Under The Skin Live: Sound Intermedia & London Sinfonietta

Under The Skin is a future cult classic released in 2014, that will be looked back upon in a similar way to beguiling, hypnotic masterpieces such as Apocalypse Now and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Mica Levi’s score was one of the most celebrated aspects upon its release, so to hear her conduct it live represented a real coup for Brighton Festival. The percussion was prominent, with a recurring theme utilising electronic drum pads with a distinctive two-beat plod through many scenes. There were individually stunning moments such as a gloriously all-consuming double bass fragment, and synth-heavy track Love, which soundtracks a strangely moving unromantic sex scene in an unsettling, beautiful Vangelis’ Blade Runner-tinged way. Other parts were more rollicking such as the opening Creation movement, vividly performed by London Sinfonietta. If you get a chance to hear the score live then I urge you to seek it out: the fusion of the two sublime works is a sight and sound to behold.

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, 7 May
Rating:
Joe Fuller