Read: Distrust That Particular Flavour
When the science fiction author popularly credited with predicting the internet in his novel Neuromancer shares his observations of the world around us, it’s best to pay attention. William Gibson’s first non-fiction book, Distrust That Particular Flavour is a collection of essays and articles from the last 25 years or so. Insights into what lies at the heart of his fiction writing are littered throughout the book, whether it’s his love of the multi-layered mayhem of a modern city, or the endless fascination with what awaits us around the next technological turn. If you’re not a fan of Gibson’s, this is as good a place as any to begin. Forget faux futurists, this is the collected works of a mind that has spent several decades imagining with uncanny accuracy what tomorrow will bring.
Watch: Sons of Anarchy
It’s far more than ‘bogan Hamlet’ as it was once memorably described to me. Now exploring new depths of darkness at the beginning of Season 5, the members of the Sons of Anarchy bikie gang find themselves, as always, in over their heads, with new club president Jax trying to find his way out of the mess he’s inherited while minimising the damage to his family and his club. Katey Sagal’s powerful matriarch Gemma is scene-stealingly entertaining – love her, hate her, laugh and cringe at her all in a single episode. Jimmy Smits and Danny Trejo add to an already excellent cast with fantastic ongoing parts, though in my mind nothing will ever measure up to the inspired Sonny Barger cameo from last season.
Listen: Mumford and Sons – Babel
Yes, it’s peak hipster. It’s more of the same as their hugely successful debut but it’s MORE of the same. This album is closer to channelling the rollicking live band than Sigh No More ever got. It’s a great progression from the first album, not a significant deviation. It’s joyous, upbeat and great fun. It’s also really rather beautifully mastered, for those who care about such things (me).
