DVD/Blu-ray: Mogul Mowgli

★★★★ DVD/BLU-RAY: MOGUL MOWGLI A powerful performance reminiscent of the young De Niro marks out this quasi-autobiographical tale

A powerful performance reminiscent of the young De Niro marks out this quasi-autobiographical tale

Can one use the term autofiction about a film? If so, Mogul Mowgli would be a perfect example. Riz Ahmed, the actor who came to fame with Four Lions, has in recent years appeared in a Star Wars spin-off and a Marvel film; he also raps as Riz MC with the transatlantic duo Swet Shop Boys.

Francis Spufford: Light Perpetual review - time regained

★★★★★ FRANCIS SPUFFORD: LIGHT PERPETUAL  A visionary novel of postwar London restores life to the victims of war

A visionary novel of postwar London restores life to the victims of war

On 25 November 1944, a German V2 rocket struck the Woolworths store in New Cross at Saturday lunchtime. It killed 168 people. Francis Spufford’s second novel begins with this “hairline crack” in existence; a mere nanosecond of high-explosive combustion, “measurably tiny, immeasurably vast”. In a matter-dissolving flash, it closes the book of time for five of the small children in the shop. 

Album: Goat Girl - On All Fours

★★ GOAT GIRL - ON ALL FOURS South London hipsters meander through 2021’s big issues

South London hipsters meander through 2021’s big issues

South London all-female post punkers, Goat Girl caused a bit of a splash with their self-titled debut album and early, belligerent tunes like “Scum” back in 2018. Now, however, is time for its follow-up and, unfortunately On All Fours is indelibly stamped with difficult second album syndrome.

The Hermes Experiment, Wigmore Hall online review - innovative and uplifting

★★★★ THE HERMES EXPERIMENT, WIGMORE HALL Innovative and uplifting

Much exciting music being made by, and written for, this talented young quartet

Fast making a name for themselves in contemporary chamber music, The Hermes Experiment players here give a wonderful debut recital at the Wigmore Hall, With a range of pieces as eclectic as their line up – harp, soprano, double bass and clarinet – the quartet perform a multifarious array of works, from Lili Boulanger’s lilting, soothing "Reflets" to composer and

Apartment House, Wigmore Hall online review - introspective music for isolated times

★★★★ APARTMENT HOUSE, WIGMORE HALL Focus on Morton Feldman in serene listening

Serene lockdown listening in three concerts dedicated to Morton Feldman

Another year, another lockdown. Though I have little doubt this was not the way most us of hoped to start 2021, we can at least be grateful that we’re not suffering quite the same drought of live music we experienced back in March. Despite the stringent restrictions, many venues and ensembles are able to offer an array of live and recorded streams, something which wasn’t possible in the UK at the start of the first lockdown.

Gabrieli Consort, McCreesh online review - joyous Bach Christmas Oratorio

★★★★ GABRIELI CONSORT ONLINE Immersive, pared-down Bach Christmas Oratorio

Pared-down reading makes for an immersive experience

After the main portion of the Voces8 Live from London Christmas festival revelled in the variety of its groups and repertoire, the final stretch allowed a single group to explore a single masterpiece by a great composer.

Bridgerton, Netflix review - bodice-ripper cliches recycled in Regency romp

★★★ BRIDGERTON, NETFLIX Bodice-ripper cliches recycled in Regency romp

Mixed-race historical mashup is entertaining but shallow

At first glance you might mistake Bridgerton (Netflix) for the latest effusion from the pen of Lord Fellowes, since it conforms so closely to the Fellowesian pattern of manners, money and mores among the English aristocracy. Even the title sounds like a mashup of Downton and Belgravia.

Living Newspaper: A Counter Narrative, Royal Court online review – the news, but better

★★★★ LIVING NEWSPAPER: A COUNTER NARRATIVE, ROYAL COURT The news, but better 

The Royal Court’s experimental piece is political theatre at its finest and fiercest

Edition 2 of Living Newspaper: A Counter Narrative, an experimental new piece of online theatre from the Royal Court, doesn’t mess around. Within minutes, a cry of "Tory scum" is echoing around the Jerwood Theatre – the refrain of an anarchic musical number presided over by a mannequin painted blue, wearing a shaggy blond wig.