Spiritulized @ Royal Albert Hall – 11/10/11

I really like spiritulized and I don’t listen to them much. Sounds like a contradiction but this gig showed me why it’s true. Spiritulized’s music demands your full attention and in my hectic world music is often complimentary to something else being done (usually traveling, reading or both). I seldom get the chance to fully immerse in the music which is why gigs are great – and what a way to bathe in sound this was. What I love about spiritulized is that it’s about soundscapes rather than songs. This is something I’m more used to with electronic music but with a real band the emotion was so much more intense. At times I felt like I was watching a wild animal on safari. I say safari, even though the Royal Albert Hall setting bears a closer resemblance to a circus, because here there was no ring master – no speaking to the crowd or taking requests. This wasn’t a performance to entertain; it was music that needed letting out. Indeed the set backdrop of flashing lights and a single sheet to project on reinforced that you’re here to hear – all about the music. With a wall of guitars, drums, a string section and choir in the fabulous acoustics of the venue I was swept along a journey with twists and turns in unpredictable ways. It’s always so much fun not knowing what’s coming next and to have compositions that give time for atmospheres to develop. After an amazing uplifting encore with smatterings of gospel I left knowing I’d seen a unique show performed with true passion.