Saturday, 18 June 2022
So much noteworthy new music, so little time. Looking for a new jam? I hear you buddy. The summer is now upon us, and as such we will be doing the Spring Music Round-Up, a rough and ready summary of some of the most interesting new releases of the recent past.
Specifically we will be looking at the new albums from Arcade Fire, Father John Misty, Beach House, and Kavinsky. Let's dive right in.
"We - Arcade Fire" Album Review
Genre Rock
We represents something of a comeback for Montreal alternative rockers Arcade Fire. That is not to say that their last album, Everything Now was bad, but when your discography to-date consists almost entirely of seminal, genre-defining records, expectations can be high.
There is plenty to enjoy with We, and certainly you are unlikely to find a more ambitious rock album in 2022. But while the music is memorable, conceptually this album still feels like a bit of an imitation of Arcade Fire's more celebrated work.

"Chloë and the next 20th Century - Father John Misty" Album Review
Genre Jazz-folk

It all reminds us of why we love Father John Misty and his music. The comedy, the tragedy, it's all here and with new musical experimentations, inventively composed. Definitely not one to miss.

"Once Twice Melody - Beach House" Album Review
Genre Dream-Pop

This is an album worth listening to, with great tracks, great variety, and consistency throughout. Top notch work and another reminder of why this band is so highly regarded.

"Reborn - Kavinsky" Album Review
Genre Synthwave


Sunday, 29 May 2022
Another doozy of a season in the record books, which means it is time for The Ephemeric's traditional end of season review. We had drama, tension and last minute twists, but who did what and which players caught our eye? Read on to find out.

Now without further ado it is time to move on to the Ephemeric end of season awards, followed by our carefully selected Premier League team of the year.
The Ephemeric Premier League Awards 2022:
Winners: Manchester City
Relegated: Burnley, Watford, Norwich
Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - Arguably the best player in football today. Salah topped both the goals and assists table and remains the essential player of one of the world's best sides.
U-21 Player of the Year: Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace) - A competitive year for this prize. On another day I could easily have awarded this to Reece James or Phil Foden, but in the end it is the Crystal Palace loanee that has most impressed. To make his Premier League debut and immediately exert such influence and poise is a remarkable accomplishment and hopefully the beginning of a very strong career.
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool) - The most clean sheets, and just a constant presence in this Liverpool defence. Alisson just seems to have every attribute a keeper needs.
Top Scorer: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) & Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) (23)
Most Assists: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) (13)
Manager of the Year: Antonio Conte (Tottenham) - For years Tottenham have seemed like a club adrift, consistent only in their underachievement, even under the stewardship of some top level managers. In Conte it seems the club may finally have found someone with the will to elevate these players and finally achieve some level of consistent results.
Best signing of the season: Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
Worst signing of the season: Dele Alli (Everton)
The Ephemeric Premier League Team of the Season 2022:

A surprisingly difficult XI to pick this year. Alisson in goal picks himself, along with the league's two standout players Salah and Son, but for every other position there were at least two or three players who could have made a credible claim to be in this team.
Saturday, 21 May 2022
Directed by Rupert Goold
Written by Mike Bartlett
Starring Bertie Carvel, Tamara Tunie, Lydia Wilson
Theatre Old Vic
Even though his time in office has come to an end, it's clear that it will take some time for the world to shake the spectre of the 45th President from its collective consciousness. This fixation comes not just from a place of revulsion, but fascination. There are many out there who still yearn to understand, not just the man, but his following. How could such a person command a fervent and loyal base of support from so many? How could his reprehensible ideas and obvious nonsense find any measure of resonance, not just among the uninformed, but in some cases the intelligent and powerful? For all his controversies and corruption, Donald Trump remains a mystery that compels interest in even those who stand against him. The 47th indulges that fascination and in doing so crafts some superb entertainment, without ever really providing any deep new insights.
The 47th is an immaculately presented piece of theatre marked by a spellbinding central performance. But much like its subject matter, it is gaudy and designed to elicit a visceral reaction, rather than a true exploration.

Sunday, 27 March 2022

Welcome back to The Ephemeric. It's that time of year again where this blog astounds you with its super accurate Oscar predictions. Ideally I would have liked to post this last week, but unfortunately it has been about four months since I have been able to get away from work. Instead, we will need to make do with what is a very last minute effort! Think I'm exaggerating? Look up last year's post, this paragraph was copied word for word. It's not laziness, that's how short of time I am!
This year I find myself in the unfamiliar position of actually agreeing with most of the likely winners. Looking at the predictions below, it's only the two big ones with which I take issue. Whether that is a sign of one or two particularly strong frontrunners or a generally weak roster I will leave for interpretation. So take a gander at the list below, an idea perhaps of who is likely to come away with a statue from this year's ceremony.
Best Picture
Nominations:
- Belfast – Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas
- CODA – Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger
- Don't Look Up – Adam McKay and Kevin Messick
- Drive My Car – Teruhisa Yamamoto
- Dune – Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter
- King Richard – Tim White, Trevor White and Will Smith
- Licorice Pizza – Sara Murphy, Adam Somner and Paul Thomas Anderson
- Nightmare Alley – Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper
- The Power of the Dog – Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier
- West Side Story – Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger
Who should really win: Belfast
Best Director
Nominations:
- Kenneth Branagh – Belfast
- Ryusuke Hamaguchi – Drive My Car
- Paul Thomas Anderson – Licorice Pizza
- Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog
- Steven Spielberg – West Side Story
Who should really win: Kenneth Branagh - Belfast
Best Actor
Nominations:
- Javier Bardem – Being the Ricardos as Desi Arnaz
- Benedict Cumberbatch – The Power of the Dog as Phil Burbank
- Andrew Garfield – Tick, Tick... Boom! as Jonathan Larson
- Will Smith – King Richard as Richard Williams
- Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth as Lord Macbeth
Who should really win: Will Smith - King Richard as Richard Williams
Best Actress
Nominations:
- Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye as Tammy Faye Bakker
- Olivia Colman – The Lost Daughter as Leda Caruso
- Penélope Cruz – Parallel Mothers as Janis Martínez Moreno
- Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos as Lucille Ball
- Kristen Stewart – Spencer as Diana, Princess of Wales
Who should really win: Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye as Tammy Faye Bakker
Best Supporting Actor
Nominations:
- Ciarán Hinds – Belfast as Pop
- Troy Kotsur – CODA as Frank Rossi
- Jesse Plemons – The Power of the Dog as George Burbank
- J. K. Simmons – Being the Ricardos as William Frawley
- Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog as Peter Gordon
Who should really win: Troy Kotsur – CODA as Frank Rossi
Best Supporting Actress
Nominations:
- Jessie Buckley – The Lost Daughter as Young Leda Caruso
- Ariana DeBose – West Side Story as Anita
- Judi Dench – Belfast as Granny
- Kirsten Dunst – The Power of the Dog as Rose Gordon
- Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard as Oracene "Brandy" Price
Who should really win: Ariana DeBose – West Side Story as Anita
Best Original Screenplay
Nominations:
- Belfast – Kenneth Branagh
- Don't Look Up – Screenplay by Adam McKay; Story by Adam McKay and David Sirota
- King Richard – Zach Baylin
- Licorice Pizza – Paul Thomas Anderson
- The Worst Person in the World – Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier
Who should really win: Don't Look Up – Screenplay by Adam McKay; Story by Adam McKay and David Sirota
Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominations:
- CODA – Sian Heder; based on the original motion picture screenplay La Famille Bélier written by Victoria Bedos, Thomas Bidegain, Stanislas Carré de Malberg and Éric Lartigau
- Drive My Car – Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe; based on the short story by Haruki Murakami
- Dune – Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth; based on the novel by Frank Herbert
- The Lost Daughter – Maggie Gyllenhaal; based on the novel by Elena Ferrante
- The Power of the Dog – Jane Campion; based on the novel by Thomas Savage
Who should really win: CODA – Sian Heder; based on the original motion picture screenplay La Famille Bélier written by Victoria Bedos, Thomas Bidegain, Stanislas Carré de Malberg and Éric Lartigau
So there you have it, The Ephemeric's picks for the year. Enjoy the Oscars tonight, and when the results go as predicted, remember that you heard it here first!
Saturday, 5 March 2022
Hello and welcome back to 2022's final post from the Hot List. This week we will be looking at the most exciting new movies set to hit the big screen in 2022 from March onwards, after the cutoff point for this year's awards season.
So without further delay, the key films to keep an eye on in the coming year (trailers linked in the title where available), starting with number 15:
15. Men

Release Date: May 2022
14. Canterbury Glass

Release Date: November 2022
13. Killers of the Flower Moon

Release Date: November 2022
12. Wendell and Wild

Release Date: TBA 2022
11. Nope

Release Date: July 2022
10. Next Goal Wins

His next film, Next Goal Wins, is based on the true story of Dutch football coach Thomas Rongen and his efforts to take the American-Samoa national team, then considered the worst in the world, to the 2014 World Cup.
Michael Fassbender stars as Rongen, and he will be joined by Elisabeth Moss, Armie Hammer, and long-time Waititi collaborator Rhys Darby.
Release date is still TBA, but after a number of delays filming is said to be complete and should see release in 2022.
Release Date: TBA 2022
9. Avatar 2

Release Date: December 2022
8. Bardo

7. Lightyear

Release Date: June 2022
6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)

Release Date: October 2022
5. The Banshees of Inisherin

Release Date: October 2022
4. Empire of Light

Release Date: TBA 2022
3. The Fabelmans

Release Date: November 2022
2. She Said

Release Date: November 2022
1. Babylon

Chazelle is on something of a hot streak. His three last films all won Oscars, and if there's one thing the Academy loves, it's films about Hollywood. This releases in December and is my most hotly anticipated film of 2022.
Release Date: December 2022
So there you have it folks: The 2022 Hot List. I will be back with many more articles in due course, but for now stay safe and let's make 2022 a great year together.
Sunday, 20 February 2022
Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2022 Hot List. This week we will be having a look at the most exciting new music due for release in the coming year.
Music is always the most difficult list to compile. Every year the volume of new content seems to increase, doubly so over the pandemic years. On top of which, the advent of digital self-publishing through services like Spotify has made it more difficult to keep tabs on all the promising new talent in the industry, and resulted in release schedules that are less formalised and harder to predict.
So without further ado, here is our list of the top albums to keep an eye on in 2022, starting with number 15:
15. Arctic Monkeys

Release Date: Summer 2022
14. Sarah Kinsley (New band)

Release Date: TBA 2022
13. Gabriels (New band)

Release Date: TBA 2022
12. "The Tipping Point" by Tears for Fears

Release Date: February 2022
11. "Time Skiffs" by Animal Collective

Release Date: February 2022
10. "As I Try Not to Fall Apart" by White Lies

Release Date: March 2022
9. "Once Twice Melody" by Beach House

Release Date: February 2022
8. Toledo (New band)

Release Date: TBA 2022

Release Date: April 2022
6. Skullcrusher (New band)

Release Date: TBA 2022
5. "From Capelton Hill" by Stars

Release Date: May 2022

Release Date: TBA 2022
3. "Chloe and the Next 20th Century" by Father John Misty

Release Date: April 2022
2. The xx

1. "Reborn" by Kavinsky

Release Date: March 2022
So there you have it folks: 2022 in music. Tune in next week for this year's final Hot List, where we look at the most exciting new movies in 2022.
Sunday, 13 February 2022
Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2022 Hot List. This week we will be having a look at the most exciting theatrical productions coming to the stage in the coming year.
The last two years have not been kind to theatre, with pandemics, lockdowns, and tight restrictions on when and how you can congregate indoors. So much so, that this blog skipped the Theatre list entirely in its 2021 preview. But in 2022, theatre makes a comeback. The playhouses are reopening, the great thespians of the world are returning to the stage, and the pent-up creative output of two years is ready to be unleashed.
So without further ado here's our list of the top 10 theatrical productions to keep an eye on in 2022, starting with number 10:
10. "Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, at Duke of York's Theatre

9. "Marys Seacole" by Jackie Sibblies Drury, at the Donmar Warehouse

8. "4000 Miles" by Amy Herzog, at the Old Vic

7. "The House of Shades" by Beth Steel, at the Almeida

This world premiere at the Almeida comes courtesy of Hampstead Theatre regular Beth Steel, best known for her productions of Wonderland and Labyrinth on that stage. Here, she collaborates with director Blanche McIntyre, a familiar face for patrons of the Almeida following her star studded production of The Writer.
The House of Shades will run over the summer, with previews commencing in May this year.
6. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Aaron Sorkin and Harper Lee, at the Gielgud Theatre

This is a production of the adaptation by legendary screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, previously a mega-hit on Broadway that has earned rave reviews from the critics. The London production had originally been cast with Rhys Ifans, but following a two year delay, he has been replaced by Rafe Spall. Ifans is one of the greats, but in Spall we have a very capable replacement. It will be interesting to see how he fares.
It is sad that in 2022, the 60th anniversary of the novel's original publication, its themes of racial injustice remain so pertinent, hopefully this production can serve as a timely reminder, and stir some fresh impetus into solving some of the problems that we still face as a society.
5. "The 47th" by Mike Bartlett, at the Old Vic

4. "The Father and the Assassin" by Anupama Chandrasekhar, at the National Theatre

3. "The Pillowman" by Martin McDonagh, at Duke of York's Theatre

2. "Jerusalem" by Jez Butterworth, at the Apollo Theatre

1. "The Burnt City" by Punchdrunk Theatre

So there you have it folks: 2022 in theatre. Tune in soon for our next instalment of the Hot List, covering the essential new music coming this year!