Little Noise Sessions: Marina and the Diamonds - review - Music - Arts

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Whichever side of the fence you're on, it's fair to say that the Welsh warbler is hardly the most likely headliner for an event called Little Noise Sessions - a six-night run of stripped-back music fundraising for Mencap.

Never knowingly understated, the 26-year-old took the stage as half bridesmaid, half Fifties glamour puss, newly bleached hairdo dangling over her shoulders. Radioactive was re-imagined as a piano ballad, putting the focus on her quasi-operatic voice, which was note-perfect.

Obsessions put her five-piece band and string quartet through their paces, while I Am Not A Robot cued the first sing-along.

Like a bad cake, the set collapsed somewhat in the middle, the paucity of top-quality material becoming apparent. Unsurprisingly for someone who once auditioned for The Lion King, a couple of songs verged towards musical theatre territory.

Thankfully, the glittering power-pop of Hollywood got things going again, moving one excited fan to throw a scarf at the singer. "It's not knickers, but I guess we are in a church," she quipped. An encore of Shampain - her spelling - ensured that Diamandis left on a high. But she should put the celebrations on ice until we hear that difficult second album.

Before all this, Swedish electro duo Icona Pop had announced themselves as a 21st-century take on Abba, complete with synchronised dancing and matching leather trousers. Mamma mia, indeed.

Little Noise Sessions runs until Sunday, with all proceeds going to Mencap. Chris Martin headlines tonight. littlenoisesessions.org.uk

Little Noise Sessions — Marina and the Diamonds
St John-at-Hackney, E5