VIDEO: Armin van Buuren / ASOT at O2 Brixton Academy, London

Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance rolled into London on Saturday night - and it was the hottest ticket in town, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian.

The Dutch maestro was ably assisted by compatriot Ruben de Ronde, whose floaty and driving set provided much more than just a warm up for the man himself.
AvB's banging set was what ASOT fans have come to expect.

And the pounding trance was perfect for the cavernous O2 Brixton Academy.
The walls reverberated to the sonic onslaught and the whoops and cheers of the crowd grew louder as the night went on.
Aside from the music the venue was fantastic, with bars aplenty and there was even a warm up DJ in the entrance hall - courtesy of Elevation Audio - and a spinner playing at the cloakroom..
Brixton is quickly becoming the heart of London clubland, with sell-out gigs here and last month for ANTS at the Electric down the road.
I for one am looking forward to more shenanigans in SW9.

 

Ma Chill CBD vapouriser

In the modern world relaxation can be pretty hard to come by, but now, thanks to one e-cigarette company, it can literally be inhaled, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian.

 

The Ma concept, which used CBD derived from industrial hemp offers vapers pain relief and a chilled mellow vibe.

The first thing I noticed as I eagerly unpacked the Ma Chill starter kit was the sleek and minimal packaging with the tantalising ‘keep the secret’ strapline enticing me to do the opposite and tell the world of this gizmo.

The unit itself, when (easily) assembled, is again a sleek and modern looking contraption.

A tiny, but sufficient, plastic phial of the secret elixir - exotically titled Bali Blend - exists in a separate box and there is a USB charger, which completes the package.

Once loaded into the vapouriser it provides users with a smooth inhalation of the magical CBD concoction.

What followed, after around four minutes and three deep and held inhalations, was a feeling of relaxation and ambience which was a god send for me.

This was especially the case as I’d had a bit of a bad back and this stuff immediately alleviated the symptoms and chilled me out.

If you want to release the stresses and strains of a 24/7 world, then I’d absolutely recommend this.

It would also be a perfect post-club chillout aid.

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London Beer Week pop-up with Sharp's Brewery

Free beer is always welcome, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian.

And so it came to pass last week during the fantastic London Beer Week.

Thanks to this lovely folks at Sharp's Brewery and others who took part in the fantastic event.

Sharp's constructed an amazing pop-up bar in London's East End, with an indoor beach and a mind-boggling selection of ales, lagers and porters.

My personal favourites were the terrific coffee-like Mizzen and the delicious Jetsteam IPA, which weighed in at a potent 5.7 per cent ABV.

The atmosphere was great with nearby pop-ups, pubs and other assorted venues getting involved with a £3-a-pint beer bonanza.

And it was not just UK beer that took centre stage – Czech legends Kozel were also in evidence for those who like strong continental lager that really packs a punch.

Pop-ups have become increasingly popular as a way to show off new products and drive trade and brand recognition, but Sharp's effort was a masterstroke.

I for one will definitely be heading back next year.