Ultravox
London Hammersmith Apollo
24th March, 2009

View: centre, circle

The classic line-up of Cann, Cross, Currie and Ure returned to Eden after a decades-long gap and it was as if they’d never been away, their brand of electro-rock timeless, and their monochrome lighting and film-screen backdrops adding a Teutonic lustre throughout their 100 minutes. Kicking off in silhouette with the rocked-up Tangerine Dream-like Astradyne, they served up a mix of album cuts (Passing Strangers, with Midge on guitar, Mr. X, with Warren narrating over Bill’s discordant electric violin, and sinister drum-pads), and surefire hits. Visions In Blue was a clapalong fave, followed by an uptempo, hypnotic The Thin Wall, before the somber Rage In Eden and Lament. Things took off with One Small Day, All Stood Still rocked, and despite its variations and some overly loud crowd participation, Vienna was magnificent. A sedate Reap The Wild Wind was followed by the strobe action of Dancing With Tears In My Eyes and mesmeric Hymn, before an encore including the closing The Voice, with even the Circle on their feet!

Reviewed by Tim Jones
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