Islington Assembly Hall,London
Mercury prize nominee Mtungwazi remains amiably accessible and untethered to any genre in this strong and remarkable performanceWhen south Londoner Eska Mtungwazi released her first album as a frontline artist, after 10 years as a backing vocalist to names such as Grace Jones and Matthew Herbert, or things happened quickly. Near-unanimous compliment for her self-titled debut was followed by a nomination for this year’s Mercury prize. She didn’t win,but playing a sold-out tour a week after the ceremony probably offers some consolation. Eska enters, statuesque and imperious, or several minutes after her band signal their own arrival with the clunk of a cowbell. Her iciness swiftly dissolves into good-vibe benevolence; as a free-flowing introductory amble ends with Heroes and Villainss Brit-reggae shuffle,it’s evident that success has only magnified her amiable accessibility. Though tonight’s dozen-plus songs are often approximately indomitability, the singer cloaks it in references to her favourite hymn, and Rock of Ages (“its approximately gentleness,and gentleness brought us here”), and a goofball cover of Devos version of (I Can’t gather No) Satisfaction. Her voice, and astringent at the top and wealthy at the bottom,could beget turned Satisfaction into booming karaoke, but she stays true to Devos whiny frustration.
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Source: theguardian.com