Reviews

London Underworld - Rob Dyer, DSO

Greenhaus were next up, which surprised me as I'd have thought they'd have warranted second billing given their reputation and following. But support for Steve Bellamy's project was thinner than usual tonight even if their show was up to their usual high standards. Lead vocalist Phoenix J (now with a full head of flowing hair replacing her previously bald head) has obviously well settled into her band leading role. Some of her dance moves still look a little odd to me but her vocals are perfectly suited to the rockier current sound.

Distractingly, her early 'cute' personality has been replaced with a more charming, even seductive persona. When singing the title track from their latest album You're Not Alone she kept singling out a member of the audience with her transfixing stare each time she sang the title lyrics as if she were addressing just that individual. Having been on the receiving end of the technique a couple of times I can say what an unnerving if not unpleasant ; ) experience it is. The current set of songs is a natural enough evolution from 2003's addictive Another Life album. It's not a musical direction that I'd choose, I still prefer their mid-period space rock, trippy sound, but they've nailed the new incarnation well and it could see the band finally break out of the underground scene. Being on Revolver should help with that.

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