Sometimes seeing a song done live changes the way one hears it from then on, and so it was with "Utopia", when Goldfrapp did it early in their set a couple of Fridays ago (it was second up, following fellow Felt Mountain cut "Paper Bag") - uncharacteristically to say the least, I think there were actually tears in my eyes as Alison sang the song's first, skyscraping notes, her startlingly strong, clear voice sending the syllables upwards with the reach of her arms, and there were many small refashionings all the way through. (Another, later in the set, was "Number 1", which I'd never before realised was such an anthem, nor for that matter such a simply great song.)
The focus was on Seventh Tree, of course, but they also did a satisfying number of the best tracks from Black Cherry and Supernature, the cuts from all of their albums flowing well in the live setting (violin, harp, guitars, keyboard and programming, drums, and miscellaneous). Indeed, all of their moves really come to life in concert, both the lush pop songs and ballads, and the more dance-edged numbers; Alison herself was naturally the focus, and she compelled the gaze, gestures and movements completely in sync with the songs, but the tightness of the backing band and the strength of the songs themselves were also clear, and likewise the consistency of the outfit's back catalogue, making me realise how much time I've spent listening to their music since Felt Mountain first came out (I have an early memory of listening to it on headphones in the Bourke Street HMV), and how steadily in the years since then. It was a great show, put on by a pretty great band.
Support was Pikelet, who were (as people have been telling me lately) quirky, eclectically poppy and rather good; my favourite was the first one with the accordion.
(w/ Michelle - in the second row, no less)
