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Razorlight at HMV Forum Review

Razorlight - Kentish Town Forum
The final Q Awards build-up gig saw a return to the smaller London venue of the Kentish Town Forum for Razorlight. Previewing songs from their forthcoming album 'Slipway Fires' due to be realesed on 3rd November Johnny Borrell and his Anglo-Swedish four piece are eagerly anticipated by the 2000 fans in the audience watching in bemusement as the stage is decorated with various 'props' including a stuffed hen, a lampshade and dozens of red roses strewn on top of the piano, complete with a theatrical red curtain, later revealing a huge 'Razorlight' in flashing bulbs. Walking onto the stage, with Johnny's all white uniform of two years ago a distant memory, they launch straight into the first album classic 'Golden Touch' which still sounds surprisingly fresh, the opening song has a few of the bands long standing fans jumping around at the front however you cant help but get the impression the majority of the crowd have come off the back of their more commercially successful self titled second album, which is why when a few songs in they launch into 'Fall to Pieces' there is a mass sing a long from the crowd. New songs such as 'Burberry Blue Eyes' 'Tabloid Lover' and 'North London Trash' are given their first outing and recieve a warm reaction from the crowd. Johnny's vocals were demanding and at times eerily perfect, It was clear that the groups ability to create songs of emotional intensity has continued on the third album and new single 'Wire to Wire' performed by Borrell sitting at the rose covered piano proves this perfectly, as understated as Borrell's choice of pearl earring and beads on the evening, the song at times leaves you feeling like he has the whole audience's worries on his shoulders. It is easy to become so fascinated by Johnny's stage presence you can often forget there are three other members in Razorlight, quietely remaining out of the spotlight and letting Borrell egoentric take centre stage, However tonights gig deserves a mention for drummer Andy Burrows, the power and passion of his drumming was perfect and sounded even better away from the big arenas and in the smaller surroundings of the Forum especially on the stomping "In the Morning", always a great live song. For most of the gig Borrell's eyes seemed to be focused on somewhere in the distance way above the seated balcony, only briefly leaning down into the front rows of the crowd and making eye contact causing a few excitable screams and frantic camera flashing. Maybe he thought engaging with them too much would disolve the magical image he has so carefully constructed. In fact the band said little more than a few "thankyou's" throughout the gig until the encore when Borrell grabbed a handful of roses and threw them into the crowd "thankyou so much. It is fucking amazing to be back" Onto the encore which begins with a sillhouted Johnny performing a note perfect 'Fall, Fall, Fall' followed by another new track and finally wrapped up with the frantic guitars of old indie dancefloor classic 'Rip it Up' which gives the bands loyal followers a chance to enjoy some genuine mosh pit action in the largely respectable crowd, perhaps leaving some people feeling Razorlight can perform songs that are short, spiky and energetic just as well as they can epic hearbreaking ones. Either way tonight looks like the welcome return for more intimate gigs for Razorlight, lets just hope they can satisfy Borrell as much as the stadiums he seems to have become accustomed to.

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