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David Smyth's rating
Antony out of the shadows for breathtaking sound
By
David Smyth
31 Oct 2008
In almost total darkness, before the London Symphony Orchestra generating a soft, hypnotic pulse, the silhouette fluttered its fingers and unveiled a pure, quivering, utterly unique voice that made the elaborate musical backdrop seem almost drab in comparison.
Looming above six feet tall in a gown that made him look like a Roman statue and surprisingly graceful for someone who should lumber, as the highest-profile boy-or-girl singer since Boy George too much emphasis can be placed on Antony Hegarty’s transgender appearance. Under the minimal lighting at his first London performance in two years, the focus was firmly on the remarkable vocal ability that earned the Chichester-born New Yorker the 2005 Mercury Prize.
In a brief set that served to preview songs from a new album due in January, he dropped his usual intimate chamber pop for something much grander and more complex, and seemed entirely comfortable. Only Joanna Newsom is also occupying similar ground somewhere between classical and pop and sounding completely removed from both worlds.
Old songs such as Rapture and River Of Sorrow were newly furnished, mainly with strings and flutes, lush surroundings in which Antony’s exquisitely pained tones could soar. It was unclear whether the new ones will keep their orchestral foundations on record, but tracks such as Christina’s Farm, bursting forth with nature imagery, were well suited to such finery.
When the emotion got too much (and it is easy to understand why some find the overwhelming richness of Antony’s sound can quickly become torturous) there was a new style in Kiss My Name, on which the musicians beat a tribal rhythm on the side of their instruments. Most bizarrely, Beyoncé’s booty-shaking R&B hit Crazy In Love was slowed down and reinvented as a blissful soul number, a welcome and loudly applauded moment of humour.
As a performer, too, he was out on his own, standing still but making elaborate hand and head movements like an opera singer. Though his weaving hands at first seemed like nerves, it quickly became apparent that every gesture was deliberate. He stood side-on to sing Ghost, bathed in orange light and became a slowly opening, reaching flower during Everglade. I Am A Bird Now, the album that beat Coldplay and Kaiser Chiefs to the Mercury Prize, was ignored save for gender-swapping ballad For Today I Am A Boy. Antony has moved on to a transformed sound still more beautiful. Joining him in the shadows was breathtaking.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (8)
Everything thing Darren said. Antony's voice connects in such a deep space in me I think it must be my soul. Another World took my breath away - the LSO pulsing hypnotic arrangements were more than sound.
The only problem - the concert finished too soon. The hour and a half felt like 20 minutes.
- She La, London, UK, 03/11/2008 14:30
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The orchestral arrangements of Antony's music were quite superb, but I often found myself wondering at the end of each song, whether there had been any accompaniment, such is the overwhelming presence of Antony's voice. It really does hypnotise. I recently heard the new EP before the gig and the opening track Another World took me right back to the moment when I first heard "Hope's There's Someone" I think it's the best thing he has ever done and hearing it with the LSO was simply breathtaking. When I first heard Antony it changed my life because after 30 years of listening to music, I realised that nothing had ever quite touched me the way his music does.
- Darren S, Surrey, 01/11/2008 13:07
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Travelling from Australia especially for this show, I couldn't have been more rewarded by beautiful Antony, the Johnsons & the LSO. What a special evening. Having seen Antony perform in various venues to crowds large and small; the orchestral arrangements and wonderful LSO lifted Antony to another level. I too hope that these one-off orchestral performances of familiar tracks make it to CD/DVD/MP3.
- Peter, Sydney, Australia, 01/11/2008 11:03
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I hardly noticed the absence of tracks from his most recent album, due to the fact that I was so enraptured by every single song, new and old. I think anyone expecting a greatest hit package doesn't really understand what Antony is about. He and his band are genre eclipsing, and as some else rightly pointed out, there really isn't anyone else in the world right now doing this kind of stuff. ( I don't agree with Joanne Newsom comparisons). The whole evening was an absolute joy, which was sadly over too soon. And I can hand on heart say that it was the best live performance I have experienced in 25 years of gig going. Bravo Antony and the J's!
- Adrian Brett, London, 01/11/2008 11:00
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I do hope this was recorded and will be released on DVD! I sobbed uncontrollably the first time I heard HOPE THERE'S SOMEONE. Antony is a unique & powerful emotional conduit.
- Richard The Big Bunny, London, 31/10/2008 15:37
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Unfortunately the show was dissapointing due to the lack of tracks from "I am a bird now" a tad too self indulgent.
- Ed, Middlesex, 31/10/2008 13:11
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Truly amazing, there is NO ONE in the world that does what Antony does. The final track and story behind it brough tears to my eyes. just incredible !!
- Andrew, london, 31/10/2008 12:34
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The night before the same orchestra didn't really add much to Toumani Diabate's music, but at this concert it was a perfect fit. Hypnotic.
- Gareth James, London UK, 31/10/2008 10:45
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