Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
Few bands do righteous anger quite as well as Skunk Anansie, the London quartet able to tear apart body and soul with ease.
With a ferocity that is nothing short of breathtaking, Skin, Cass, Ace and Mark Richardson bring an sonic assault that walks the tightrope between barely controlled rage and utter joy, each song a mission statement that both makes you dance and think. It’s certainly an intoxicating blend and a sold-out Corn Exchange sees everyone from the front row all the way to the back of its cavernous barn-like structure moving as one as the music hits hard.
As world and life changing as The Sex Pistols were when they came out, Skunk Anansie juxtapose the tribal gathering of a packed gig with the celebration of individuality, their mission since forming in 1994 to both entertain and, specifically, challenge. They’re also one of the finest bands on the planet right now and each show is an adrenaline rush of high decibel sound and blinding light that barely pauses for breath from start to finish.
Opener ‘This Means War’ is an abrasive statement of intent, its punch truly visceral and the following ‘Charlie Big Potato’ full of light and shade, Skin’s vocals extraordinary. New single ‘An Artist is an Artist’ is full of jagged electronics, mixing an irresistible groove with the spiky attitude of Ian Dury as his most fiery and the anti-Right Wing bigotry polemic of ‘God Loves Only You’ is a blistering, yet balanced, attack, Skin at pains to reiterate individual choice.
This may have been a big rock show, but the vital and human heart beating at the centre of it was the connection between every soul there, the singer spending a lot of time in the audience as she bodily threw herself into the fray much to the delight of all on the floor.
Another new song, ‘Animal’ sounded massive and anthemic and ‘Tear the Place Up’ was suitably riotous but the biggest reactions were caused by the likes of fan favourites such as a soaring ‘Secretly’, the strident ‘Weak as I Am’ and the explosive ‘Twisted’.
Throwing in a section of Led Zep’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ during the encore was a generation bridging moment before the furious bop of ‘Skankheads’ and closer ‘Lost and Found’ sealed the deal well and truly. Brilliant lights and sound, incredible showmanship and killer tunes, this was an early contender of show of the year. Skunk Anansie are untouchable right now.
