Soldier – August 2019

http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2019 67

MUSIC

MOVIE RELEASES

Kursk: The Last Mission

Out now on DVD/digital

UNLESS you have been living on

another planet you will know the

story of the doomed Russian nuclear

submarine, the Kursk. It is 2000,

and the Russian Northern Fleet is critically underfunded,

operating poorly maintained vessels. But knowing the

ultimate fate of the crew at the bottom of the Barents Sea

does not detract from this epic. To the fore comes a sense of

the loneliness of command, as well as fear, desperation and

making peace with certain death. It was a grim, often heart

rending and frustrating watch. This shocking tale had me

gripped throughout.

Maj Neil Johnson, AAC

Ashes in the Snow

Out now on DVD/digital

DURING the Second World War

many thousands of Lithuanians were

herded from their homeland to Soviet

gulags. This title, based on real events,

chronicles the experiences of one family torn apart by Stalin’s

regime – seen predominantly through the eyes of a teenage

girl. She witnesses the torture and abuses of power by their

guards, who in turn suffer their own privations. For some,

suicide is preferable to the Siberian winter. Our allies in

contemporary Baltic states will not forget these events and

the British Army’s participation on Operation Cabrit alongside

other Nato partners shows the West is equally resolute.

Maj Neil Johnson, AAC

Making Noise Quietly

Out now in cinemas

SUBTITLED Three Conversations,

this offering is a triptych of separate

stories, involving three distinct

conversations between strangers, all

with the backdrop of conflict. This challenging and intimate

production has its roots in the theatre and struggles to

convince on the big screen. Despite strong performances

from Barbara Marten and Deborah Findlay, the title

fails to provide any coherent message or theme. Although

it is rated 15, I would also add a cautionary “M” for

melancholy to that guidance.

CSjt Chris Corby, Rifles

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

› IF YOU were to listen to Freya Ridings’

new self-titled offering your first thoughts

would be something along the lines of “this

is haunting”, or even “I swear I’ve heard this

song before”.

With more than 96 million Spotify streams,

her hit single Lost Without You brought her

to the attention of music lovers and adverts

nationwide, with her emotive yet soul-stirring

melodic voice.

If you are looking for a feel-good, summer

anthem then this certainly is not it. However,

if like me, you enjoy an album you can get lost

in, while also reflecting on times from your

own past, then this is perfect.

This record is billed as being one of the

most promising to arise from the UK’s charts,

while bringing a new dimension to thought-

provoking music with the use of piano ballads

and a hint of melancholy.

In opener Poison you are automatically

drawn to the high-pitched piano sounds, and

it sets the scene of minimalism and stripped

back compositions. Though be mindful – this

song does not reflect the quality of the rest of

the album, which I personally feel gets better

track by track.

Fourth single You Mean the World to Me

has a moving resemblance to the beginning

of Evanescence’s My Immortal, with its

lingering piano introduction.

The song tells the story of a lovers’ fight and

the internal gloom one can have without quite

knowing it.

The lyric “There’s a darkness that I’ve

known, and it’s shaken me to stone” details

the way Ridings dealt with a pain that even

shocked herself.

As the composition goes on, so does the

hurt, as well as the internal question of:

“What the hell is wrong with me? I am not

this ice queen”.

Finishing with Wishbone, the record ends

with a tale of heartbreak, reflections on past

mistakes and an acceptance that it is now time

to move on, even though she isn’t ready to.

This is an artist who clearly stems from

a place of sorrow, allowing the listener to

project their own personal emotion and attach

themselves to the songs on a deeper level.

The album itself pulls at the heartstrings

and takes you to a place of longing, while

also captivating you with Ridings’ beautifully

haunting lyrics. ■

Artist reflects on heartbreak

and past mistakes

FREYA RIDINGS

VERDICT:

The perfect soundtrack for a moment

of introspection

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

REVIEW: ELLA SMITH, CIVVY

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

PICK OF THE MONTH:

65-70-sol-aug reviews.indd 3 25/07/2019 18:34