It seems almost a lifetime ago I happened upon ‘Felt Mountain’, the beguilingly ethereal Goldfrapp debut, Alison’s seductive tones part Marlene Dietrich, part Kate Bush, expertly wrapping themselves around nine lavishly produced mini-musicals, every one capable of gracing the next Bond film. Six more albums have followed at fairly regular intervals, each an evolution from its predecessor, the most recent being this spring’s release ‘Silver Eye’, a return to the electronic heartland dominating the band’s middle years; the subsequent 14-date supporting European tour bringing our heroine to a pretty full but not quite brimming Leeds 02 Academy.
This 'wood & wire' incarnation of Therapy?'s 'best of' isn't just a gig, but more like old friends turning up at your house with a bag of beers and playing in front of your best pals. Andy Cairns and Michael McKeegan are seated alongside drummer Neil Cooper, candles set a mellow, relaxing atmosphere as they appear for the first of two stripped down acoustic sets in The Brudenell.
Descending the stairs into the Leeds Wardrobe immediately prior to the appearance of Nashville rockers All Them Witches, I’m greeted by the unmistakeably thunderous opening bars of Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’, together with its inevitable endorsement by several heads nodding in time to Iommi’s timeless riffage; one immediately realising an assault of good old fashioned heavy rock is just what the doctor ordered this evening.
"...Gogol Bordello’s main set completes 80 minutes of high octane gypsy punk, clearly demonstrating their absolute mastery of the live performance, yet these guys still have something in the tank for a three song encore..."
Caught in a maelstrom of accusatory descriptions; award winning poet; glottal stopping rapper; Brit school graduate; nothing Kate Tempest does fits easily into a press releasable box. Rapping since she was old enough to talk, with a diversion into poetry and spoken word performance, debut album Everybody Down sought to combine the two. Managing it masterfully, it tells the tale of a triumvirate of characters as they make their way through the obstacle course that is 21st century London, pairing Tempest's observations with the sparse backdrop of producer Dan Carey's stylings.
