sat 25/01/2025

New Music Reviews

Polar Bear, XOYO

Matthew Wright

“The most influential band of the last ten years. Period,” said Jez Nelson, of BBC Radio 3’s Jazz On 3, announcing Polar Bear to the XOYO audience last night. It’s difficult to live up to an introduction like that, especially when the band wanted the audience to focus on their new album, which was launched that night.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Elton John

Kieron Tyler

 

Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick RoadElton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road box set

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Rebecca Ferguson, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Guy Oddy

 As anyone who has a television will know, Rebecca Ferguson is a graduate of The X Factor – having come runner-up in the 2010 competition.

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Goldfrapp, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Guy Oddy

Goldfrapp have already toured new album, Tales of Us, having hit the road in the UK and Europe last autumn.

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Drake, O2 Arena

James Williams

There was something of a Canadian invasion at the O2 last night, but this is about as far from lumberjacks and mounties as it comes. Abel Tesfaye, better known as the Weeknd, is getting straight to the point. “I want to get on top, London!” This may of course simply be a metaphor for his and mentor Drake’s meteoric rise to fame, but Tesfaye does seem to like saying naughty things.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Lou Adler

Kieron Tyler

 

Lou Adler – A Musical HistoryVarious Artists: Lou Adler – A Musical History

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Jane Birkin, Françoise Hardy

Kieron Tyler


ane birkin mes images privees de sergeJane Birkin: Mes Images Privées de Serge / Françoise Hardy: Message Personnel

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Tord Gustavsen Quartet, Milton Court

Matthew Wright

Revelling in the acoustic precision of the recently opened Milton Court concert hall last night, Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen showed once more why his quartet’s combination of tersely lyrical melodies and syncopated rhythms is so appealing.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: Tyrannosaurus Rex, T. Rex

Kieron Tyler


Tyrannosaurus Rex A Beard of StarsTyrannosaurus Rex: A Beard of Stars/T.Rex: T.Rex, Tanx/Marc Bolan & T. Rex: Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow

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The Stranglers, Brighton Dome

Thomas H Green

There was a poignant moment last night as the Stranglers performed the song “Never To Look Back”. It hails from their 1990 album, 10, the last to feature singer Hugh Cornwall heading their original line-up. Behind the band, four giant gilt frames flash a slide-show of their career. We see them, all lean black leather and venom, transform slowly into the band before us, a greying, likeable, punk-adelic war-horse.

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