Active Child, St Giles-in-the-Fields - review - Music - Arts - Evening Standard
       

Active Child, St Giles-in-the-Fields - review

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Church gigs have become a weekly occurrence in London, and while the bore in me would prefer a concert experience with fewer pillars and more than one lavatory, there's no denying that this was the ideal spot to see Active Child.

The stage name of LA resident Pat Grossi, with his arms around a harp and the vast stained glass behind him, all this former choirboy needed was a pair of wings. His angelic falsetto soared all the way to the rafters. Music that fits so comfortably into the house of God shouldn't be hip, but
with the addition of cavernous drums, warm washes of synth and ominous bass rumbles, Grossi has taken a pew next to artists doing beautiful late-night things to the dubstep sound such as James Blake. Prestigious support slots with Bon Iver and synthpop darling M83 have also swelled his following.

Despite struggling with bass issues this evening, he found a pure, slow-motion beauty on Ancient Eye and You Are All I See, the title track of last year's lustrous debut album. The clicking drums and yearning vocals of Playin' House sneaked towards slinky R&B. He should have converted a
few non-believers with this frequently stunning set.

Active Child
St-Giles-In-The-Fields
St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LG

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