Who has the time to read, watch, listen, and go to absolutely everything that’s on in one month? Well, we tried our best to do just that (as is our job) – and we’ve got the receipts to prove it. Here are the books, music, shows and films Buzz vibed with the most in January 2023.

BOOKS

RIVER SING ME HOME – ELEANOR SHEARER

Set in the Caribbean at the time of the Slavery Abolition Act, Shearer’s debut novel River Sing Me Home follows a former enslaved woman and mother, Rachel, on her journey to find the children that were taken from her. Rhianon Holley said: “Finding inspiration from real-life stories of women who travelled across the Caribbean islands searching for their lost children, it’s apparent that this is a thoroughly researched novel. Reaching the end of the book, I felt that I had been on a journey with the characters, with many pivotal people to tell the story of hope, love, loss and power along the way. River Sing Me Home is beautifully written, demonstrating the power of the mind and the human heart.”

Full review here

THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING – RICK RUBIN

Fêted American record producer Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act is a bible for creative souls. Rubin has produced records for acts such as the Beastie Boys, Run-DMC and Public Enemy, and released this self-help book in January, comprised of 78 chapters each covering an area of thought. David Nobakht said: “One can randomly dive into this book and forage some valuable words of wisdom that really do intensify and aid creative thought, methods and processes: not solely inward-facing, but also in relation to our surroundings and the ever-changing, challenging world in which we live.”

Full review here

STOLEN – ANN-HELÉN LAESTADIUS

Based on real events, this Swedish coming-of-age story follows the life of an indigenous girl who lives in the Arctic Circle and her struggle with her identity in a time of climate crisis, xenophobia and patriarchal cultural traditions. Rhianon Holley said: “Coming from a long line of Sámi reindeer herders, Elsa’s family and the other reindeer collectives face years of crimes against their reindeer without any investigation or punishment served by the authorities. This all serves to put a spotlight on traditions, culture and society of Scandinavia’s indigenous community and highlights the injustice and the fight for the future with their livelihoods at risk.”

Full review here

ALBUMS

ROZI PLAIN – PRIZE

Beginning as a delicately jubilant album, Rozi Plain’s Prize finds itself in haunting territory, the kind of sound you want to bask in – according to Rosanna Lewis, who reviewed Plain’s fifth studio album. “The album as a whole doesn’t venture too far from the comfort blanket of acoustic indie, stamped with Rozi’s questioning lyrics, sung with the lightest touch. But there’s something distinctive about the construction of a Rozi Plain song — a soothing quality to the repetition of those lovely little musical cells.”

Full review here

THE MURDER CAPITAL – GIGI’S RECOVERY

Irish band The Murder Capital return with their second studio album Gigi’s Recovery. Here is what Josh Williams had to say about it: “Opening with the short and slightly discomforting Existence, it’s clear that COVID and lockdowns hasn’t caused Dublin’s The Murder Capital to lose their dark depressing edge. Gigi’s Recovery is a sophomore banger from The Murder Capital, losing none of their debut’s passion, love, and loss while simultaneously adding something softer to their bow.”

Full review here

CYMANDE – CYMANDE

Lighting up America’s Billboard charts 50 years ago – an almost unique feat among the UK’s Black musicians of the era – Afro-Caribbean jazz fusers Cymande were initially active in the early 1970s, breaking up in 1975 after three albums. On the topic of this release, a reissue of self-titled debut LP, Chris Seal said: “Artfully smudging the genre boundaries between heavy roots reggae, jazz and funk, the album still sounds like little else.”

Full review here 

FILM

ENYS MEN 

Directly channeling the look and feel of eerie British children’s television, Enys Men – from Cornish filmmaker Mark Jenkin – is shot on hand-cranked 16mm colour film stock with overdubbed audio. The film is a follow-up to 2019’s Bait, another Cornish drama set across St Agnes, Charlestown and West Penwith; Enys Men follows a wildlife volunteer’s daily obersvations of rare flowers from an uninhabitable island off the British coast as she descends into madness.

Full review here

EMPIRE OF LIGHT

Refusing to shy away from racism or brutality, Empire Of Light stars Olivia Coleman and Michael Ward as employees of a seaside cinema in the 1980s. Written and directed by Sam Mendes, the film follows Coleman’s middle-aged character as she deals with her mental health and begins an unlikely friendship and then relationship with her colleague played by Ward. “Mendes’ film showcases complex themes in a bold, sophisticated and realistic way,” Adam Mo Ali says.

Full review here

ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED

This documentary film, directed by Laura Poitras, uses rare footage and candid interviews to unpack the life and career of renowned photographer Nan Goldin. Hannah Collins said: “The strongest thing about Poitras’ filmmaking is that she provides space for Goldin to simply tell her story through her work and words. Simply put, it’s a beautiful marriage between one documentarian and another, drawing a clear and sometimes painful line between the personal and political, potently reminding us that the function of art in society is that art should have a function.”

Full review here

STAGE

BUGSY MALONE

Based on the 1976 musical film that spoofed classic mobster movies with an all-singing and dancing cast of children, Bugsy Malone is just as joyous on stage. Chris Williams said: “Any reservations I had soon melted away by the joy of the show and the likeability of the young actors – who are clearly having the time of their lives. If you don’t leave the WMC with a smile on your face after seeing Bugsy Malone, then there’s no hope for you.”

Full review here

STRICTLY BALLROOM

Based on Baz Luhrman’s 1992 Aussie rom-com, Strictly Ballroom: The Musical is a stage show directed by Craig Revel Horwood and starring Kevin Clifton and Maisie Peters. Here’s what Chris Williams had to say: “A message from Horwood, in full bogan Australian accent, sets the scene for us – 1990s Australia, a tiny bit tacky and a lot of camp! Strictly Ballroom The Musical is a mixed bag, but one filled with sequins, sparkle, offbeat Australian humour and a Spanish Abuela playing the trumpet.”

Full review here

MATTHEW BOURNE’S SLEEPING BEAUTY

Renowned British choreographer Matthew Bourne’s take on the classic fairytale is an awakening that has become a firm favourite amongst audiences across the globe. Blending dance, storytelling and theatricality, the production, which closed out January at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre, is half classic, half contemporary twist with a favoured love story at its very centre. “The incredibly fluid and creative choreography, the impressive set and the beautiful costumes are all tied together by Tchaikovsky’s wonderful score,” Rhiannon Farr enthused.

Full review here

LIVE MUSIC

BLACK STONE CHERRY / THE DARKNESS

In a co-headline show, Kentucky band Black Stone Cherry teamed up with Lowestoft’s The Darkness for a night of rock anthems at the CIA. Chris Andrews said: “It’s not a night for sensible shoes and a cardi: it’s Saturday, it’s Cardiff and just about the finest arena rock tour you are likely to see this year is going down in the International Arena. All three bands brought their A-game tonight and it was impossible not to have fun: arena rock done properly.”

Full review here

THE 1975

Following their most recent album Being Funny In A Foreign Language, The 1975 took to the CIA for their At Their Very Best tour. Rhiannon Farr said: “All The 1975 needed to do to get the audience going was play some of their hits, which proves to work a treat. The second half of their set comprises songs from every album, and the audience is having a collectively brilliant time, never more so than during Chocolate. Back and better than ever, onstage meat-eating and all.”

Full review here

DROPKICK MURPHYS

Boston’s Celtic punks the Dropkick Murphys made their return to Cardiff’s International Arena with a stripped-back stage setting, allowing the night to be all about the music. Aussie punks The Rumjacks also feature as support, their hit An Irish Pub Song making the perfect build up for SoCal punks Pennywise. “There’s something for everybody to enjoy at a Dropkick Murphys gig – that’s what’s kept them popular for 25 years now – and if they announced a gig in Cardiff next week, I’d wager most people in attendance would happily pay again,” said Chris Andrews.

Full review here

words EMMA WAY