Botanic Majesties
FASHION - BIRMINGHAM
As far I know, apart from Spandau's party in the reception room, no-one has ever done this sort of thing at Birmingham's Botanical Gardens before. Full marks to Fashion for the idea, as well as the faultless organisation that made the event go off with nary a hitch. It seems that manager Dave Corke must have fixed the weather as well because Saturday was one of the few fne warm evenings that you just don't expect
With darkness came the real McCoy, the Fashion show par exscellence, as Fashion mk4 came out to show us what they're made of. Recently signed with Arista, the mood was happy and confident, the quality of the performance an improvement on the last gig, as fashion have tightened up and polished their set until it positively gleams with professionalism. The area stage front alive with a sense of occasion, the audience ready to applaud the band ran smoothly throught their paces, producing their individual brand of Britfunk with an ease of manner that belied its complexity. Joined onstage by the ebullient Stoker of the Bureau on percussion toward the end, the set closed energetically and with much audible appreciation from the audience.
The present line-up is still quite new, and time will no doubt prove their mettle.
- CAROLYN SPENCE
A New Face In Fashion
FASHION - WAREHOUSE, LEEDS
Being a mmber of Fashion over the last six months can hardly have been suitable employment for anyone with a nervous disposition. One week they were up : He next down. one week they were on the verge of the bitg time : the next still struggling for that vital breakthrough.
Then the breakthrough came in the form of a first major tour : then main man De Harris stormed out on the brind of that tour. Then there were three. lef high and dry, but still committed to seeing the tour throug.
To be in Fashion was to be in a nightmare. But that was then. And that all changed with an explosive performance at a secret gig in Leeds this week.
Elevated from Teardrop' s N.2 to Fashion N. 1, Troy Tate has brilliantly bridged the gap created by Harris'sudden departure. Just how perfectly he's fitted in less than a month in a major surprise - Harris was always the stylish face at the front of Fashion, while Troy was.... well, just the face you sometimes noticed behind dear old Copey..
Aggression : I'd say that's Troy's biggest asset. And funnily enough, I reckon that's the crucial element that Fashion have always been missing. Troy pushes Fashion along at a dynamic pace and they in turn respond to his convictions and purpose. Face contorted throughtout the set, Troy Tate refuses to let Fashion take the easy way home, like they might have done six months ago, and songs like "Street Player" and "Love Shadow" are given a whole new meaning and depth.Troy makes them sound relevant and freshly significant because he attacks them and the new Fashion don't know the meaning of the word "compromise".
But not only has Troy added fresh life to the songs he's also brought a new impetus to the other fashionites. with Harris gone they seem much more confident and willing to take the spotlight - consequently Fashion is no longer a front man and three sidekicks. It's now four equal parts - Troy's vocal power, Dik Davis'drumming power, Mulligan's keyboard power - working an a marvellously cohesive whole.
Suddenly Fashion have power : .the power to send the capacity crowd wild; the power to provoke and amaze; the power to make believe that Fashion might shine some light during the dark nights to come.
And the power to be one step ahead of ( the old ) Fashion.
- FRANK WORRALL -