Kelis has had a long and diverse career, finding real commercial success in 2003 with her ‘Tasty’ album. Fast-forward to 2014, and she’s had another decent year, with her excellent album ‘Food’ (review) released in April to plenty of acclaim.
This, as it says on the sleeve, is a recording of her sold-out show in London last July, and it’s quite the career-spanning showcase, encompassing blistering performances of ‘Food’ tracks as well as some of her classics. We even get an inspired version of her 1999 collaboration with the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the evergreen floor-filler ‘Got Your Money’.
The New Yorker opens this set with an impressive version of ‘Feeling Good’, and her unique, undeniably powerful voice hits home, swelling brass and glistening piano supporting her spot-lit presence in resounding fashion. She holds down tracks from ‘Food’: the passion is clear in ‘Breakfast’ (listen below). But it’s when she gives a frantic, absorbing performance of ‘Trick Me’ – a flashback to the ‘Tasty’ days – that this collection reaches its high point.
Kelis impresses here, as she did on ‘Food’, and it’s excellent to see that she can pull off a full band set to such a high standard.
7/10
Words: Sam Bennett
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