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André Paine's rating
, Some kind of musical genius
By
André Paine
12 Mar 2008
After their charming, Mercury-nominated debut, Guillemots are back with a more divisive record. Red has the sort of big, early Eighties pop songs that used to be accompanied by dance troupe Legs and Co on Top of the Pops.
It won't appeal to everyone. But this brilliant and sometimes baffling live comeback marked out singer and multi-instrumentalist Fyfe Dangerfield as some kind of musical genius.
Kriss Kross seemed to meld metal, pop and free jazz and left the audience open-mouthed until Dangerfield launched into the fans' favourite, Made-Up Love Song No 43.
Another new song, Big Dog, sounded bizarre, like a hard-rock George Michael. Yet even Guillemots' failures were fascinating.
Dangerfield may have ditched his Russell Brand hair for a clean-cut look, but his music was often wild. Belching saxophone punctuated Get Over It, while 21st of May could have been his other group, the improv-jazz outfit Gannets.
There was also room for tender ballads: Dangerfield performed a stunning solo version of We're Here and duetted with support act Ida Maria.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
