- NME review -
Danny McNamara lopes to the front of the stage, extends his arms in a crucifixion pose and starts flapping. Tonight Embrace have a series of stirring tunes made fit for stadiums and an audience struggling to fill a third of a mid-sized venue to play them to. The band straight into a jumping 'New Adam New Eve'. No compromising the grandiose plan then?
Almost every minute is as big and optimistic as you'd hope for. You can feel it from the rise and fall of 'The Love It Takes' to the thrashy challenge of 'Yeah You'.
It's the strength of the songs that Embrace can pick from that impresses. So when 'One Big Family' falls short, there's 'Fireworks' and a suitably grand 'All You Good Good People' to atone with.
Any doubts about the choice of 'Save Me' as the new single are obliterated with a stomping rendition. Whether play punching his brother or aping the drummer, Danny needs to keep moving for the whole song. Richard McNamara lets fly on his guitar, then Mickey Dale on his keyboards. It's an unexpected high point of the night.
The intimate nature of the gig does limit the scope of the show to some extent. The sing-along at the end of 'The Good Will Out' is more of a pleasant karaoke night amongst friends than a moment of international unification. And it's hard to imagine Richard stopping to ask this summer's festival crowds if anyone knows the second chord in 'Last Gas'. Embrace attack the fast ones and caress the slow ones like the place is full, and then thanks us for making them feel welcome. As arm-around-the-shoulder tune 'You're Not Alone' advises, "sure in time you'll be heard". Not tonight in Japan, but the weight of their majestic songs and that amiable professionalism can't go unnoticed in the Far East much longer.
Bryan Scruby