In its 105-year history, the London Palladium has played host to an enviable list of performers — from Nat King Cole to Judy Garland — but there can be few as brilliant or as bonkers as Marina Diamandis.
“I chose this venue because I like to blend theatre with what I do,” said the half-Welsh, half-Greek singer, whose live show had more costume changes than a Christmas panto and more fascinators than a royal wedding.
In keeping with the theatrical theme, she divided her performance into three acts — one for each of her albums. The first of these saw her dressed as a kind of musical Minnie Mouse, singing songs from her divisive debut, The Family Jewels, backed by a four-piece band. I’m Not A Robot was a showcase for her quasi-operatic vocals while the bubblegum pop of Hollywood prompted a Palladium first: mass pogoing.
Act two saw her squeeze into a bodysuit, pick up a pair of pom-poms and become Electra Heart, the titular character from her big-selling second LP. Bubblegum Bitch was Katy Perry-style power-pop, but the album’s more generic sound meant that the songs in this section weren’t nearly as remarkable as their singer.
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The final act was the highlight. Drawing on songs from this year’s excellent Froot, Diamandis served up giddy electro-pop in the form of Can’t Pin Me Down Happy before proving, on piano ballad Happy, that she is no longer a stranger to subtlety.
Sunday night at the Palladium has rarely sounded so good.
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