While football’s Foxes are sitting at the Premier League summit, the pop Foxes is struggling in the top flight. The singer’s Roundhouse show coincided with the disappearance of her second album from the top 100 after only a month.
A sales slump can make a pop act irrelevant — hits are in the job description — but this gutsy performance suggests that Foxes is here to stay. Louisa Rose Allen, as she was born 26 years ago in Southampton, was more interesting than some of her predictably perky tunes might have you believe.
Her rich voice deserved better than the breathy comeback single Body Talk, which was turned into disco stodge by her band.
Perhaps Allen, dressed in matching cream slacks and robe, lacked the charisma to carry off the sultry R&B of Cruel, though she was an effervescent presence on the punchy pop of Youth.
Her dramatic voice — more Kate Bush than Katy Perry — seemed best suited to the ballads, especially when accompanied by the string section. On My Way, which she sang while perched on a set of steps, had shades of Adele.
Latest music reviews
Allen’s performance peaked with the fierce finale of Let Go For Tonight, still her only top 10 hit.
At least she has a loyal fan base, who set her off giggling mid-song by holding up dozens of signs declaring: “We will always love you, Lou.”
“Did my mum put you up to that?” she laughed.
Their message presumably referred to the heartbreak that inspired her album, but it also suggests Foxes’ fans will keep the faith.
Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
