After years of playing hostess at trendy London parties, now is the time for Paloma Faith to have a blast at going global. Gigs like tonight's are normally designed by record labels as a big celebration for your artist's debut hit topping the charts, packed full of media and smug music executives. Yet despite the decadent 'Stone Cold Sober' limping in at a disappointing 17 (even Paloma herself shouts "must try harder"), this is a show launched with big white balloons and packed full of character, colour and fun.
Of course, in a post-Winehouse age with no shortage of glammed-up soul sweethearts around, Paloma was never going to have it easy. It's unfortunate that the likes of 'Broken Doll' - a vintage-tinged smoky jazz bar number - were knocking about maybe even before 'Back To Black' hit the shelves, but were held from release due to a series of label delays.
Live, Paloma is everything you might expect from a former magician's assistant, clad in a retro corset and a towering head-dress, in front of a giant rag doll version of herself. Bonkers pop stars are the best kind, and as she teeters in high heels on tiny white chairs, talking in a delicate porcelain doll voice and singing the somewhat lacklustre next single 'New York', it's plain that demented is exactly where she's at.
While album title track 'Do You Want The Truth or Something More Beautiful' is an epic, cinematic ballad, one too many torch songs almost lose tonight's crowd. Fortunately the wild and frantic 'When We're Dancing' saves the day and allows Paloma to show off her footwork.
Fun and loud, Paloma is the perfect pop star-in-waiting. We only hope she's given the time to become one.
Originally published at Orange Music
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