with the fear that they might not be able to escape that poverty….

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Book Review: Trek the Pennine Way with Anita Sethi in new memoir I Belong Here

After being subjected to a racist attack on a TransPennine Express train, Anita Sethi decided enough was enough. With no one on the train willing to step in and stop her abuser on his vicious tirade, she reached out to train staff and police herself, choosing to speak up for herself in a way she…

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Switch OLED

Nintendo announces new OLED Switch hardware

The long-rumoured “Switch Pro” turned out to be real — kind of. Nintendo calls it the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model), complete with parentheses right there in the name because who would Ninty be without a little idiosyncrasy. Handheld clarity The OLED screen itself measures 7 inches (or 17.78cm) across. For those hoping the system would…

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Partefacts

Track of the Week: Partefacts “Time Travel” (2021)

“Time Travel” is the debut single from new band on the block Partefacts, and taken from their forthcoming EP Lifestyle Blob.  Partefacts is the brainchild of Canadian multi-instrumentalist Christa Belle and Australian producers Lani Bagley and Craig Schuftan. If those last two names sound familiar to you, then good. Bagley and Schuftan also make up…

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Film Review: Black Widow proves that a female voice is a tone that suits the Marvel canon

Eagerly awaited, though perhaps a few years too late, Marvel’s latest excursion of the bombastic kind – Black Widow – isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing though as Cate Shortland‘s venture adopts a more grounded mentality (at least for the most part), playing as a type-of Bourne Identity actioner that…

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Saiyon

Exclusive Video Premiere: Saiyon “Kerosene” (2021)

Melbourne-based Saiyon produces an enthralling blend of alternative R’n’B’ and electronica, and we are thrilled to be premiering the video for “Kerosene”, ahead of its release on Thursday. In an era where mansplaining and repression of women is still all too prevalent, “Kerosene” is a celebration of a young woman who is feeling empowered and…

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Mario Golf Super Rush

Mario Golf Super Rush Review: Dangerously close to the rough

A no-show in the Wii era, I warmly welcomed the announcement of Mario Golf Super Rush for the Switch. And now, at long last, a Mario-themed golf-sim with motion controls. Finally, Switch owners can enjoy a pseudo-realistic golf experience in the comfort of our homes — without having to brave the heat of the sun…

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Em George

Exclusive Video Premiere: Em George “Metropolis” (2021)

Sydney singer/songwriter Em George recently dropped her latest single, “Metropolis”. George released her EP Wolves last year, the follow up to her debut self-titled EP that was released in 2016.  We are thrilled today to be premiering the video for “Metropolis”, the lead single from her next EP. “Metropolis” has a beautiful lush folk/Americana feel to…

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Win a double in-season pass to see the female-led action film Gunpowder Milkshake

  Thanks to StudioCanal we have five double passes to give away to the upcoming release of the action film Gunpowder Milkshake, starring Karen Gillan, Michelle Yeoh, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett and Carla Gugino, in Australian cinemas from July 15th, 2021. Sam (Karen Gillan) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (Lena Headey), an elite…

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Nespresso Vertuo Next Review: Adding a bit more versatility to your standard capsule coffee

Can a Nespresso machine be any easier to use in 2021? Although the Nestle has a seemingly endless collection of models now, it’s hard to imagine how they could make a more straight-forward coffee machine than they have in the past. Pop a pod in and you’ll be typically rewarded with an excellent, velvety smooth…

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Film Review: Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is a fans-only sequel that indulges in its elaborate production value

Taking an activity that’s (arguably) something of a fad and morphing it for a theatrical narrative was a risk that evidently paid off for director Adam Robitel and screenwriters Bragi Schut and Maria Melnik with 2019’s Escape Room.  A psychological horror film that aimed for suspense over gore, its $150 million worldwide haul practically guaranteed…

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5 albums and EPs you may have missed in Q2 2021

As we hit the half way point of 2021, there’s been an extraordinary level of great new music released week in, week out this year; especially in the months April through June. From Wolf Alice to girl in red, London Grammar, EJ Worland and Martha Marlow, the second quarter of 2021 has seen a variety…

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Just A Leo

Exclusive Single Premiere: Just A Leo “Hideaway” (2021)

Just A Leo is a fresh Melbourne-based indie-rock band that has burst out of the blocks in the past few months with two high-quality releases. We are thrilled today to be premiering “Hideaway”, the third track from their upcoming debut EP. This follows on from “I Think About My Faith” and “More Than Gold” which…

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Anita Heiss

Book Review: Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray is an exquisite piece of historical fiction from Anita Heiss

When the Murrumbidgee River bursts its banks and sweeps into the fledgling town of Gundgai, it is Wagadhaany’s father, Yarri, and other Wiradjuri men who come to the rescue of the trapped townsfolk. Now an indentured servant to the Bradleys – a family who, years ago, ignored her father’s pleading not to build on the…

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How to Edit a Travel Video: 5 Essential Tips

Shooting a travel video is always a lot of fun, because you also enjoy a new country at the same time, besides the fact that you are working. You can see the most beautiful corners of the world, get a lot of cool emotions, and at the same time share your own experience with your…

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Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Preview: New evidence comes to light

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is finally coming to the West. The package collects both The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles 2: Resolve. Both games made their debut in Japan on the Nintendo 3DS in 2015. Both games were ported to iOS and Android in 2017. Neither game ever launched…

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