❉ Ange Chan waxes lyrical over Cherry Red’s special vinyl release of an already-legendary performance.
Late last year, Cherry Red Records released The Things We Lost, Marc Almond’s first new collection of songs in several years. As an added bonus, the expanded edition carried a double disc containing the 10th February 2020 Royal Festival Hall, London concert with Chris Braide, which also happened to be one of the last concerts I attended before lockdown. Now, exactly three years on from that RFH concert, before social distancing, mask wearing and frequent hand sanitisation became the ‘new normal’, Cherry Red’s Strike Force Entertainment imprint are releasing it a stand-alone a limited-edition triple vinyl set entitled Chaos and More.
The first three sides of vinyl are devoted to a full performance of Marc’s album Chaos and a Dancing Star, enlivened with a special guest appearance from Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson on Lord Of Misrule, Tull original Witch’s Promise and Soft Cell’s Bedsitter; while the “And More” that comprises the remainder of this epic show include a songs from Marc’s album The Velvet Trail (his first collaboration with Braide), a solo spotlight for two of Braide’s best known compositions, Unstoppable (originally written with and successfully recorded by Sia) and Kill And Run from Baz Luhrmann’s film The Great Gatsby, and a powerful medley of T Rex’s Dandy In The Underworld and Children Of The Revolution in tribute to Almond’s teenage hero Marc Bolan among the highlights.
The vinyl itself is a beautifully presented package, with the front cover and full colour inner sleeves depicting scenes from this already-legendary performance. The records are a complete document of the event, placing you front and centre as though you are there. For those in attendance on the night, it’s a rare treat to be able to re-live those moments in the comfort of your own home and hold in your hands a tangible memento of the evening.
❉ Marc Almond With Chris Braide: Chaos And More Live At The Royal Festival Hall (Strike Force Entertainment SFELP098T) limited edition triple-LP set released February 10, 2023, RRP £41.99. Click here to order from Cherry Red Records. Cherry Red Records have been releasing and reissuing the most innovative and independent thinking music since 1978. Follow them on Twitter or visit their site.
❉ A lifelong lover of music and prominent contributor to Me and the Starman (now available by Cult Ink on Amazon),Ange Chan is a Freelance Writer, having produced two novels and six volumes of poetry.
