The Edit - The Action Issue

Issue 5 Action Issue

THE EDIT BLOGhttp://theeditgcu.wordpress.com

CONTENTSNEWS 6-7Students celebrate Chinese New YearDecrease in university applications

Issue 5 Action Issue

FEATURES 8-12Is seeing some a ‘get out’ clauseDon’t be afraid to take actionIt’s all in your head

ARTS & CULTURE 13-19J EdgarGamejam - The 48 Hour marathonThe three actioniest action films that were ever actioned (and aren’t in english)Glasgow film festival

FASHION 20-25Bonnie Bling put your words into actionDCS Fashion ShowWhen in doubt wink peace pout

MUSIC 26-35Dog is dead alive and kickingThe Twlight SadOh I say! That’s not so rottenLost ProphetsFrightened Rabiit meets Highland cowsA rowdy night of rock and roll

SPORT 36-38“It will still be there”Cantering for Caley!

4 / The Edit

THE EDIT TEAM/CONTRIB-UTORS

CHRISTINA [email protected]

KEIRAMURRAY [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS:Lauren Simpson, Sandhya Anantharaman, Joshua Davis Photography, Rob Douse, Dan,

Jim Griffin, Morgan McLeary, Haroon Farooq, Calum Bryson, Francies Bourgouin, Siobhan McDade, Grania Shankley, Christopher McGerr, Collette Cullen, Caroline Armour, Lesley Bruce, Nadine Walker,

Paul Weller for Pretty Green, Mandy Thomson, John Johnston and the Auditorium plc., Morgan McTiernan, Elephtheria, Calum MacNab, Chuffmedia, Catherine Ritchie, Man’s Ruin, Bryan Duncan,

ABAGA.com, Victoria Irvine, Andy Barron, Sam Tennent, PAXAM Records

EDITOR

DEPU-TY EDI-TOR

LAUREN [email protected]

NEWS

[email protected]

FEA-TURES

SIOBHANMCDADE [email protected]

ARTS & CUL-TURE

NADINE WALKER [email protected]

FASH-ION

VICKYIRVINE [email protected]

MUSIC

[email protected]

SPORT

[email protected]

PRMAN-AGER

DAVID [email protected]

PHO-TOGRA-PHY

[email protected]

www.melaniefindlay.com

DESI-GNER

SAMI [email protected]

PHOTOMAN-AGER

Issue 3 mel.indd 4 18/11/2011 12:12:18

4 / The Edit

THE EDIT TEAM/CONTRIB-UTORS

CHRISTINA [email protected]

KEIRAMURRAY [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS:Lauren Simpson, Sandhya Anantharaman, Joshua Davis Photography, Rob Douse, Dan,

Jim Griffin, Morgan McLeary, Haroon Farooq, Calum Bryson, Francies Bourgouin, Siobhan McDade, Grania Shankley, Christopher McGerr, Collette Cullen, Caroline Armour, Lesley Bruce, Nadine Walker,

Paul Weller for Pretty Green, Mandy Thomson, John Johnston and the Auditorium plc., Morgan McTiernan, Elephtheria, Calum MacNab, Chuffmedia, Catherine Ritchie, Man’s Ruin, Bryan Duncan,

ABAGA.com, Victoria Irvine, Andy Barron, Sam Tennent, PAXAM Records

EDITOR

DEPU-TY EDI-TOR

LAUREN [email protected]

NEWS

[email protected]

FEA-TURES

SIOBHANMCDADE [email protected]

ARTS & CUL-TURE

NADINE WALKER [email protected]

FASH-ION

VICKYIRVINE [email protected]

MUSIC

[email protected]

SPORT

[email protected]

PRMAN-AGER

DAVID [email protected]

PHO-TOGRA-PHY

[email protected]

www.melaniefindlay.com

DESI-GNER

SAMI [email protected]

PHOTOMAN-AGER

Issue 3 mel.indd 4 18/11/2011 12:12:18

PHO-TOGRA-PHY

FUND-RAISING MANAG-ER

PHOEBE [email protected]

GRANIA [email protected]

LEWIS [email protected]

FRONT COVER DESIGN:Christina Little

CONTRIBUTORS:Shawn Xiao Zhou, Lauren Simpson, Tawfik H Ibrahim , Christina O Neil, Austin Kapfumvuti, Scott Tominey, Peter Bradwell, Edward Mckim, Collette Cullen, Christopher McGerr, Lewis Boron, Rob Douse, Caroline Armour, Nadine

Walker, Naomi Mills, Mike Potts, Stuart Cole, Colin Robertson

EDITOR’SLETTERWORDS Christine Little

Hate valentines? Too mushy for you? If like myself Valentines for you is generally speaking a day of mass consumption of ice

cream and heavy doses of ‘I really just don’t care’ attempts at making yourself feel better, then I dedicate this issue to you. Instead of doing the cliched ‘Valentines Issue’ since it’s that time of year again, we thought we’d bring all you wonderful readers something a little bit different - the Action Issue. It’s time to throw back the duvet, get some war paint on and spring to action.. or even just get out your pjs and stop feeling so bad. As a sneak preview, this issue you can look forward to hearing from all the latest upcoming bands, fashion and news. All mostly of course on the theme of Action. I can’t tell you anymore though, because that would just ruin the surprise now, wouldn’t it. Did you know The Edit are now self confessed bloggers? No? Well you do now. So check out our brand new blog at www.theeditgcu.wordpress.com You can contribute any time you wish, and does not need to stick to a theme. Just email your submissions to [email protected] Hopefully, you’re at least out your pjs by the time you’re reading this..

Christina Little, EDITOR

6 / NEWS / The Edit

STUDENTS CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEARWORDS: Shawn Xiao Zhou, Chinese Students and Scholars AssociationPHOTOGRAPHY: Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA)

The Chinese students and scholars association at Glasgow Caledonian University welcomed in the Chinese New Year with a special dinner party in the Student’s Association on Thursday

26 January. The night included a grand opening with a Chinese artistic performance and a Chinese Buffet. The event was able to go ahead with support and funding from the International Students Support Services of Glasgow Caledonian University and the Students Association. The event was attended by people from many different backgrounds who welcomed the celebrations. The event at GCU started with students artistic performances including a Chinese Vocal group, traditional Chinese cross talk show and Salsa dancing along with live games and a raffle. The performances were followed by the Chinese buffet with a range of cuisine including traditional Spring Festival food Dumplings. This is the second time the Chinese students and scholars of GCU have held a Chinese New Year celebration. The help and support from the International Students Support Services and Students Association have allowed this celebration to continue. The event has grown in popularity with over 100 people attending the event to welcome in the Chinese Dragon’s Year. The Glasgow Caledonian Chinese Students Society commented: “As Chinese students at GCU, we felt the warmth at home when we could have the chance to celebrate our national festival in Glasgow, Scotland with all our friends. And we also believe all people from different countries and regions could also feel pleasure and happiness of our festival, and taste some of Chinese culture through our event.”

DECREASE IN UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONSWORDS: Lauren SimpsonPHOTOGRAPHY: Tawfik H Ibrahim

UCAS has revealed a decrease in application numbers for Scottish universities. The number of EU students applying to study at Scottish universities has risen but fallen for

students applying from England and Northern Ireland following the £9,000 price tag on a degree. The total number of university applications from Scotland is down by 1.5% with the number of Scottish students hoping to study in Scotland down by just 1.1%. Applications to Scottish universities from England are down by 5.6% and down by 15.1% from Northern Ireland following on from previous years. Robin Parker, the president of NUS Scotland commented on the issue; “Universities in Scotland have made a huge mistake in overpricing themselves, missing out on the opportunity to attract talented students to Scotland.”

7 / NEWS / The Edit

In November it was reported that applications to university were down by 12.9% on the previous year. Between November and January however there has been a rise in applications, but application numbers to University are still down by 8.7% from 2011. Applications for St. Andrew’s University from EU students are up by 35% but down by 3% from students from England. This may have something to do with EU students not paying tuition fees unlike students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales who are charged up to £9,000. A spokesman for Universities Scotland said: “Universities in England have actually seen a far sharper drop in English applicants than Scottish universities. We’re pleased that students across the UK and overseas continue to recognise the high quality of education on offer in Scotland.”

IS SEEING SOMEONE A ‘GET OUT’ CLAUSE?WORDS: Christina O NeilPHOTOGRAPHY: Austin Kapfumvuti

As usual, one of my mum’s innocent remarks regarding my ‘love life’ has brought another issue to the forefront of my thoughts. And I can’t really blame her

for not comprehending this fully, because it is such a grey area that I doubt anyone truly knows what it means. Mum: “So Christina, how are things going with your boyfriend?” Me: “Well we are not officially in a relationship, just dating and stuff because he hasn’t asked me out.” Mum: “..So if it’s not official, are you allowed to see other boys?!” Me: “Not really. I don’t know. The ‘lines’ are quite blurred.” Mum: “Looks like a safety net to me!” Cheers Mum. After this conversation, I have mulled over what it actually means to ‘see’ someone. What I mean by ‘seeing someone’ I regard it as being in a quasi-relationship with someone, acting like a couple for at least two months but without being able to take the liberty of referring to them as your actual boyfriend or girlfriend. ‘Seeing someone’ should be a relatively straight-forward concept; the potential prelude to a

relationship or a ‘test-run’ which otherwise fizzles out with minimal heartbreak, given nothing is set in stone. But what if it goes on for too long, leaving one person wondering where it is going to lead? Is forming an official relationship the new taboo? At first people were running scared at the prospect of marrying someone, but now people can’t even ‘ask someone out’ officially. Nowadays it’s not so much ‘If you like it, put a ring on it’ as ‘ If you like it, take the next tiny logical step to assert that you like them and prevent other people hitting on it’. Regardless, for a relatively small commitment it carries a lot of meaning for some people. For those who enjoy the hedonism of having someone to be affectionate with whilst going without the repercussions of guilt were they to like someone else, it is too much of a convenience for them to throw away. Most likely, they are scared of seeing things in black and white. If you are ‘seeing someone’ and you have a moral compass, you would know that you shouldn’t really take that girl’s number, or shamelessly flirt with the guy that’s buying you a drink. But perhaps the state of the relationship is so undefined you don’t know what is acceptable, and you don’t want to come across as presumptuous by saying ‘sorry, I’m actually seeing someone’ in case they were just being friendly, again actually being in a relationship would take away any

8 / FEATURES / The Edit

confusion surrounding this situation. It could be that my thoughts have gone into overdrive regarding this ‘phenomenon’. Many people may see this stage as a simple, ‘no-frills’ compromise on a relationship. My romantic ideals and expectations could be a result of my familial role models throughout my upbringing. My parents met each other when they were seventeen, married at twenty-one and had children a year or so later. My two older siblings also met their respective partners when they were seventeen and eighteen, married, have children and are still going strong, even my eighteen year old sister has been with her boyfriend for around three years. Pretty much all of my family are happy and in love with their high-school sweethearts, leaving me wondering if I have been chewed up and spat out by this fast-paced, commitment-phobe generation. Although my mum has always encouraged me to have fun and not to rush into a long-term relationship at a young age my family’s incredible luck in love has instilled in me from youth a great expectation from life and the people I meet that I don’t think will ever be fulfilled. Otherwise known as the ‘Disney Complex’. Being twenty, going out every weekend and not meeting many ‘nice guys’, I have accepted the grim reality of modern dating rituals. I’ve read enough depressing features in newspapers and magazines that

show the alarmingly high divorce rates and the fragility of modern relationships, no doubt affected by the burgeoning power of the internet. It is frightening to the extent that I have to expect failure and disappointment from that aspect of life as opposed to trust and loyalty. It feels like the odds are against us all at times, and I can live with that so long as I can live with the notion that, notwithstanding the countless failed relationships, dates and people that won’t call back, we will all eventually find someone that we will love and stay with until the end. Wanting to be someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend after an extensive period of being their ‘sort of ’ is not asking for a rose garden. You have to question the motives of the other half if this is how they feel. Simply, if you can’t imagine being happy in a relationship with the person and can’t trust yourself enough to not stray, it would be better not to give them such hope unless they are content with the way it is. Overall, making the relationship official lets you know where you stand, it builds trust and devotion and shows how much you mean to that person. It also saves you from the embarrassment of being reminded by your mother that ‘He’s NOT actually your boyfriend’ as she announces it at family gatherings, again thanks mum.



DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE ACTIONWORDS: Scott Tominey PHOTOGRAPHY: Peter Bradwell

Living in a country that has one CCTV camera for every thirty two ‘subjects’, it may seem reasonable that the deliberate marginalisation of human rights

concerns are items not high on the agenda. In a nation that has some of the highest levels of academic achievement in the world, it may seem obvious that the education system is well funded, supported and given all possible encouragement. It would also be sensible to assume residing in a state that is among the eight richest nations on the planet that the economy is doing well, with a fully employed and contented workforce, despite the massive and still chronically under regulated banking sector, the inhabitants of that nation are living quite comfortably and are generally untroubled. The nation we are discussing here is Britain.

On the 25th of January the Prime Minister made a controversial speech to the European Court of Human Rights arguing that Britain should be subjected less to the scrutiny of the court, and by extension be less subject to the International Convention of Human Rights. This was following the recent case of Abu Qata-da, reportedly a radical cleric, and the refusal of the E.C.H.R. to allow his extradition and ruling that he should instead be tried in Britain. This typically promoted outrage from swathes of the -some may argue deliberately uninformed - general public as ‘soft Britain’ once again is lenient on obvious terrorists who will likely get what they deserve. However, the reason that Qatada cannot, and must not, be returned to Jordan is because if he is extradited he will be tried, and ultimately convicted using torture. Several witnesses have testified to being tortured in order to procure evidence, passable in the Jordanian legal system. So why would Britain, a country apparently committed to human rights,

wish to return Qatada to Jordan when they are fully aware from reports by the U.N that he will face prosecution by a nation that permits torture? Politicians in favour of extradition and generally against human rights, or at least have an extremely skewed view of who is deserving of human rights, have condemned the decision of their other archenemy, Europe, in ruling that Britain cannot lawfully send Qatada to Jordan. Their reasoning, Jordan assured Britain that Qatada himself would not be tortured. Well I for one am not convinced by the promises of a state that holds the citizens of that nation in contempt, which fails to uphold the basic rights of human beings, does not allow freedom of the press and continues to invest power and wealth into an unelected dictatorial monarchy. Neither am I persuaded that people will be satisfied with this argument from the government and this being the reason David Cameron buried his arguments in populist anti-Europe rhetoric. It is also true that it isn’t just in this case that the government has discussed suspending human rights, has attacked human rights as unconstitutional and has attempted to undermine the entire idea and mechanisms of universal human rights that apply to every human regardless of who they are. What was the raft of legislation implemented in the early part of this century if not an attack on human rights? What is the continued practice of incarceration without charge if not a sustained attempt to destabilise human rights and increase state control? What is the continuous government rhetoric regularly correlating migration and asylum seeking and criminality if not an insult to the very human dignity that we hold so precious and attempt to protect? The fact is that all the Prime Minister has done is demonstrate that human rights should be above the reach and control of the state, in


every nation. The government has managed to demonstrate the need for and legitimacy of the European Court of Human Rights in regulating above the authority of the self interested state. The case of human rights, and Qatada in particular, is simply an indicator of the wider actions this government implements in order to maintain power and popularity. This government has implemented the same process for every piece of legislation; it has undermined public opposition with misinformation, has restricted opposition effectively by labelling activists as thugs and has attempted to force through reforms that will increasingly benefit and pander to the rich. The effect has been that the wealth gap has expanded, while the poorest families have been labelled as lazy while having their benefits restricted, university is becoming increasingly unattainable while the people who caused the crisis, and continue to argue for further disastrous de-regulation, collect millions in bonuses, wages, perks, expenses and many other ways that they choose to garner increasing wealth. Why, however, is this article about action? It seems that this state domination

is difficult to resist, seen as the state is very successful (not to mention experienced) at this game. The action is where we can have an effect. The events of 2011 demonstrated that when human rights abuses are rife, when the press will not, or cannot expose the tyranny of the state and when people live in fear of the state this generation can change society forever, for the better. From Russian students to a new generation of intellectuals in Egypt, those who thirst for new ideas and new societies are willing to stand against the reactionary state can har-ness new social media to and take action to make society better for everyone. Even defending and improving society for those who would deport Qatada, make students pay £9,000 for a decent education and would separate Britain from the world destroying their own rights for the sake of a parochial tyrant.

IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEADWORDS: Edward MckimPHOTOGRAPHY: Edward Mckim

It was once said that there was nothing to fear but fear itself, however for any individual living in the now, fear has became a familiar friend rather than a familiar foe. With an economic climate being

more unstable than the last few hours of the titanic, is it any wonder people face fear on such a daily basis. As children we were constantly reminded to fear strangers. Stranger danger, don’t talk to strangers and don’t accept anything from someone you don’t know. We also feared what might be under our beds at night in the darkness. Then as teenagers we feared we wouldn’t fit in and gave into peer pressure by following the norm and doing what everyone else did. And as adults our fears took on a new manifestation of a greater magnitude, worries about money, finding a job, paying our rent and maintaining healthy relationships all but replaced those unknown creatures we once feared took refuge under our beds. Our fears can be irrational and at times totally paralyse us, for how many of us have woken up the next day from a night out with nothing but a queasy stom-ach, thumping headache and the “FEAR” of “what the hell happened last night?”. And then there’s the palm sweating, stomach churning fear of public speaking

for presentations and solo talks, that makes us feel we would much rather be in our beds under the covers fearing what might be hiding beneath us instead. The truth is everybody has a fear. It can range from a fear of spiders to a fear of heights, but none the less, whatever that fear may be, it doesn’t seem to feel any less intense while going through the motion of it. Our fears can affect us as individuals and can end up having an effect on those around us. We can have those fears of not feeling good enough or happy enough with our own body image or we can have fears of trusting our girlfriend, our boyfriend or our partner enough not to hurt us in our relationships. I guess what it all comes down to in the end is having the ability to face our fear or fears head on with enough courage and charisma that we can muster. Fear is like that unwelcome guest who turns up, out of the blue, uninvited to the party and doesn’t know when to leave. What we have to realise is, we have the ability to make that unwelcome friend called fear leave just as quick as he emerged. After all… fear is only fearful, if we choose to fear it.


13 / ARTS & CULTURE / The Edit

J EDGARWORDS: Collette CullenPHOTOGRAPHY: Warner Bros

J Edgar is directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Dustin Lance Black. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as J Edgar Hoover, Judi Dench as Annie Hoover, Naomi Watts as Helen Gandy and Armie Hammer as Clyde Tolson.

Clint Eastwood’s biopic is essentially an attempt to expose the personal world of an intensely private public figure but it fails to penetrate a veneer of paranoia, racial

prejudice and intolerance. His twilight foray into directing has shown an attraction to the gritty and candid side of life but a focus on the conjecture surrounding Hoover’s relationship with his deputy Clyde Tolson (Hammer) feels vague and incomplete. While we are in no doubt of Tolson’s feelings, we are left wondering whether they are reciprocated in any real emotional way. DiCaprio is competent in his role but not dazzling, perhaps explaining the Oscar snub. His portrayal of a young Edgar is more vivid; joy at an ill-fated date with secretary Helen Gandy (Watts) at a reference library and disgust at the Bolshevist uprisings in the early 20th Century show the obsessive organisational skills and extreme moral compass which would drive the creation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The script by Dustin Lance Black is largely to blame for this wooden characterisation, a real let

down after his academy award-winning work for Milk. While the flash back scenes of Hoover as an old man add perspective and allow the viewer an insight into the progression of his twilight years, they confuse the timeline and leave the plot disjointed. This is reflected in Eastwood’s soundtrack, at times melancholic and bittersweet, at others jarring and discordant. The makeup is nothing short of absurd as the main characters slowly morph into beige, liver-spotted testudines. The pained love scenes between Hoover and Tolson which were at points touching, now verge on comedic and the actors seem restricted by thick layers of prosthetics. There are some positives; Judi Dench gives as robust a performance as ever as Edgar’s controlling and strong-willed mother whom in many ways seems the catalyst for his resolute attempts to eradicate corruption and vice. Armie hammer is similarly astute in his role with Hoovers’ dashing young muse at times even extracting a laugh from the dreary law-man. The plot line of the infamous kidnap of Charles Lindenberg’s 20 month old son in the 1930s is also fast-paced and relevant to the development of the bureau. But, it must be asked why the acclaimed director chose a version of a story that has been told before and one cannot help but feel this is a missed opportunity. In a time where racial prejudice, covert surveillance and social unrest are as prominent as ever, this could have provided comment on the human element of governance and the dangers of unbridled authority. Unfortunately it does not.

GAMEJAM – THE 48 HOUR MARATHONWORDS: Christopher McGerrPHOTOGRAPHY: Lewis Boron

The final products produced by Scottish Gamejam in the 48 hours are available online at: http://globalgamejam.org/og/games/16908/list

Perhaps one of the biggest events that the university plays host to over the course of the academic year is Scottish Gamejam, an event that for some is the highlight of the game

development year and for most is an excellent learning opportunity, even for those who have previously never been involved in the development of a game. For those not in the know, Gamejam is a global event and ‘competition’ (although winning is just an added bonus) where participants work, normally as part of a team, to create a game in 48 hours based around a theme that is the same across the whole world. This year teams from 48 countries, 246 registered locations, and in total over 11000 participants were involved in the development process, producing over 2300 games. Glasgow Caledonian University’s Saltire Centre played host to the 14th most participated event in the

competition with 128 registered participants and a sizeable number of onsite staff to look after everything and keep things (mostly) organised. The event began at 3pm on Friday (the 27th of January) and officially ended at the same time on Sunday, although the judging process and ending ceremony did not conclude until around 7:30pm – meaning that the entire event lasted over 52 hours. The vast majority of participants stayed onsite throughout the event, most only leaving to buy breakfast and lunch. As you can imagine it was a tiring experience, since the couches in the Saltire Centre do not exactly make the most comfortable of beds. As a hub of creative energy, there were some more unusual participants involved in this year’s Gamejam. A team made up of web developers were among the most successful participants involved


in the competition, winning the prize for the best technologically-speaking game of the competition. Meanwhile the winner of the best designed game prize was an individual rather than a large team, this individual took the road-less –travelled and developed a board game as opposed to a computer game. In an even more unusual move, he designed the board game as a single player board game. The board game in question went down remarkably well with several people willing to purchase a copy before the weekend was complete. The organisers were incredibly hospitable, on both the Friday and Saturday nights dinner was provided (in the form of Domino’s Pizza), with cake being served on the Saturday as well (which I was unfortunate enough to miss – being asleep in the quietest corner I could find). Saturday night also involved several competitive games of a board game known as ‘Skulls and Roses’, a bluffing game involving a degree of luck and skill, with the players of each game being randomly


selected from the list of registered competitors and the winning player receiving a prize ranging from a signed poster from the developers of ‘Plants vs. Zombies’ to computer games donated by sponsors.An interesting opportunity this year was the university’s willingness to sponsor all eligible games for the BAFTA’s ‘Ones to Watch Award’ and as you can imagine a BAFTA nomination is a big deal for a student yet to finish their degree. So keep an eye out, a student you may know may be becoming quite famous this year! The plan at the moment is for the event to be held in the same place in the same weekend next year, with registration opening up in October. So, if you’re at all interested in participating (even if at the moment all you can do is colour in a circle in Photoshop), keep your calendar open, and remember that the event is open to everyone; and anyone can observe during the opening times of the Saltire Centre. You never know, you might love it!


THE THREE ACTIONIEST ACTION FILMS THAT WERE EVER ACTIONED (AND AREN’T IN ENGLISH)WORDS: Rob DousePHOTOGRAPHY: Geetha Arts, CJ Entertainment, Europa Corp

District 13 (France, 2004)

District 13 is a ruthlessly efficient film. About thirty seconds after things kick off, protagonist Leito has leapt out of more windows than the fictional Wall Street

Crash bankers and started throwing himself off of roofs with an aggressive disregard for human ankles. By the sixty second mark he has captured a drug kingpin and handed him over to the police who then release him because they are crooked. Then they try to arrest Leito because they’ve never seen what happens to bad coppers in action films. One of them then makes the double-error of saying ‘I’m three days away from retirement.’ After going to jail for what was the obvious conclusion of the previous sentence, Leito teams up with an undercover policeman who has already proved his undercover abilities by infiltrating a crime syndicate dressed as Carlos Santana and pile driving someone through a roulette table. Although initially reluctant to enter into a partnership, he changes his mind after finding out his sister has been kidnapped by the aforementioned drug kingpin who, in a Wile E. Coyote level of comic misunderstanding, has accidentally activated a bomb that is going to blow up the entire city. What follows is an orgy of violence, acrobatics and car chases which serve only to remind us that all of the action heroes we grew up loving are now old and slow and crash cars into helicopters or make unbelievably sad films emphasising that their glory days are over, and reminding us that death comes for us all. Thanks a lot, France.

The best thing about action films is that there’s something in there for everyone. Michael Bay fans get explosions, the menopausal women get to watch Jason Statham take his top off, my flatmate gets to tell me how you couldn’t actually drive a car into a helicopter and I get to spit on him.

If you don’t mind a bit of reading though, you’ll find that foreign-language action films are to our own what Louis Spence is to normal human beings: fundamentally the same but also completely and utterly insane.


THE THREE ACTIONIEST ACTION FILMS THAT WERE EVER ACTIONED (AND AREN’T IN ENGLISH)WORDS: Rob DousePHOTOGRAPHY: Geetha Arts, CJ Entertainment, Europa Corp

Ghajini (India, 2008)

Sanjay Singhania is unable to remember things for more than fifteen minutes, and he’s on the hunt for the killer of the woman he loved. If that plot sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the screenplay for Memento with some

names changed. But just like anything else we outsource to India, Ghajini works twice as hard at everything, which in this case includes violence and glorious song and dance. I’m not going to lie, this is the only Bollywood film I have ever seen, but I understand it’s not uncommon for characters to break into song, and I’m cool with that; singing is as good a means as any to progress the narrative. What is important, though, is context. Ghajini jumps between gritty action and saccharine rom-com at jarring speeds, but when characters start singing, it comes out of nowhere. One minute a man is pulling a 16-inch drill bit out of his thigh, the next he’s on a pier dressed in white slacks and a pastel shirt, singing about how your love is like the setting of the sun or something along those lines. And it’s still kind of awesome because, despite the impromptu show tunes, Ghajini is all business. What money the movie didn’t spend on stunt men, it spent on hardwood furniture and slow-motion effects for every time someone is thrown through hardwood furniture, which is pretty much every time Sanjay is on screen. Also, and maybe it’s to do with the whole lack of stunt men thing, but no one in the Indian film industry has ever been taught how to throw a punch in any other way than like they absolutely mean it.

City of Violence (Korea, 2006)

The plot of City of Violence revolves around Tae-su, a policeman returning to his hometown to try and solve the murder of his friend Wang-jae, with the help of old friend/current debt-collector, Seok-hwan but more than that it’s a film about how we change with age and sometimes forget who we really are and that sometimes that

means getting beaten to death with a plaque. I can say with complete confidence that there has never in the history of anything been a title that more thoroughly described a films content. Absolutely everything in City of Violence is solved through grievous bodily harm and wanton destruction of property. Want to answer the phone? Kick someone in the head. Fondly reminiscing about childhood memories? Remember the time you fought the entire student body of a rival school. Need to settle a dispute with your friend? Duct-tape your hands together and punch each other in the face until one of you can’t stand up. And much like Ghajini and also every single film I have ever seen come out of Korea, nobody here has ever heard of a stunt man or how to only pretend that you are fighting. When someone takes a crane kick to the chest in this film and falls over a balcony, he isn’t pretending to be hurt. And as soon as he’s broke for lunch and filmed the rest of his scenes for the day, he’s going straight to the hospital. You have to admire that Korean work ethic.

GLASGOW FILM FESTIVALWORDS: Caroline Armour PHOTOGRAPHY: Accelerator Films, David Barras

Made up of 239 different films and events Glasgow Film Festival kicks off for its eighth year this month. It runs from the 16 – 26th

opening with the UK premier of Your Sister’s Sister, the latest from Lynn Shelton, recently named ‘one of the ten directors to watch in 2012’. GFF closes with Le Havre from the Finnish filmmaker Aki Kavrismäkia. Already well received it won the prestigious French award the Prix Louis Delluc. It is only to be expected that the opening and closing pieces will be well executed and well received, happily those on in the middle don’t look likely to disappoint either. This year boasts a record number of UK and European premieres, including Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy, premiering in Glasgow rather than Welsh’s native Edinburgh. Keeping it local, David Tennant stars alongside Kelly Macdonald in The Decoy Bride. Fans of Robert Pattinson are also in for a treat as he stars in the stylish period drama Bel Ami. Which is a bonus for fans who have a hankering to see him in a feature length where he doesn’t sparkle. Those who enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo should see Noomi Rapace in Baby Call, as a single mother running from an abusive husband, made all the more interesting with a supernatural twist.Continuing on a horror theme Film4’s Frightfest is back for its 7th year. Consisting of 11 premiers over two days it opens with a documentary on the life and works of Rodger Corman. Spiralling into your typical scary movie fare ranging from the post apocalyptic The Day to the slow burning hostage film Crawl, stopping off for military zombies,

political conspiracy, a ‘slasher ghost story’ and a good old fashioned kill the teenagers flick. Padraig Reynolds’ has been pitched as another one to watch, his offering is Rites of Spring a horror of intertwining stories combining the actions of a murderous lunatic with those of a gang of kidnappers, with horrific consequences. Gamers amongst us may find themselves more at home with War of the Dead, which has been likened to Call of Duty’s Nazi Zombies feature.Rightly described as a festival of festivals, GFF is also hosting a three day Short Film Festival, a ten day Youth Film Festival and Kapow! Superheroes in Glagow. Kapow is dedicated to all things comic and superhero. Curated by Mark Millar, fans of original adaptations are unlikely to be left disappointed. Don’t expect to see any of the recent big box office superheroes though, Batman and Ironman are definitely too recent and too readily available on DVD for this event. Instead there are films such as Electric Man, created on a ‘micro budget’ the film follows its stars on their journey to save their failing comic store. They unwittingly hold their saviour before them, a mint edition of a 1937 Electric Man comic. Another interesting option is Death of a Superhero, which follows fourteen year old cancer patient Donald as he recedes further into his own head, living through his own harrowing comics. For those made nervous at the thought of all this geekery, there is more to Kapow and the film festival than there may originally seem. For those still a little concerned, there is no obligation to turn up in fancy dress, though I’ll be surprised if no one embraces the spandex.


20 / FASHION / The Edit

BONNIE BLING PUT YOUR WORDS INTO ACTIONWORDS: Nadine Walker PHOTOGRAPHY: Bonnie Bling

SCOTTISH brand Bonnie Bling has created its only fashionable way to help you say what’s on your mind. With pieces featuring ‘Gies a Winch’ and

‘Och Aye’, Bonnie Bling makes it fashionable to embrace your Scottish slang. Bonnie Bling boasts fabulous out-there statement pieces for every occasion. Created between two friends over a bottle of wine, Bonnie Bling started out as a bit of a laugh. Co-founder Sarah Richardson recently left the business to focus on other things, leaving thirty three year old Mhairi Mackenzie to run the show. Bonnie Bling has a fantastic hold on Scottish humour and fashion- the brand

collaborated with successful Scottish fashion label Obscure Couture last year. BB featured in Obscure Couture’s ‘Flesh and Bone’ debut collection which was quite frankly a match made in Scottish fashion heaven. The Edit caught up with Mhairi as she explains her true connection with the Bonnie Bling brand: “Moving around a lot and meeting lots of new people has always exposed me to different dialects and regional words. “My grandfather was from the Highlands and I’ve always loved the heritage and history we have here in Scotland. I guess personal experiences and my graphic designer side are what make Bonnie Bling unique.


“The words we choose are some of our favourites but my customers are always putting forward new suggestions. “That is what’s so nice about the range, people feel so attached to the words. There’s a clear connection there.” During X Factor season in late 2011, Bonnie Bling re-visited the Obscure Couture collaboration. The two brands created something really special and the now infamous ‘Amelia Lilly’ knuckle duster rings appeared all over the fashion magazines: “Watching X Factor and seeing our rings on Amelia Lily was definitely the highlight of an already awesome year for Bonnie Bling. “We’ve had an excellent response since then and have lots more of our unique knuckleduster rings being designed at the moment.” With so many fashion-minded people in Glasgow, it’s refreshing to see something different to help stand out from the crowd. Bonnie Bling even has a wedding range featuring quirky ‘Tae Have and Tae Hold’ and ‘Wifey’ pieces. She says: “The wedding range has been so well received; we kitted out the entire male section of a wedding party with our ‘Och Aye’ cufflinks. Our ‘Tae have and Tae Hold’ bracelet is definitely one of my favourites. And the new Valentine’s pieces ‘Gies a Winch’

are really fun and always get loads of giggles.” Mhairi always has something up her sleeve, keeping the fans on their toes and the Bonnie Bling spirit alive: “I am really looking forward to getting our new Bonnie Bling tartan pieces out there this summer. “I like the idea of visitors to Scotland taking home some decent souvenirs, souvenirs that are designed and made in Scotland and look good. Why buy something made in China when you can take home a good piece of Scottish design that shows off our wicked sense of humour as a bonus?”Bonnie Bling have a lot to live up to in 2012 but I have a sneaking suspicion Mhairi is the girl to make it happen: “We have new regional words launching and plan to take the range down South as soon as we can. We want to continue to grow the regional word ranges while also launching two design-led collections a year. That allows opportunity to get my teeth into really creative pieces. “We have a couple of fashion shows lined up already as well as some collaborations in the pipeline. I’m looking forward to seeing our collections on the catwalk again this year. “I’m the kind of person that will have lots of ideas and just decide to go for it, then later have to figure out how to actually make it happen. I definitely enjoy the challenge.”


DCS FASHION SHOWWORDS: Naomi Mills

23 / FASHION / The EditWhat you’re about to read may contain strong visual images, an overwhelming sense to spend and a desire to hear more.

Glasgow was struck by an eyeful of delight as three of Scotland’s best designers put on an impressive display of their finest work.Emily Lamb, Di Gilpin and Marc Ross showed Glasgow’s fash-pack what they have to offer when the three showcased some of Scotland’s best talent in knitwear, design and shoes. Rox Jewellery in the heart of the city centre played host to the lantern lit catwalk which welcomed its guest with fine cocktails and canapés as they were treated to a luxurious night surrounded by diamond filled cases and oodles of champagne. Di Gilpin opened the evening showing off her talent for delicate knitwear and in a Missoni-like way showing how it can be worn for all occasions. Di had the idea to start the design collective, incorporating some of Scotland’s best fashion minds into a showcasing spectacle, and what better time to show their collections just before the opening of their new shop. The shop which will open on Glasgow’s Dumbarton road will be a chance to show their work and let the lucky Glasgow shoppers get their mitts on some pieces. Emily’s collection followed but this time, shoes did the talking. Lamb studied shoe design at Cordwainers in London and worked for Emmy before naturally introducing her self-named own label. The models strutted down in body-con black dresses and slicked back hair showing off her newest deigns. There wasn’t a woman left in the room who wasn’t drooling after her collection. And in a truly flamboyant and eye-catching style Marc Ross closed the show which displayed his talent for pattern cutting and dress design impeccably. His newest collection combined demure design with hardening leather, feathers and studs. He also brought in some truly beautiful bright pieces with to-die-for backless detail. The shop is due to open next month. Catching up with Emily Lamb after the show she said: “I’m not going to lie, I feel relieved tonight is over. “It’s been so much hard work in preparation but it has definitely all been worth it. It’s absolutely great to do something like this in your home town. “The Design Collective is the next big step and it will be amazing to have a place where people can come down and see what’s on offer. “The guys who are part of it are some of the most talented people I know and it’s so great that people will have a proper chance to see what we’re all doing and buy the things they’ve liked tonight.”


WHEN IN DOUBT WINK PEACE POUT WORDS: Nadine Walker PHOTOGRAPHY: WPP A new quirky t-shirt brand created by three

best friends like to keep the fashion message simple, If In Doubt Wink Peace and Pout. The success of WPP is in its simplicity.

The monochrome range can be customised and styled to suit any style and taste. The proof lies with the creators. The three best friends have three very different outlooks on fashion. Meet Holly Hmidouche, Claire McInally and Amanda Hendrick. Holly likes to dress her WWP top with a maxi skirt, wedges and an oversized cardigan. Claire likes to wear hers with skinny jeans, a leather jacket and killer heels. While Amanda is more of a trainers, beanie hat and hot pants kind of girl. The three girls around town are all creatively involved in the fashion industry. Hmidouche is currently studying fashion and art where she is putting all her creative skills to good use styling fashion shoots, illustrating and designing for Wink Peace and Pout. In addition Hmidouche is one of the faces of the WPP brand. McInally is a successful fashion designer who runs her own design label as well as co-directing Wink Peace and Pout. After graduating Claire retailed a capsule collection with Oasis stores throughout the UK and went on to showcase collections in London and New York. Hendrick is an international model. She has worked for Dior, Balenciaga, Jean Paul Gaultier and Robert Cavalli to name a few. Hendrick is also a face of the WPP brand. The girls confess: “WPP is all about love, peace, friendship and of course looking pretty fly while doing it.” The WPP girls are only thinking big for 2012: “In our first week we have had orders from as far as Saudi Arabia, Honolulu and Russia. We just want world domination for 2012, nothing too out there!” To purchase your very own piece of the WPP collection visit www.winkpeaceandpout.com.

26 / MUSIC / The Edit

DOG IS DEAD ALIVE AND KICKING WORDS: Victoria Irvine PHOTOGRAPHY: dogisdead.co.uk, MarcusHoldsworth

DESPITE still being in its infancy, it seems Nottingham five-piece Dog Is Dead have the formula to success cracked. A mere three years after their formation, the band

have already signed to mammoth label Atlantic Records, toured with the likes of OKGo and are currently gearing up for a 35-date-strong tour. But the baby-faced, indie-rockers don’t seem phased by their budding success, as singer Robert Milton talks to The Edit about the band’s exhausting road towards this biz we call ‘show’ and why its best to go with the flow. “We’re currently on one of about three days off right now,” the frontman laughs. His soft chuckles are exactly what’s expected from a singer who boasts a voice which manages to be powerful yet gentle at the same time. It’s the perfect pitch for everything that Dog Is Dead are doing so well; taking basic indie innards and encasing them in an alt-rock shell with jazz sprinkles. “We’re just finishing the album and these are our last days off before the monster tour. It isn’t even a chance to sleep.” The quintet are no strangers to the road. The childhood friends (with Joss Van Wilder on keyboards, Trev on bass/sax, Paul Roberts on guitar and Daniel Harvey on drums) immediately chose the stage instead of relying on social network sites when they formed. But the musicians seem to enjoy keeping up-to-date with their fan base, regularly updating their tumblr with humorous pictures and spending hours replying directly to twitter users, thanking them for their support. “It’s still quite new to us, the whole twitter thing. We’re not old men, we do get it. People want to hear the waffling of 20 year blokes,” Robert chuckles. “It’s like taking fans on tour with us. When you come to people’s cities, they want to keep up with where you go.”


Its this mutual respect between fan base and band, coupled with the band’s famously charged live shows that contributed to their arguably overnight success. Within a year of formation, the band performed at the Dot to Dot Festival. Fast forward a year and the boys were already supporting quirky Chicago rockers OK Go. In 2011, there were no signs of slowing down as radio airplay increased and the Notingham natives soon found themselves signed to juggernaut label Atlantic Records, touring with Bombay Bicycle club and featuring on Brit teen drama, Skins. Exhausted? Understandably. But not Dog Is Dead. “We’ve never set out to be this cool band on the front of the magazine. Now, that’s not to knock it for anyone else. But we never set out to be this ultra cool band. We’ve just went with these amazing breaks like getting signed and appearing on Skins. We just want to entertain and have a lot of fun. How can anyone expect their fans to have fun when they’re not

themselves?”

This summer will see the band release their debut album, which Robert promises will please their most loyal fans but still see their sound mature. Their new track, Two Devils, was uploaded to YouTube on Feb 1st and within 24 hours already had views into the thousands, a testament to the band’s impeccable knack for social networking. They want attention and they’re going the right way about getting it. “It’s going to be everything we are now but with a more eclectic mix. We’re bringing in a little psychedelic and grunge. You’ll just have to wait and see, but it’ll be one hell of a show!” New single ‘Two Devils’ is out on March 5 and the band will play King Tuts Wah Wah Hut March 6.

For ticket information visit www.ticketweb.co.uk

For a free download, visit www.dogisdead.co.uk


THE TWILIGHT SADWORDS: Sarah HayhurstPHOTOGRAPHY: Nic Shonfeld

THE TWILIGHT SAD are certainly no strangers to embracing change. Their 2007 debut album, ‘Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters’ was immediately

celebrated for singer James Graham’s thick Scottish vocals as well as the band’s dark, dense tones. 2009’s follow-up hit, ‘Forget the Night Ahead’ saw the trio (with Andy MacFarlane on guitar and Mark Devine on drums) make a notable switch towards a more maca-bre direction. Now their third record, ‘No One Can Ever Know’ sees Kilsyth’s finest reaffirm Scotland’s reputation for brewing some of the finest musical acts on the scene. Singer, James, talks to The Edit reporter, Sarah Hayhurst, about the band’s more industrial sound, their whirlwind signing and why you should stay in school, kids. Can you give me 3 words to describe your sound?Scottish, miserable and honest.

Where did the name the ‘Twilight Sad’ come from?I can’t really remember. It was one of those things where that name was suggested and we couldn’t think of anything better so we just stuck with it.

Your heavily leaked single, Kill It In The Morn-ing, was met with critical acclaim. Did you con-sciously decide to change your sound?It was just the natural next step for this band. We didn’t sit down together and go: “right, we need to change!” We just wrote the songs the usual way and used the instrumentation that suited them and interested us. I honestly don’t think it’s a huge departure, to me this album sounds like The Twilight Sad and that’s all that matters.

Do you think your fans will appreciate the new album as much as your earlier releases, such as Forget The Night Ahead (2009) or The Wrong


Car EP (2010)?We write the music for ourselves to begin with and if we like it and are proud of it then there’s nothing else we can do after it’s released and it’s up to everyone else whether they like it or not. We’ve worked that way since the band started and it’s got us this far. I’m really proud of our new record but at the same time I understand that you can’t please everyone. Like our other albums you definitely need to listen to it a lot to let the songs sink in.

Do you prefer playing live or being in the studio working on material?I prefer playing live. Once we get to the studio all my parts are pretty much finished apart from physically recording them, so I find it pretty boring and end up getting drunk and watching s***eTV and films. The rest of the band enjoy the studio as they are really into music production and they get the chance to experiment with sh*t like that. Playing live and recording are completely different, though, so you take different things away

from both of them.

You are currently signed to Fat Cat records, alongside other Scottish bands such as Fright-ened Rabbit, how did you end up signed to them?We played three gigs in three years then recorded a four track demo and sent it to Fat Cat. The got in contact and said they wanted to come up to Scotland and see us play, so we arranged our 4th ever gig and they came up with a contract and a few weeks later we signed with them and recorded Fourteen Au-tumns & Fifteen Winters, then they sent us over to America to mix the record and tour for four weeks. We hadn’t even played Edinburgh yet at that stage!

Do you have any tips for any budding bands who are trying to get signed?Stay in School and get a real job! If not just be honest and don’t try to be anything that you’re not. A lot of opportunities come from being in the right place at the right time

OH I SAY! THAT’S NOT SO ROTTENWORDS: Andy Greg PHOTOGRAPHY: itsdotrotten.com HAILED South-London MC Dot Rotten is

clawing his way out from the grime scene and it seems he’s hell-bent on doing it alone. The BBC Sound Of 2012 tip is already

storming some of the top radio playlists, with respected nods coming from some of music’s top moguls. The 22 year-old’s new single ‘Are You Not Entertained’ has already been noted as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record In The World, an entirely worthy accolade since the musician has controversially produced his record alone and chose not to collaborate with other artists. It seems his job at Saxon studios working with some great names as Tinie Tempah, P Money and Ghetts has certainly rubbed off on the talented artist. Dot Rotten’s 11-date tour is set to rock Glasgow’s 02 ABC on Feb 26th.

For ticket info visit www.ticketweb.co.uk.For info on Dot Rotten visit www.itsdotrotten.com.

WELSH rockers, LOSTPROPHETS have announced the release of their eagerly anticipated fifth album. And the news fans have been craving comes as

a duo as the band are also to set off on their first headline tour in two years. ‘Weapons’ is due for release on April 2nd and comes shortly before a 14-date tour of the UK and Ireland. The award-winning sextet have been brewing the record while treating fans to teasers along the way.After admitting they had lost their way with their last record, the band’s website is awash with frank and endearing promises. “We’re back, stronger than ever,” it proclaims. Let’s ‘av it!

The band will be playing Glasgow O2 Academy Wednesday April 25.

Ticket info at www.ticketmaster.co.uk

For teaser tracks and band info, visit www.lostprophets.com


LOST PROPHETSWORDS: Emma HarveyPHOTOGRAPHY: Chuff Media

FRIGHTENED RABBIT MEETS HIGHLAND COWSWORDS: Sarah Hayhurst PHOTOGRAPHY: Dave Gourley Frightened Rabbit are set to kick-off

a Scottish Highlands tour in April. Islanders will have the chance to see both acoustic and full band sets as

they play intimate venues. The tour starts in Gourock on April 11th, travelling to Perth, Forres, Ullapool, Isle of Mull, Aviemore, Stornoway, Portee, Strathpeffer before finishing up In Dunoon on April 22nd. After their humble beginnings in Selkirk with just lead singer Scott Hutchison playing solo, the band have reached great acclaim thanks to the jigsaw pieces coming together in the form of Billy Kennedy (bass), Andy Monaghan (guitar/keys), Grant Hutchison (drums) and Gordon Skene (guitar/keys). Since their debut album Sing the Greys in 2006, the band have sold out shows across the UK and even State-side. With their fourth album in the works, lead singer Scott Hutchison said: “The new record has taken a slightly more stripped back direction than the last album. It’s a little darker - we’ve been writing in the minor key a bit more, and the whole thing has been a far more collaborative effort, which has led to interesting new elements appearing in the songs.” The tour is not only special, but a new experience for the band, as Scott said: “I think the great thing about this tour is the fact that we’ll be playing to a lot of people who have never been able to see the band before. We’ve never even visited some of these towns, and I can’t think of a better way to see your own country than to jump in a van and play some shows. ” With Scott’s knack for writing both sophisticated and emotionally driven songs, the indie-quintet will be sure to tug on your heartstrings whilst caressing your ears.

Tickets will be on sale from Gigs in Scotland from the 3rd Feb, be sure to snap one up fast!


A ROWDY NIGHT OF ROCK AND ROLLWORDS: Victoria IrvinePHOTOGRAPHY: Lewis Boron, Phoebe Inglis-Holmes

Radio Caley’s events are known to be the perfect platform for the crème de la crème of local acts to showcase their musical talents. And their recent event

certainly did not disappoint. Show-openers, Blindfolds, kicked off proceedings with a full-throttle performance, setting the bar high for the remaining acts within minutes of playing. As a fresh-faced, leather-clad John Gerrard O’Neill approached the mike, his raspy vocals were an instant delight. The frontman’s voice sounded like he’d been slugging back whiskey and gargling gravel for decades despite this being numerically impossible. Think Tom Waits’ growls mixed with Eddie Vedder’s howls. O’Neill’s sandpaper sounds are perfectly matched by the band (with Conor JackGoldie on guitar, Stuart Ivens on bass and Joshua Campbell on drums) and their particular blend of swamp rock and self described ‘spooky’ blues. Not unlike Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers mixed with Junior Kimbrough. Their toe-tapping set was effortless, with each band member swaying nonchalantly to the rock and roll riffs as the crowd lapped it up. Skippy Dyes was the second act on the bill but by no means were ready to let the 90-strong audience rest. From the set up alone, the Glaswegian quintet were already rousing curiosity when a saxophone was brought on stage. Surely a brass instrument of this magnitude would drown out the rest of the group? Absolutely not, it seems, as the band quickly established that this wasn’t your typical acoustic set. They were bringing something different to the table, and the room was more than eager to sample a taste. Incorporating elements from jazz, alt rock and soundscape , Skippy Dyes (with Greig Millar on vocals, Scott Murphy on sax, Gus Stirrat on bass and Mark Scobbie on drums) are unlike anything heard before. Despite having such such a wide spectrum of influences, their



being hailed as one of the most exciting prospects in current Scottish music, as they banter with the audience and aren’t afraid of trying some new material. They’re bold, brazen and bound to be a name we hear more often. With the latest pick’n’mix of creativity, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Radio Caley acoustic set would be hard to beat. But with promises of more eclectic artists up their sleeves, it would certainly be wise to keep all diaries open. With a free night of belting tunes, booze and banter, how can you go wrong?

set is clean cut and catchy. The foursome seem instantly comfortable with their surroundings; laughing and joking with the crowd between songs. Singer Greig’s cheeky chap persona shines through his vocals, which should be noted for a range so varied that he blew the crowd away. The talented trio are already causing a massive stir with BBC and STV and if this performance is anything to go by, then the sky is the limit for their unique sound. Last but by no means least was the ever-delectable Vukovi. The usual four-piece donated singer Janine Shilstone and guitarist Hamish Reilly for a much more timid performance in comparison to their notoriously blistering gigs. The band have been storming the commercial radio waves since a mere two months into forming, with enough column inches to make even the most seasoned bands gush with pride. The key to their suc-cess: their airwaves friendly mix of pop-rock and new wave laced with Janine’s powerful, soaring voice. Reminiscent of Skunk Anansie’s Skin with similarities to Paramore’s Hayley Williams and Flyleaf ’s Lacey Mosley, it’s difficult to overlook her sultry trembles. It’s immediately obvious why this band are

36 / SPORT / The Edit

“IT WILL STILL BE THERE”WORDS: Mike PottsPHOTOGRAPHY: Stuart Cole

The bleeping watch-alarm penetrates the fug of sleep and a slightly fuzzy head, courtesy of a few beers the night before…

The others stir in their bunks; lumpy duvets shift and the odd parp heralds the warm-up to the traditional dawn chorus. Three adventurers emerge, bleary-eyed and scratching, taking a few moments to remember where they are and why someone has left bin-juice in their mouths. Breakfast is our own weight in porridge and coffee the consistency of Marmite. Just the way it should be. Out of the hostel and into the wagon. Our objective today is Braeriach: at 1296m, the third highest mountain in Scotland, behind Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui. The start of the walk, however, is a thirty minute drive away by sporty Uni minibus. We swing out of Granton-on-Spey and aim for Aviemore, still laughing at jokes from the previous evening and the Craig Bar’s comically abusive barman. Arriving at the car park, just off the Cairn Gorm ski-centre road, we kit up, check the map, and begin the long walk in. It’s a bit windy and dull but at least it isn’t raining. Passing the reindeer enclosure, we keep a close eye out for Santa, and then head East to the Chalamaine Gap, a romantic-sounding name for what is effectively an inconvenient tumble of boulders, slowing our progress to the Lairig Ghru, a violent North-South slash through the Cairngorm Range, linking Aviemore and Braemar. Braeriach forms the Western guardian of the entrance from the Aviemore side, a sloping spur leading to its summit cliffs. Unfortunately, as we’re on the Eastern side, this means we have to go all the way down and then all the bloody way up again. But, morale is high and the chatter slows only on the steeper uphill sections. I hang back a little and look down into the valley ahead: the last time I saw this view was over my shoulder, a year previously, as I turned to wipe driven stinging snow from my eyes. On that occasion, I had failed to summit… Through a great early-winter season in the

uncharacteristically Arctic weather, I had climbed gullies and faces in Coire an’t Sneachda and Glen Coe, crampons and ice axes scraping, hooking, torquing, hacking. The fear of falling onto the anxious belayer while trying to dig through sugar-snow cornices. The satisfaction of ticking off another winter route in the guide book. Joined by 9mm diameter nylon to a trusted partner; ‘the brotherhood of the rope’, they say. Share the pain, share the disappointment, share the joy, feed the passion for the mountains. Braeriach should have been a walk in the (National) park. Dylan and I rapidly gained the narrowing Northern shoulder, crampon points crunching into crisp firm snow. Making good progress, we entered the cloud base at around 900m height. The wind blew, the snow fell, the temperature dropped, as did the visibility to about ten feet. Soon we were in a proper, full-on blizzard white-out. No horizon, no reference, dizzy with disorientation, focussed on compass and watch. Trying to dead-reckon our way towards the summit ridge while avoiding a gaping maw to the East and potentially lethal cliffs to the North. The chill air pulls at technical clothing, searching for a way in and distracting from the task in hand. Progress is painfully slow and, at a point about 500 horizontal meters from the summit, we have a sudden attack of the sensibles. The roar of the wind makes verbal communication impossible. Fingers stab at the map through bulky winter mitts, heads nod in the direction of the summit and then back down the way we came up. Eyes hidden behind snow-plastered goggles, skin and mouths hidden under hoods, helmets and buffs. The body language says it all. Reluctantly, we turn back. “The mountain will still be there next time”, we reassure each other. We are doing the right thing. This is ‘experience’. We drop out of the cloud into a passive and clear world, so different to where we have come from. Doubts emerge – we could go back, it might be OK. But no, it’s starting to get late so we begin the slog back to the van, defeated, justifying our decision to ourselves and to each other. And


it would not be over-dramatic to say that we are still alive and not a statistic. Not an entry amongst the litany of disastrous adventures in the Mountain Rescue Team log books. Twelve months later, I follow the boys up the same slopes, pointing out now-obvious features, so subtle and unhelpful under the snow a year before. Disappointingly, no white stuff this time. We ascend to the summit ridge and the rain begins - thank you, Scotland! When the weather is good, nowhere better in the world. When the weather is bad, totally shi… The wind increases, in contrast to my confidence. Am I going to fail again? A Jonah? We assess, just like we were trained, and push on. Ahead, out of the cloud, the summit cairn. A pile of stones that provide brief protection from the squalls. Handshakes, smiles, warm sweet tea from a flask, photos. No point hanging around as we’re only halfway, aren’t we? Time to descend.

Tired legs reach the minibus as the light fails. Wet kit exchanged for warm clothes. Got to head back to Glasgow, joking, laughing, banter, poorly chosen music. The mountain was still there, like I said, but we didn’t ‘conquer’ it – that would be disrespectful to the environment as, frankly, it’ll still be here long after we are gone. This time it allowed us get to the top. And back down again. We were immersed in what most see from a distance, through the glass of a car window or a television screen. We take memories and leave only footprints.

Glasgow Caledonian University Mountaineering Club helps introduce enthusiastic and pro-active students of all abilities and experience to hillwalking, rock climbing and winter/summer mountaineering in the spectacular Scottish mountains. Please note that there is an element of risk in all outdoor activities – but they wouldn’t be worth doing otherwise, would they?

CANTERING FOR CALEY!WORDS: Colin Robertson PHOTOGRAPHY: Colin Robertson

A far cry from your usual university sports team options, the GCU Polo Club has galloped into view as one of this semester’s newest, most exciting

and vibrant additions to the already comprehensive repertoire of sports teams available at Caley. It’s not necessary to be a world-class jump jockey to get involved, in fact being able to ride a horse is not even required, and what makes it even easier- the horses are specially trained for polo only! GCU Polo’s newest ‘polo hot-shot’, Computer Science masters student, Varun Jagotta says: “When I came to the university from India I’d never even ridden a horse, now I’m part of the club, learning lots, having fun training, and playing in the team!” The Polo Club is currently trying to recruit new members, and there is plenty on offer; the opportunity to try new a new sport, compete against other universities or simply just enjoy a bit of banter on one of the numerous organised and impromptu social nights out. For these, and many more reasons, the fun and friendly Polo Club is definitely worth a look! The club trains once every two weeks, on a Monday night at Kinross Polo Club, and discounted lesson rates are available to all Caley students, staff and alumni. A mini-bus provides team transport and leaves Caledonian Court at 5.15pm prompt. If you would like more information about the club, this can be found out on the GCU Polo Facebook page, or by contacting the committee via email at [email protected].

Voting opens onlineMon 27th Feb

at 9.00am

Voting closes onlineThu 1st March at 2.00pm

Student

ElectionsThe Leadership Race 2012

www.caledonianstudent.com/elections #gcuvote12


Voting opens onlineMon 27th Feb

at 9.00am

Voting closes onlineThu 1st March at 2.00pm

Student

ElectionsThe Leadership Race 2012

www.caledonianstudent.com/elections #gcuvote12

The Edit - The Action Issue

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