OPPOSED POSITIONS - Gwendoline Riley

Book Review

OPPOSED POSITIONS by Gwendoline Riley
Published 2012

It took me a while to work out what I thought of this book - a strange yet somewhat endearing description of the life of Aislinn Kelly.

The book is not so much a story because, although fictitious, there is not much of a story line. However, do not let this put you off because one can find oneself truly involved and interested in the life of Aislinn Kelly. The book revolves around all of the people involved with and who have been a part of her life, moving between her extravagant family and variety of untrustworthy and interesting friends between London and Indianapolis.

But throughout the novel I learnt more about Aislinn herself and what kind of a person she is, and at times I found myself wondering whether she was a character who I really liked, due to her brash and difficult personality at times. Though in the end, as for most lead characters, I wanted the best for her – be this in friends, family, love and success.

The blurb of the novel explains the background for the story line – Aislinn’s difficult family life and her decision to move to Indianapolis for a short while. Throughout the book I was certain that something would happen regarding her move to America, however I was disappointed to find out that nothing does.

I did enjoy reading this book, and it was a relatively quick and easy read. I would have liked the story to lead somewhere, but I would recommend this as an interesting and different novel.

For more views on Opposed Positions and other books, recommended by Florence Welch (of Florence + The Machine) follow the online book club, @BetweenTwoBooks on Twitter. This is where I found out about this read!

BEACON - Two Door Cinema Club

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB – BEACON (album)

Released 31^st August 2012

After releasing the single ‘SLEEP ALONE’ earlier in the summer, I think that there was a lot expected from Two Door Cinema Club’s new album, BEACON.

The album opens with a repeated guitar riff, which builds during the intro, the emptiness of this however, contrasts with the depth of the rest of the album. The opening track, ‘NEXT YEAR’ is one of my favourites for witty, fitting lyrics “maybe someday you’ll be somewhere talking to me, as if you knew me, saying ‘I’ll be home for next year darling’”. After the chorus follows a great guitar interlude, played by the indie-guitar-genius, named Sam Halliday.

‘SLEEP ALONE’ the first single from this album, defines all that is good about this band. An upbeat rhythm, which exists to make heads bob when the tune enters the headphones of a travelling indie fan, or- in my case- a jump in the step of teenager who is running late. The iconic Two Door guitar riffs, played high on the fret board, to remind one of such a sound belonging to the Editors combine yet contrast with the bass lines from Kev Baird. Again, such meaningful lyrics performed by Alex Trimble, with a voice that even reached Olympic Opening Ceremony standard- a fact which all Two Door Cinema Club fans can be proud of.

I would recommend this album a great example of Indie and skilful music. Sounds that work, and add up to all that is key in a good album, and a successful band.

The overall sound of the album is not devastatingly different to the band’s first album, TOURIST HISTORY, but a further sense of experience is found and this band can now find their well deserved place in the list of artists who define British music of today.