STACK NZ Oct #67

REVIEWS

BEST OF

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DVD of the MONTH

THE LEFTOVERS One of the best HBO series you’ve probably never heard of, The Leftovers concerns a Rapture- like event in which two per cent of the world’s population mysteriously vanish. Rather than delve too deeply into the nature of the event and where all these people have actually gone, this creepy and provocative series instead examines the impact the disappearances have had on those left behind. This isn’t a faith-based show by any stretch; it’s a dark, violent and frequently disturbing drama in the tradition of Stephen King. There are also comparisons to Lost , given the series was co-created by Damon Lindelof, who’s one of today’s most polarising writers thanks to his infuriating habit of never explaining what the hell is going on. But in the case of The Leftovers , Lindelof’s oblique plotting actually works, investing the proceedings with an eerie vibe

that intensifies over the course of 10 episodes, and amplifying the fear inherent in what can’t be explained. Consequently, the viewer is left as unsettled as the characters, but in the right way – this is a show where less is more. The focus is the small community of Mapleton, New York, where the fallout from the event continues to affect the residents three years later. The presence of a strange cult known as the Guilty Remnant, who have taken a vow of silence, chain smoke and dress in white, and a messiah figure who takes away the pain of lost loved ones, adds further to the mystery. In the wake of a slew of shows in which people inexplicably return from the dead ( Les Revenants , Resurrection , Glitch ), this bleak and enigmatic series delivers a welcome counterpoint. The second season will screen in October. Scott Hocking

ALBUM of the MONTH

Fat Freddy’s Drop Bays In the past, the beloved Wellington groovemeisters have tended to write and road test their songs while on tour before committing them to disc. But with this, their fourth studio set, most of the writing was done in the studio, and Bays is all the better for it. All the things you love about FFD are present and correct – Joe Dukie’s sweet soulful vocals, the punchy horns, the seamless switches between reggae and funk– but there’s also room for some more reflective moments, like the jazzy drift of Makkan or the electronic shimmer of Wheels . Fish In The Sea is another standout, a mighty nine minute-plus

workout that builds slowly into a warm but steely soul groove, before taking a joyous left turn into Afrobeat two thirds the way through. Bay ’s other extended jam, the synth-fuelled elastic rhythms of Cortina Motors , is equally addictive, while the largely horns-free Razor is powered by a similarly muscular electro pulse. Elsewhere, the loping skank of Slings & Arrows will delight FFD’s reggae fanbase, while the album is bookended by two of their trademark swampy funk grinds, Wairunga Blues and Novak . Your soundtrack to summer has arrived nice and early; make the most of it. John Ferguson

GAME of the MONTH

Destiny: The taken king If you’re one of the few who’s put Destiny aside since its release over a year ago, here’s the reason you’ve been looking for to pull it out and dust it off.

released and makes it a reality. Experience- based levelling, a revamped HUD and UI, a new quest system, and the addition of some talented voice actors have made The Taken King worth every penny. No more getting lucky in loot drops to get to the same level as your mates, no more Peter Dinklage, just good ol’ fashioned alien slaughter. The AI are more alive, the rewards are more satisfying, the Ghosts are more useful... there is no end to the improvements lining the halls of The Taken King. It’s the grind minus the guilt. Let’s go. Alesha Kolbe

You killed Crota. Now, his father has dubbed himself the Taken King, and is raising an army hell-bent on your destruction. Your job as a Guardian is to prevent him from destroying the universe as we know it. If you think that sounds like a better story than Destiny is accustomed to, you’re right. Destiny ’s latest DLC takes everything Bungie promised us when the game first

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