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Live Review
by SaschaS
6-12-2003
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| Damon Blur towers over Elephant & Castle |
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Live: Blur
Coronet, London
Friday, December 5, 2003
Blur’s sonic spectacular in South London
CanThere is no debate that Blur’s album ‘Think Tank’ is one of the records of the year, whatever charts, critics and fans’ reactions have been. It is a disc full of music by a band that faced traumatic change upon guitarist Graham Coxon’s decision to take his amp and play on his own. The remaining three were placed in an awkward position but dug deep into their own reserves, ingenuity and creativity to more than raise to the challenge.
And, it is appropriate that Blur are re-launching this theatre, a home to British musical where even Charlie Chaplin had his beginning. The reason being that they are one of the quintessentially British bands that owes so much of its legacy to all kindsa genres, from music hall to beat groups, from folk to Henry Cow… All the time establishing their own language and internationalising it.
Damon Albarn, Alex James and Dave Rowntree have added number of bodies to the touring personnel, including three backing singers, to recall the days when Talking Heads went ‘big-band’ and emerged truly funky-real. Blur, having lost guitarist, turned more to beats, grooves, vibe and ambient but it is not so clear-cut as the Heads’ case and to the detriment of pop-ness. It is more fluid, obscure, oblique, ethereal like Can, one of Albarn’s fave outfits, rather than sticking with more familiar (and friendlier) formulae.
‘Think Tank’ is an album full of mongrel music with tracks from it interspersed with ‘Girls And Boys’, ’Beetlebum’, ’Song 2’, giving a good cross-section of their canon. But, when the old hits are performed, it somehow sits uncomfortably with the newer material. It is almost as the band feels obliged to serve them but it is the fans who carry it into a great performance, motivating them into monster events.
The days of their chart-duelling with Oasis appear to have happened in another century [very wacky - Ed with an ‘antique’ Swatch] due to their rivals turning into even bigger plagiarists. Blur have remained faithful to their arty roots and defy the biggest malaise of contemporary pop-mart that is simply - crime against craft. Industrial strength is entirely fine bar ‘round creativity.
The band may have been around for about 14 years but, in today’s climate when pop-stars last as long as a bouquet in a vase, they are heavy-duty veterans who retain their air of exploration. History will note them as one of the under-appreciated groups of their time but as inspirational as The Kinks, for instance. Blur are a band that is tuned into future rather than any nostalgia. With the transition going on, can’t wait for its next polymer step.
It felt like the New Year’s Eve, with fireworks, arrived early to Elephant & Castle.
SaschaS
6-12-2003
Blur’s album ‘Think Tank’ is available now on Parlophone
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