Review: Nerina Pallot at the Scala, King’s Cross
By Nick Bond
She’s a funny one, that Nerina Pallot. Able to knock off a golden-plated pop song so undeniable Kylie Minogue snaps it up, records it, and makes it the title track to her album Aphrodite – yet more at home writing politically-charged piano ballads for herself.
So ambitious and driven she released 12 EPs in 12 months – for perspective, that’s the same number of songs in one year that Kate Bush has released in about the past 27 – but a woman who, by her own admission, is filled with dread when she has to leave the house to pop to the shops.
Perhaps it’s these contradictions that mean she’s still something of a niche proposition five albums in, debuting fantastic new record The Sound and The Fury within the relatively intimate confines of the Scala last night. Indeed, her new album could be her most ‘difficult’ yet, blending different sounds and styles in a marked move away from the more straightforward piano-pop of previous records.
Thankfully, Pallot performed The Sound and The Fury in its entirety last night (repeatedly thanking the audience for ‘indulging’ her), and it absolutely shone. Obvious highlights like current single Rousseau and The Boy On The Bus stood out, but it was the quieter songs on the album – Blessed, Handle – that took on a new life in a live setting.
Pallot dotted a handful of fan favourites dotted throughout the latter part of the set – that surprise chart hit Everybody’s Gone to War, of course, but also possibly her most perfect pop song to date, the glorious Northern Soul stormer, Put Your Hands Up.
Returning for an encore to rapturous applause, with her appreciative weeknight audience now suitably loosened up, Nerina went solo at the keyboard for the beautiful, lyrically pointed English, while set-closer Sophia was a reminder of that song’s shimmering beauty – here’s a fan recording:
Earlier in the night, cracking a joke between songs, Pallot admitted she often daydreams about winning the lotto, despite knowing it’s a futile goal. “Maybe you could all just buy my new album instead? OK, now I’m being cheeky!” Not cheeky, Nerina – sound advice.
info: NerinaPallot.com