London Independent, June 26, 2001: Difference between revisions
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If heterogeneous means "composed of unrelated parts," it may be the way to describe Elvis Costello. Flagged in the programme as a "genre-busting genius," Costello has embraced eclecticism with dilettante-ish glee. From rock to country, through classical with the Brodsky Quartet and Weill with Ute Lemper, past cabaret with Burt Bacharach and a collaboration with mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, he dabbles frantically. | If heterogeneous means "composed of unrelated parts," it may be the way to describe Elvis Costello. Flagged in the programme as a "genre-busting genius," Costello has embraced eclecticism with dilettante-ish glee. From rock to country, through classical with the Brodsky Quartet and Weill with Ute Lemper, past cabaret with Burt Bacharach and a collaboration with mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, he dabbles frantically. | ||
He's earned the right having written some peerless, deeply moving songs. But has he written any lately? It's hard to tell: he's pushing the envelope, all right | He's earned the right having written some peerless, deeply moving songs. But has he written any lately? It's hard to tell: he's pushing the envelope, all right — problem is, it's an envelope you don't often want to open. His work seems less soulful, more like precision engineering, mannered and wilfully obscure. Is this stretching yourself or just self-indulgence? Certainly, Costello has moved toward cult status. | ||
Tonight, as it turns out, has a big surprise up its sleeve, but we don't know that for the first hour, when the smaller surprise is that Costello has, this time out, turned into Fatboy Slim. Alone on the stage with Attractions pianist Steve Nieve, he takes his seat behind a bank of synths and drum machines, picks up a guitar and turns "Somebody's Gonna Get Hurt" into an extended mood piece, filled with tape loops, Echoplex and bizarre samples ("we're gonna try another side to these songs, see what we find"). | Tonight, as it turns out, has a big surprise up its sleeve, but we don't know that for the first hour, when the smaller surprise is that Costello has, this time out, turned into Fatboy Slim. Alone on the stage with Attractions pianist Steve Nieve, he takes his seat behind a bank of synths and drum machines, picks up a guitar and turns "Somebody's Gonna Get Hurt" into an extended mood piece, filled with tape loops, Echoplex and bizarre samples ("we're gonna try another side to these songs, see what we find"). | ||
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This works, and works again on more, almost unrecognisable, numbers but, as deep house beats cascade and distant bells sound, with only the occasional lyric, it feels like sitting in on a radiophonic workshop and, well, I think he's getting away from us. | This works, and works again on more, almost unrecognisable, numbers but, as deep house beats cascade and distant bells sound, with only the occasional lyric, it feels like sitting in on a radiophonic workshop and, well, I think he's getting away from us. | ||
The Brodsky Quartet troop on for "Pills And Soap," a shocking American folk song, a Juliette Gréco-style chamber piece and a splendid reading of "New Lace Sleeves" | The Brodsky Quartet troop on for "Pills And Soap," a shocking American folk song, a Juliette Gréco-style chamber piece and a splendid reading of "New Lace Sleeves" — then he's back to the synths for numbers which are darkly anarchic but deeply distancing — there's emotion in there but it's lost in the random bleeping. | ||
There's an arch "Shipbuilding" then, with the Brodskys, a rousing "Walking on Rocking Horse Road" and spartan "Almost Blue." And then, just when you think it's all over, the set starts being rebuilt and, in a haze of footstamping, Costello appears with the dusted-off Attractions, or at least Nieve and drummer Pete Thomas, with capable help on bass. | There's an arch "Shipbuilding" then, with the Brodskys, a rousing "Walking on Rocking Horse Road" and spartan "Almost Blue." And then, just when you think it's all over, the set starts being rebuilt and, in a haze of footstamping, Costello appears with the dusted-off Attractions, or at least Nieve and drummer Pete Thomas, with capable help on bass. | ||
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{{Tags}}[[Steve Nieve]] {{-}} [[Meltdown Festival]] {{-}} [[Royal Festival Hall]] {{-}} [[The Attractions]] {{-}} [[The Bridge I Burned]] {{-}} [[The Brodsky Quartet]] {{-}} [[Pills And Soap]] {{-}} [[New Lace Sleeves]] {{-}} [[The Brodsky Quartet]] {{-}} [[Ute Lemper]] {{-}} [[Burt Bacharach]] {{-}} [[Shipbuilding]] {{-}} [[Rocking Horse Road]] {{-}} [[Almost Blue (song)|Almost Blue]] {{-}} [[Pete Thomas]] {{-}} [[Waiting For The End Of The World]] {{-}} [[Pump It Up]] {{-}} [[Alison]] | {{Tags}}[[Steve Nieve]] {{-}} [[Meltdown Festival]] {{-}} [[Royal Festival Hall]] {{-}} [[Ivor Cutler]] {{-}} [[The Attractions]] {{-}} [[The Bridge I Burned]] {{-}} [[The Brodsky Quartet]] {{-}} [[Pills And Soap]] {{-}} [[New Lace Sleeves]] {{-}} [[The Brodsky Quartet]] {{-}} [[Kurt Weill]] {{-}} [[Ute Lemper]] {{-}} [[Burt Bacharach]] {{-}} [[Anne Sofie von Otter]] {{-}} [[Shipbuilding]] {{-}} [[Rocking Horse Road]] {{-}} [[Almost Blue (song)|Almost Blue]] {{-}} [[Pete Thomas]] {{-}} [[Waiting For The End Of The World]] {{-}} [[Pump It Up]] {{-}} [[Alison]] | ||
{{cx}} | {{cx}} | ||
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{{Bibliography next | {{Bibliography next | ||
|prev = London Independent, June 17, 2001 | |prev = London Independent, June 17, 2001 | ||
|next = London Independent, | |next = London Independent, August 22, 2002 | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''The Independent, June 26, 2001 | '''The Independent, June 26, 2001 | ||
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[[Glyn Brown]] reviews Elvis Costello | [[Glyn Brown]] reviews Elvis Costello & [[Steve Nieve]] and opening act [[Ivor Cutler]], Tuesday, [[Concert 2001-06-26 London|June 26, 2001]], Meltdown Festival, Royal Festival Hall, London. | ||
{{Bibliography no images}} | {{Bibliography no images}} | ||
Latest revision as of 16:42, 21 April 2022
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