As physical media continues its cultural comeback, The National rounds up the best releases this month across film, music, art and more.
Soups, Salads, Sandwiches: A Cookbook, Matty Matheson (October 22)
Chances are you’ll recognise Matty Matheson from his turn as actor (and executive producer) on Emmy and Golden Globe-winning show The Bear. Beyond his role in fictional kitchens, he has worked in real ones for two decades – and currently runs 11 restaurants in Canada. Millennials may know him from his Vice days and his YouTube videos with more than 100 million views.
And next month, Matheson will release a cookbook dedicated to something many have eaten in the past couple of days: soups, salads and sandwiches. He brings his trademark twist to much-loved classics. How does a meal of giant meatballs in beefy tomato broth, a griddled salami panzanella salad and banana bread French toast sound?
Like Matheson himself, the book has character and is packed with slick photos. You might not end up making anything, but it’ll look really good on your kitchen countertop.
Nasri Atallah, Luxury editor
Patterns in Repeat, Laura Marling (October 25)
I feel like I have grown up with British folk singer Laura Marling. Ahead of her 2008 album Alas, I Cannot Swim, she released two EPs in 2007, The London Town and My Manic and I – on the latter was New Romantic, a single that I grabbed with both hands, hummed mindlessly to myself for at least a year (sorry, Mum and Dad) and made the soundtrack to my MySpace page for months on end. A true sign of the times. Fast-forward 17 years, Marling is now on her eighth studio album, Patterns in Repeat, which is coming out on October 25.
Much has changed in those 17 years, and Marling now details a new reality – as a mother, partner and writer. Lead single Child of Mine speaks of finding contentment in a slower pace of life and, over a layer of sweet strumming folky guitars, Patterns explores beauty in ageing and generational connections.
I look forward to diving into the 11-song track list in full this month.
Farah Andrews, head of features
Coda, Ryuichi Sakamoto (October 11)
By 1983, Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto had already cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in the development of his country’s contemporary music scene. His electronic pop band Yellow Magic Orchestra, as well as his solo albums, were radical yet accessible statements which influenced generations of musicians across the world, both directly and indirectly.
The release of Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence brought Sakamoto to a different stratosphere of global acclaim. The film marked his debut as an actor, opposite fellow art pop stalwart David Bowie, and as a composer. The latter trade came to define his career on the world stage, earning him an Oscar for film composing several years later for The Last Emperor. Musically, it is Mr Lawrence that has proved his most enduring work, and was one of his most oft-mentioned works when he passed away last year.
Coda, which features the solo piano version of the film’s theme, is a masterpiece in its own right, and will be released internationally by French label Wewantsounds on vinyl for the first time next month.
William Mullally, arts and culture editor
Celia & Johnny, Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco (October 11)
In 1974, two titans of Latin music collaborated on an album that would become foundational for the salsa genre. At the time, Cuban singer Celia Cruz had still not found success and was struggling to enter the salsa scene in the US after arriving in the early 1960s.
But when famed Dominican band leader Johnny Pacheco stumbled across her early records, he knew she was the missing ingredient to the salsa he wanted to write. With Pacheco’s idiosyncratic rhythms, Cruz finally had her time in the sun. Celia & Johnny has some of the Rumba Queen’s biggest hits, including Quimbara and Toro Mata. The album is marking its 50th anniversary with a special vinyl edition that will be released on October 11.
Razmig Bedirian, arts and culture writer
Pre-Raphaelite Sisters, National Portrait Gallery (October 15)
Whether we are well-versed in the world of Pre-Raphaelite art or not, most of us recognise the young women who are the subjects of these important works. With their pale faces, long locks and poignant gazes, they were the muses of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, from William Holman Hunt to John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, they were used to explore themes of love, loss and beauty with an air of tragedy.
But who were these women who posed for some of the most well-known works of art? Sitting somewhere between empowerment and objectivity, these muses have stories of their own. Some were models discovered by male artists to pose for paintings, others were sisters, wives, daughters and friends of the artists. Some were even artists themselves who had their own aspirations in a male-dominated art world.
Pre-Raphaelite Sisters by the National Portrait Gallery contains more than 100 reproduced images, illustrating the overlooked stories of the movement’s most familiar faces.
Maan Jalal, arts and culture writer
Zodiac (October 29)
The mystery of the Zodiac killer is one that still fascinates today. A serial killer who has never been unmasked despite the best efforts of the many journalists, law enforcement officers and theorists who have attempted to solve the case over the years.
David Fincher's take on the Zodiac killer case sticks to one theory, while throwing the viewer off the scent many times throughout the film. The viewing experience is one of unflinching anxiety, mixed in with eagerness to find out who really committed the crimes.
The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo, who are all flawless in their portrayals of the three different parties invested in solving the case.
Much like many of Fincher's greatest films, Zodiac is not just about the subject matter – in this case, the serial killer and the crimes people are trying to solve. Zodiac is really about frenzy. How it takes hold and how it can distort the facts and hinder the truth. I watch this film at least once a year and always enjoy it like it's my first watch – and next month it will be released in 4K on Blu-ray for the first time.
Faisal Salah, gaming and social media writer
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
The%20specs
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MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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RECORD%20BREAKER
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
