Roland Gift
Beck's Famous Spiegeltent

The old Fine Young Cannibals fans can't believe their luck. With the Spiegeltent's fire restrictions limiting numbers to a very civilised level, they get to see their favourite band's old singer in comfortable and elegant surroundings, and can even take a spin on the dancefloor right under his nose to hits such as Johnny Come Home, Good Thing and She Drives Me Crazy.
Gift, about to relaunch his solo career with a new album, looks as cool, if not cooler, as he ever did in the Eighties. His new material, mostly in a similar pop/soul/funk vein to Fine Young Cannibals, has the virtue of strong crunchy choruses, reinforced by two backing singers, and stands to make a favourable impact on the millions who bought his old band's records.
Gift's voice has always sounded as though it is being filtered through a device to exaggerate its most eccentric qualities. It is no studio trick. He really does sound like that live. Curious as his Midlands soulman vocals are, though, they really cut through.
But Gift gives a very controlled performance. There is no suggestion that he will ever get carried away or reach for unexpected heights. Everything he does is within rgfontmeters he knows he can pull off with ease, which makes for a reliable performance, but ultimately an unsatisfying one.
Alastair Mabbott
Run ended