If anyone was to ask me what kind of music I like, my simple answer would be music that moves me, despite genre and classification, if the music has emotion, style doesn’t come into the equation. So with that in an invitation to see classical music/vocal harmonies three-piece, Blake intrigued, could a band known for performances on the likes of This Morning and Loose Women (and the royal wedding between William and Kate!!!) speak to me, a hardened music critic?
The group are currently on tour in support of the soon to be released new album, In Harmony (Nov 3rd) performing at numerous intimate theaters across the UK, enabling their fans to catch their heroes up close and personal. The Artrix is a perfect venue for such a performance, the sound is always crystal clear, the seating intimate but more than comfortable and the staff are second to none.
As you can imagine the Blake and took to the stage to a full auditorium and instantly seduced the audience with a stunning rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water, setting the mood for an evening of soaring vocals, gorgeous harmonies and classic songs lifted from the world’s of pop, classical, opera and beyond. Having taken my seat in trepidation (always cynical about a band that could be described as housewives choice), I have to say that opening number blew me away, I knew the trio could sing but the blended voices of Stephan, Humphrey and Ollie sounded sensational ringing around the venue.
From such beginnings the close knit group delivered a tender version of To Love Somebody (lifted from the new album) before really letting those operatic voices of the leash with a breathtaking take on the Morricone themed Nella Fantasia, with each of their voices reaching a beautiful crescendo, almost lifting the roof from the Artrix.
Showcasing the diversity of influences Blake then offered up a very impressive and inventive, reconstructed version of Chasing Cars that perhaps manage to up the emotional ante of even the original and certainly rained on all the sub-standard x-factor versions we’ve had to endure in recent years. Fellow opera singer Camilla Kerslake then took over the stage for a couple of numbers as well assisting a version of surprisingly stirring, You Raise Me Up (that also featured the Beat Breast Cancer Choir via video back-up), before the boys took over for a mesmeric acapella version of Cohen’s Hallelujah and the evergreen opera classic Nessum Dorma, closing the first set on an incredible high.
During the interval the band and Camilla, took to the bar area to sign anything that was thrust upon them, a welcoming sigh, showing their appreciation to their fans.
The second set began much as the first with the boys delivering beautiful vocal takes on the likes of, Love Lifts You Up Where You Belong, Love Me Tender (featuring a ukulele no less) and a wonderful touching take, on the Les Miserables classic Bring Him Home. In fact the only song I can really pick fault with was a less than satisfying With Or Without You (U2), which perhaps lacked the necessary punch, musically, to really do the song justice.
Camilla returned to the stage for a few numbers before joining in for a rousing and standing finale of Time To Say Goodbye and (Songs of Praise favourite) Jerusalem, leaving the gathered baying for more and this reviewer as something of a covert to their cause.
Like I alluded to at the opening of this review I want music to emotionally pull the listener in and I have to say Blake do just that, whether you like the classical/opera/pop crossover that the group do is neither here nor there, the trio’s vocals yank at the strings and at times leave your hairs standing to attention.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 8
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