It’s all hushed in the rather pleasant surrounding of the CCA as Seattle based Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, takes his seat behind an electric piano and his three piece band join him on stage, and it pretty much remains that way throughout.
What we get tonight is an astonishing display of beauty from one of the most frank songwriters in the business, but it’s not Hadreas’ songwriting capabilities that set him aside from the rest, it’s his gorgeous vocals that have made his two previous albums such a delightful experience, and his upcoming effort, Too Bright, one that so many people are looking forward to.
Usually you’d feel a Monday night would let a gig down, but Perfume Genius is exactly what you want from a start of the week gig, a chilled, wondrous affair that leaves you in a hazy, relaxed world.
He ushers “welcome to my home” in an almost whispered tone before going on to start a track twice before finally getting there on the third, but thus is the contentment in the room it doesn’t matter and is soon forgotten about.
Whether he’s behind the keys or sauntering around the stage Hadreas’ presence is engrossing, and the introduction of bass/guitar and drums to his set have given it a new level, where previously it may have felt a little too sparse.
He breezes through a few wondrous numbers from his upcoming album, alongside ones from his previous releases, before latest single ‘Queen’ gets the first “woo” from the audience and Hadreas demonstrates just why everyone is so excited for his upcoming release.
‘Queen’ is Perfume Genius’ most outright pop track to date and it feels a step in the right direction for the rather extroverted singer, who has still managed to keep that sense uneasy that made this project such an exciting one.
As Hadreas says his goodbyes, he chirps “if you clap I’ll come back” before he and his keyboardist take on ‘Mr. Peterson’, the heartrendingly, personal feeling stand out from his 2010 debut Learning.
Hadreas returns solo for the a three track encore, that includes a touching cover of Art Garfunkel’s ‘Bright Eyes’ and gives us another few examples of the sparse beauty of the Perfume Genius output, before he leaves us to go off on our ways, most in a much more settled mindset than when they were in previous.
Perfume Genius playing Edinburgh Caves on November 23
Photos: Sandy Gibson
