Live Review: Neneh Cherry

“Well this is very posh,” says Neneh Cherry surveying the plush surrounds of Hamer Hall. “I’m sure we can funk it up, just for tonight,” she giggles as enthusiastic fans cheer loudly in agreement. Cherry may be into her fifties but she still oozes plenty of streetwise sass, delighting fans as she throws all the energy she can muster into the delivery of this evening’s entertainment.

The very gentle Across The Water kicks off the show. Its stark, desolate beauty completely silences fans as Cherry shows off her brilliantly expressive vocals which can still soar across a melody with plenty of power. As would be expected this is a showcase of her latest album, Blank Project, and most of the album features on this evening’s setlist.

Since Rothko disbanded the mild-mannered brothers Page have been producing as Rocketnumbernine. Tonight with Ben on keys and Tom on drums, they provide Cherry with searing electronic arrangements that loose the rough experimental vibes of Blank Project and turn these tunes into dancefloor anthems. Blank Project’s title track, tricked out under strobe lights, scorches with an intense rush of emotions and beats. It’s the kind of tune that brings some punters to their feet but most are happy to sit back and be completely mesmerised. Introducing Spit Three Times as the song that helped her deal with the grief of her mother’s passing some years back, it’s a contemplative R&B ballad that gathers momentum with driving tech beats.

Cuts like Cynical and 422 start to draw out the streetwise post punk diva that remains influenced by her work with Rip, Rig and Panic & The Slits. She pushes a little social consciousness and deals in paranoia and the obscenity of modern living with cool sleek lines of contemporary electronic. It all comes together brilliantly on Weightless, illustrating why Blank Project, which, like Raw Like Sushi, was co-written by her husband Cameron McVey, marks a dazzling comeback for Cherry. A b-girl at heart Cherry pulls out the rap from Rip, Rig and Panic’s Those Eskimo Women Speak Frankly as technical issues are sorted.

Finally declaring that ‘it’s time to get old school’ they drop Manchild. It’s a jam that has the crowd up and racing to the stage to join in the singalong. Thankfully security did nothing to return the crowd to their seats. Reflecting her work with Massive Attack, the slinky groove of Woman takes us back to the heady days of mid-‘90s trip hop. Out Of The Black has everyone pulling robot-inspired shapes ahead of encores that obviously comes down with Buffalo Stance, resulting in a massive stage invasion of 40 and 50-something year-olds keen to dance the night away.

Fans have waited a mighty long time for Cherry to tour the Antipodes. Her career may have spanned almost 30 years but she’s undiminished by the years. Tonight Cherry sounds as fresh and relevant as ever.