Live
Duffy: Somerset House London Friday 18th July 2008
At a time when artists are being relentlessly touted as the next best thing it is sometimes difficult to sort the wheat from chaff.
However, Aimee Anne Duffy who exploded onto the scene at the end of 2007, comprehensively, proved at her recent sell-out concert in London’s Somerset that her talent goes way beyond all the media attention she has received. The diminutive blonde singer gave a towering performance as she showcased numbers from worldwide hit debut album 'Rockferry'.
Duffy unique voice and a single guitar filled the damp cold air in a low key opening with 'Syrup and Honey' after which, she greeted the audience with a modest “Hi Somerset House , how are you this evening? Moving into 'Rockferry', this number was delivered with the kind of nostalgic recollection reminiscent of Gerry and the Pacemakers’ 'Ferry across the Mersey'. Wearing red high heeled shoes and an elegant mini-to-midi hemline blue dress with thin white, black red hoops around the base, she exuded class as she slowly sauntered from side of the stage to the other and back again occasionally attempting a half-hearted wiggle.
Her voice in 'Hanging On Too Long' had a dramatic quivering quality similar to that of Candi Staton. The laid back beat of 'Serious' was relaxed and agreeable but the atmosphere in the crowd stepped up a notch on hearing recent hit 'Warwick Avenue' during she impressed by holding several long notes. The song 'Delayed Devotion' came complete with full-on prequel where Duffy rambled on somewhat about how relationships can be with the right person right place but wrong time. 'Stepping Stone' slowed down the tempo brief and demonstrated a haunting evocative quality to Duffy’s voice before 'Tomorrow' produced the first marked foot tapping and swaying amongst the well heeled crowd. This number also proved that like Pete Townsend’s windmill arm Duffy has a trademark of her own, namely, microphone lead twirling. Then, it was full throttle on for what may turn out to be the anthem of the year – 'Mercy'. During the encore endearingly wiggled her way through the gospel-flavoured 'Cry to Me.'
Her stagecraft, though, might still need a bit of honing. During the show remarks comparing the beautiful setting of Somerset House to there being “nothing like this where I come from”, except may be in Cardiff, demonstrated naivety and will do nothing to lessen the controversy surrounding comments already made about her own town. This aside, though, as a singer she is every bit the genuine classy article. So DO believe the hype as the world will be seeing much more of Aimee Anne Duffy Duffy for many years to come.
Words DARREN LEWIS
