Aphrodite Les Folies

Earlier this month I saw Her Divine Kylieness on her Aphrodite Les Folies tour. In fact I went twice - once in Manchester and again in London.

For Manchester I was in a special standing only area called the "Splash Zone" and it was one of the best nights of my life. I tried to describe it to my best friend afterwards and the phrase I used was that it was just over two hours of sheer joy. That still holds true. If there is a Heaven then I want it to be like this concert, in the Splash Zone, going on forever. It was both an amazing visual spectacle and a euphoric adrenaline rush. Nothing I write here is going to do it justice or capture just how magical this night was. All I can offer are snapshots....

... Kylie emerging from a golden seashell (echoing Sandro Botticelli's "The Birth Of Venus") at the start of "Aphrodite"... a group of us at the foot of the stage, bouncing up and down in unison, arms aloft, singing and dancing our heads off... Kylie in a chariot being pulled along by male dancers to "I Believe In You"... a version of "Get Outta My Way" that tore the roof off... Kylie flying, quite literally, above our heads during "Closer"... everyone going crazy to "Put Your Hands Up" and "Better Than Today"... a sultry version of "Slow" on a tilting, rotating, circular platform... me and another guy with our arms around each other singing and dancing to "On A Night Like This"... a joyous, celebratory version of "There Must Be An Angel" that brought the house down... four of us with our arms around each other jumping up and down to "Can't Beat The Feeling"... Kylie on top of a giant fountain (I kid you not!) for "All The Lovers"... everyone in the "Splash Zone" getting a bit soaked at the end of the show - but everyone dancing and laughing, smiling and happy...

To be second row standing at a Kylie concert was a dream come true for me, in and of itself, but this exceeded anything I imagined. I took loads of pictures - some of which I've posted below.  

I really don't have the words for this. A truly magical night. An experience I will always treasure. Just sheer joy...

 

 

 

Meanwhile In Birmingham....

The day after I travelled up to Newcastle to watch Wolves lose 4-1 (thanks lads!) I found myself at The Glee Club in Birmingham for a homecoming gig for Solihull's Clare Maguire.

Taking to the stage in a figure hugging black dress, killer heels and a blonde wig (a legacy of her recently completed video shoot to "The Shield & The Sword) Clare looks every inch the pop star. Yet what shines through is her powerful and emotive voice; whether that infuses her pop oriented material, rawer songs like "Ain't Nobody" or knocking a blues number out of the park. Clare has the voice and the versatility for a lasting career. 

This was Clare's first ever gig at Birmingham Glee Club on the back of her top ten debut album ("Light After Dark"). Her success has been hard earned and well deserved and she was clearly enjoying herself. She interacted well with the audience and even went amongst the crowd at one point (during "The Happiest Pretenders") walking right by me as it happens!

The final song of the night, appropriately enough, was "Last Dance", which enabled everyone to have a singalong and a jump up and down and sent everyone home happy. Long may her star continue to rise...

Oh, and while we're on the subject, here's the video to Clare's new single, which just so happens to be my favourite track on the album:

Clare Maguire - The Shield & The Sword (Video)

Tell Me Something New: Lenka

Lenka (or Lenka Kripac to give her full name) is an Australian born singer/songwriter. Her father emigrated to Australia from the former Czechoslovakia, hence her exotic sounding name!

Her second album "Two" was released this week. It was preceded by a single "Heart Skips A Beat" which is an irresistably happy little pop song. The video to her single can be viewed here:

Lenka - Heart Skips A Beat (Version 1)

And you can find out more about Lenka on her official site here:

Lenka Official Site

Like No Other

Chantel McGregor - The lovely Chantel McGregor releases her debut album "Like No Other" this month. It's available from her website or at her gigs, one of which is at The Robin 2 in June.

Chantel McGregor Official Site  

John Wetton - With Asia on a Sabbatical and Geoff Downes poised to tour with Yes, John Wetton seizes the opportunity to release a solo album. "Raised In Captivity" is due in July and is produced by Billy Sherwood (ex Yes/Yoso). The album features contributions from Steve Hackett, Robert Fripp, Tony Kaye and Geoff Downes among others.

Touchstone - Touchstone head out on tour in the Autumn to promote their (as yet untitled) third album. Support for the shows comes in the form of an acoustic set from Heather Findlay (ex Mostly Autumn) so it promises to be something a bit special. Tickets already booked for this one! 

Touchstone Official Website

Heather Findlay - Heather Findlay's debut solo EP "The Phoenix Suite" is officially released on Monday. Pre release versions are currently available from her website. There was also a hand made limited edition of 100 which sold out in nine minutes flat! Fortunately I was one of those who got a copy and here it is!

All rather lovely isn't it? Anyway there is a promotional video to accompany the release of the EP which can be viewed here:

The Phoenix Suite Promo Video

  

Make A Scene

Sophie Ellis Bextor realeases her fourth album "Make A Scene" on 6th June. It is preceded by a single "Starlight" which is due out in May.

The album, which is the first to be released on her own label, features collaborations with Greg Kurstin, Calvin Harris, Freemasons & Cathy Dennis among others, so it promises to be a good one!

We Can Fly From Here

Things are moving in the world of Yes. The band are planning a US tour with Styx beginning in July and ending in August with UK dates to follow in the Autumn. As you can see from the picture above Geoff Downes has reunited with the band for keyboard duties on this tour and even more interesting is the news of a new album, produced by Trevor Horn, entitled "Fly From Here" to be released in July. The full press release for the new album can be found here:

Yes - Fly From Here Press Release

Now, my Yes journey began in a weird way: I got into Yes because The Buggles joined them! Consequently I came to their 1980 "Drama" album without any preconceptions or misgivings about what Yes music is or should be. For the record I thought "Drama" was a fabulous album and I still do.

Thirty one years later and as a long-standing Yes fan I have to admit it does seem strange that they are making a record without Jon Anderson. However, Yes music is a very broad church as far as I'm concerned and I'm determined to approach this new album with the same spirit of openness as I did when I first encountered the band. It promises to be an interesting ride! Watch this space...

Tell Me Something New: Queen Of Hearts

The enigmatic Queen Of Hearts is very much one to watch! A teaser video clip to the rather wonderful "Freestyle" appeared on You Tube in January.

Queen Of Hearts - Freestyle (Teaser)

This was followed by another teaser clip in March for "Where Are You Now".

Queen Of Hearts - Where Are You Now (Teaser)

The full length versions of both of these can be found on Queen Of Hearts Soundcloud page

Queen Of Hearts - Soundcloud Page

All seriously fabulous...and very promising...

Into Battle...

There are some people who believe that Trevor Horn's ZTT label began in 1983 with Frankie Goes To Hollywood's single "Relax", which was number one in their "Action Series". And they'd be wrong!

The first release on the label was actually a few months earlier and came in the form of a 12" EP from The Art Of Noise called "Into Battle" which contained the original version of "Beatbox" and the first appearance of  "Moments In Love".

I'm afraid to say that I have that very 12" in my collection, but if you were too young first time around or don't have a turntable then fear not, because those nice people at Salvo have reissued it on CD. It came out on Monday and features 18 (count 'em!) bonus tracks. Hurrah!

1. Battle
2. Beat Box
3. Army Now, The
4. Donna
5. Moments In Love
6. Bright Noise
7. Flesh In Armour
8. Comes And Goes
9. Moment In Love
10. Who's Afraid Of The Art Of Noise
11. One Finger Of Love
12. Diversions
13. Two Fingers Of Love
14. Uncertainty Of Syrup, The
15. Damn It All
16. Three Fingers Of Love
17. Sing Of Relief
18. Hands Off Love
19. Diversions
20. Goodbye Art Of Noise
21. Confession
22. Close (To The Edit)
23. Diversion
24. Movement Of Desire, The
25. And What Have You Done With My Body God
26. Wounds Of Wonder, The
27. Time For Fear (Who's Afraid)