Alison Moyet Live At Bournemouth Pavilion Halloween 2013

 

 

Still in fine voice after all these years, and back on form with 80’s-inspired (but not retro) varied new music, Alison was an enthusuiastic turn and went down a treat with the audience.

 

The support act, Richard Walters, was an engaging man and his guitar and his songs, quality laid back ballads for the most part, though I particularly enjoyed his Smokey-Robinson-inspired more upbeat track. Apologies for not writing down the track names, but I must say Richard has a gorgeous flawless singing voice, warm with a wide range. Apparently his songs have featured on many a US TV drama show, and Bernard Butler produced his second album - which for me ticks the box right off marked “good”. If I had a “druther” I’d like to hear the songs set to a band backing live, to add more musically, as I was reminded a bit of bands like Athlete, Turin Brakes, Starsailor and early Coldplay a bit, all of whom I like. Obviously the songs don’t need that necessarily, his voice carries them anyway, but just my preference.

 

Alison sprinkled some oldies amongst the new album tracks, the audience was attentive and appreciative (especially first single When I Was Your Girl) and Alison was genuinely happy, I think, at the reception each song got, beaming delightfully and looking good. Ahhh, sweet. I especially like acts that address the audience personally, one of Alison’s strong-points there, and the lighting set off the songs well, notably on the re-working of Is This Love which slowed it down and showed off the song in a more effective way than the original (good) pop version did. Her two co-band-mates were great with the instrumental and vocal support (and I think co-writing, programming and production duties) Guy Sigsworth and Chris Elms. I was impressed with the new stuff (I haven’t bought the album yet) it sounded pretty varied, Alison sung flawlessly, and the reworking of old hits was interesting, albeit a few of them missing, though as she said, it wasn’t a Greatest Hits tour and I appreciated the assurance that 3 songs in the finale encore and that was it - party-time is always saved for the end (my fave Alison hit Whispering Your Name kicking it off, and Don’t Go finishing it beautifully). So, my faves:

 

1. Don’t Go

2. Whispering Your Name

3. Nobody’s Diary

4. Is This Love

5. Love Resurrection

6. All Cried Out

7. Situation

8. When I Was Your Girl

9. Only You

10. Horizon Flame

Good to know she's still in good voice. I had thought about going but didn't get round to doing anything about it.

I saw her on this tour and quite recently in Torquay... a lady at the absolute top of her game... and her last album? Undoubtedly her greatest ever solo release.

last album? I hope not and she has said she's working on material for the follow-up...fingers-crossed!

Yes, the last album she released - not her last album ever lol

 

Great news that it's been announced she'll be gracing the Glastonbury stage on the Sunday night.