Charlotte Church

Clever PR trick or genuine attempt to ‘be real’ after a somewhat unreal childhood? My money’s on the latter, particularly when offered dressing facilities Church said ‘she’d find some toilets to get changed in’. But this common place band behaviour belied a truly exceptional voice and an exceptional gig featured new material and a new direction unleashed at a grimy indie venue. If, with all that voice training, the vocals nodded to musical theatre at times, in her upper registers Church sang with a truly haunting and unworldly power beauty, precision and depth. Exceptional voice with, at times, exceptional material. Doubters beware.

Green Door Store, 2 August 2012
Rating:
Mark Ede