Album Club - Week 132: 11/02/2014: Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love (2004)

[Tim]

That's why I think you and I fundamentally listen to music in different ways

Now that I think is very true Martin - Bryan Ferry though is quite a good example as unfortunately he suffers from memory loss and can no longer remember his words, so his diction is dreadful as he's reading a song sheet and not really projecting his performance into a microphone. I was very disappointed the last time is saw him.

I think I'm at odds with the majority here to be perfectly frank, as live music is where its really at as far as I'm concerned - the performance for me is so much more than listening at home, so yup we are very different animals. I still lurves you though

[John]

I still enjoy a good live performance I used to average 2 to 3 concerts a week which I did for around 20 years mostly at small dingy clubs like the Marquee
For me they are different experiences a live band you get the atmosphere and energy that no listening experience comes close

[Tim]

. . . the atmosphere and energy that no listening experience comes close

That pretty much sums it up for me too John.

[Barry]

And for me too!

[MartinT]

I feel differently about classical concerts, being as they are acoustic. For me, live performance of a classical work is the pinnacle of musical experience.

[Tim]

For me, live performance of a classical work is the pinnacle of musical experience.

Definitely on the same page here Martin, live classical is the only music that can repeatedly make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck and send a chill down my spine. Mahler 9 during the adagio does it every single time I hear it.

[Havana]

Now that I think is very true Martin - Bryan Ferry though is quite a good example as unfortunately he suffers from memory loss and can no longer remember his words, so his diction is dreadful as he's reading a song sheet and not really projecting his performance into a microphone. I was very disappointed the last time I saw him.

I had heard a sad rumour about this. Do you know it's definitely true ?

[Audioman]

I had heard a sad rumour about this. Do you know it's definitely true ?

Dec 2012 - does it look like he is reading the words ? - pretty fluent performance.


Paul.

[Tim]

I had heard a sad rumour about this. Do you know it's definitely true ?

I saw him in Bournemouth awhile back and was standing right in front of him. There was a music stand to his left and at first I thought it was just a set-list, but it became apparent they were lyrics which he was reading during the songs. This for me disconnected him from the audience as his concentration was on the music stand instead of making eye contact with those out front and as Martin commented on, his diction was quite poor. This was for songs that were his, not just some of the covers he performed, so those words should be ingrained.

Additionally on the floor by his feet were taped the names of his band and backing singers, which he referred to as he introduced them. Most folk would have missed this, but as I was just a few feet away I could see what was going on and I'm a bit of a nosy bugger and tend to take notice of what's going on around me. This was half-way through the tour too, so not as if they were strangers on stage with him. It could be just unfamiliarity, but it certainly didn't appear that way. I still enjoyed the show, but there was something missing compared to when I have seen him before, as I really rate Bryan Ferry as both a live performer and songwriter.

[MartinT]

I have to say we found his recent concert at the Albert Hall superb. We weren't aware of any difficulties he was having with reading lyrics or band member names. Very sad, memory issues like that, and I bet he finds it very frustrating. It's even harder to absorb as we both commented on how youthful he looks for his age.