Patrick Wolf: Empire, Shepards Bush
Artist:Patrick Wolf
Location:Empire, Shepards Bush
Date:02/11/2007
Rating: * * * *
The relationship between Patrick Wolf’s music and his live performance is an interesting one. He has concocted a powerful stage persona - all glitter, high camp and spectacularly shiny fancy dress. But this kind of spectacle can all too easily turn into garish and narcissistic self-indulgence.
Sadly, in this special Christmas gig Patrick Wolf fell into that trap. The performance itself ultimately distracted from, rather than enriched, the music.
Perhaps part of the problem was the music itself. Wolf’s newest album The Magic Position has received a frosty reception from his fan base as a result of his switch to a more poppy sound. His trademark complex instrumental arrangements have generally taken a back seat to simpler and more orthodox song structures. At the same time, the brooding quality that made his first two albums such dark pleasures has been misplaced. It was this quality that made Patrick Wolf work so well live - his frenetic camped up style contrasted with the darkness of his songs.
Without this juxtaposition, his performance came over as just a little too saccharin sweet. Nonetheless, Wolf is still fun and there were moments where we were reminded of the magnificence of his song writing ability and musical
