Live Review : Alison Moyet – Live at Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne – 7th October 2017

Alison Moyet at Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne – 07 October 2017
Photographer: David Jackson

Review by Natasha Wyborn

Gratitude & Attitude

Alison Moyet Live at Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne – Saturday 7th October 2017

British singer Alison Moyet included Australia on her itinerary for the first time in 30 years as part of her current Electric World Tour.

Playing to a small intimate crowd in Melbourne on Saturday night, Moyet now 56 has lost nothing in the vocal range. Her voice is clear and distinctive and given the intimacy of the show there is nowhere to hide vocally. Accompanied by a two piece band comprising predominantly of synthesizers and drum machine with a little guitar added to heighten or soften the mood depending on the song, Moyet entertained the crowd with songs from her latest offering “Other”, intertwining well with her extensive back catalogue expanding almost 35 years.

Taking centre stage, looking beautiful in a one piece dress, Moyet commanded presence from the onset. Opening with “I Germinate” from the new album followed by “When I Was Your Girl” from Moyet’s eighth studio album The Minutes, before flipping back to the early nineties with “Wishing You Were Here” from her album Hoodoo. Each pause between songs was met with a very loud and appreciative “Thank you” from Moyet.

The crowd itself, comprised predominantly of middle aged patrons with a hefty appetite for the music, sang along to all the songs. Moyet paused between songs giving the audience an insight into a very private person. Her personal disclosure to the crowd of her battle with dyslexia brought obvious emotion as did her loss of her mother, who was described as the person who gave her a love for the English language. Moyet dedicated her song “The English U” to her mother.

The diversity of the nights set included a few songs from Yazoo, Moyet’s first electric duo which she shared with Vince Clarke in the early 80’s, “Nobody’s Diary“, “Only You” and “Situation”. In between, the audience got a taste of Moyet’s world-wide smash hits “All Cried Out” and “This House”. A highlight of the evening was Moyet’s intimate discussion about her own life disclosing “I use to live in a big country house where you never knew your neighbours. I have now moved to Brighton where I can be me, and people are free to express themselves (referring to the gay community)”. These were powerful words from the mother of three who has openly battled depression and agoraphobia, “The Rarest Birds“ from her latest offering was her vocal tribute to these life changes.

After ending her set Moyet returned briefly for a three song encore. Starting off with a cover of the Jules Shear hit “Whispering Your Name” she moved quickly into “Love Resurrection” before raising the dance floor with the Yazoo classic “Don’t Go”.

Finally I must mention the opening act of the evening Katie Noonan. Singing a collection of songs marking different stages of her career, Noonan was the perfect appetiser to the Moyet main course. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Song list
I Germinate, When I Was Your Girl, Wishing You Were Here, Nobody’s Diary, Ski, Only You, The English U, Getting Into Something, Changeling, All Cried Out, The Man in the Wings, This House, Right as Rain, ‘Lover, Go’, The Rarest Birds, Is This Love, Situation.

Encore:
Whispering Your Name, Love Resurrection, Don’t Go