Grid of Points – A ambient meditation on silence and absence
Grouper’s latest album, recorded in the middle of a cold snap, sees them moving more towards piano and vocals, in a guarded display of intimacy.
American Dream: Dirty Computer is the truth Janelle Monáe no longer wants to hide
Monáe steps out of Cindy Mayweather’s shadow in her most powerful album yet.
A wrong, mostly short history of punk rock, part III
Hank finally got his shit together sufficiently to write the third and final installment of Felix Music’s history of the nittiest, grittiest genre that’s ever graced a recording booth. Unfortunately, he still can’t write consistent titles.
The photographer as painter, sculptor, artist
Tate Modern’s Shape of Light exhibition is a great history lesson in abstract photography, but neglects contemporary post-1970s technology and artwork.
Joe Hill-Gibbins takes us on a tour of hell
The National Theatre’s production of Rodney King’s bawdy mediation on isolation, Absolute Hell, has moments of magic, but they are few and far between in the bloated structure.
Fashioned from Nature, but at what cost?
V&A’s exhibition explores the history of fashion, from its environmental cost to sustainable eco-fashion today.
When Sting met Shaggy
Despite sounding like a bad April fool’s joke, the collaborative album between Sting and Shaggy is actually surprisingly decent collision between artistry and meme.
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons: a reimagining at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Gyre & Gimble effortlessly fuse cutting-edge puppetry with Max Richter’s beautifully recomposed rendition of The Four Seasons.
The Inheritance: the new Angels in America?
Matthew Lopez’ reimagining of Howard’s End attempts to be present a grand unified theory of what it means to be gay in America today.
Picasso 1932: the man’s pivotal year in paintings
The Tate Modern take us through one of the most important years of Picasso’s life, examining how he reacted to the world around him through his work.
KOD – Rushed execution holds J. Cole back
Following on from his critically-acclaimed 4 Your Eyez Only, J. Cole’s latest release, KOD, is marked by mature lyrical content, but is hampered by sloppy technique.
Macbeth at the National Theatre
Superb directing, solid acting, and the importance of a good script.