Morning:
11°c
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Rick Pearson's rating
Reader rating
A little night music: Torbjørn Brundtland in his dressing gown
Watching a dance group live can be about as visually engaging as watching paint dry so Röyksopp deserve credit for a show that had more fun and theatrics than any rock gig you’re likely to see all year.
It might not be what you’d expect from a duo whose eerie, atmospheric music can be heard in the background of countless TV advertisements and computer games but the Norwegian boys have livened up of late.
Recent album Junior is jam‑packed with pop tunes designed for the club rather than the comedown, and they came to Shepherd’s Bush Empire to party.
That started with the wardrobe.
Svein Berge took to the stage in an astronaut’s helmet, while Torbjørn Brundtland opted for the more casual look in his dressing gown.
The eccentric line-up was completed by a Bono lookalike on bass and a singer, Anneli Drecker, who had more costume changes than an evening with Christina Aguilera.
Together, they produced a joyous mix of frenetic beats, auto-tuned vocals, zapping synths and general nuttiness, barely pausing for breath for just over an hour.
Happy Up Here was a slice of upbeat electropop, Tricky Tricky was a whirl of haunting vocals and You Don’t Have A Clue was what ABBA and Orbital would sound like if they ever got together.
Röyksopp were joined by Swedish songstress Robyn for recent single The Girl And The Robot.
Over skittering beats and swirling synths, the singer bemoaned the trials and tribulations of android/human relationships.
Robyn returned to the stage for a gloriously uplifting encore of Poor Leno.
With the entire audience on its feet, the song built to a crashing climax that gave the set the triumphant finale it deserved. Glorious.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
