Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bush Hall - music review: risk-taking and Strictly impressive

The well-heeled mother of three was at her best when eschewing the auto-tuned disco of old for the stately ballads of her new album Wanderlust
8 February 2014

After a profile-boosting turn on Strictly Come Dancing, Sophie Ellis-Bextor surprised everyone this week by releasing a strange and interesting pop album.

Co-written with singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt, who joined her on piano, Wanderlust eschews the auto-tuned disco of old for stately ballads inspired by “Russian fairy tales and Roald Dahl”.

Bush Hall provided a suitably theatrical setting in which to hear these new songs, even if it did have one slight geographical inconsistency. “The album’s title means a desire to travel but I’ve picked a venue that’s 10 minutes’ walk from my house,” admitted the west Londoner early on.

In truth, it was a thoroughly cosy affair, with her husband Richard Jones joining her on bass and her film director father Robin Bextor watching from the audience.

But if the surroundings were safe, the 34-year-old’s new songs demonstrate an appetite for musical risk-taking.

Set opener Birth of an Empire was carried by sweeping strings and strident beats; Runaway Daydreamer was a classic Burt Bacharach-style ballad; and for a brief, heady moment The Deer And The Wolf almost rocked.

Interlude was every bit as unnecessary as its title suggests and Ellis-Bextor’s mannered delivery remains an acquired taste. But 13 Little Dolls was a whirlwind of clattering percussion while Love is A Camera veered winningly into baroque. Murder on the Dancefloor, this wasn’t.

Alas, these new songs provided very little opportunity for Ellis-Bextor to show off her new dance moves, but that’s a small price to pay for a sound that’s a much easier fit for this well-spoken, well-heeled mother of three.

As if to confirm the wisdom of her new direction, she returned for an encore of the old disco hits, reminding us of how truly naff they were.

Up until that point, though, this was strictly impressive stuff.

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