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Brett Anderson: A gallery of a triumphant return
The Quietus , July 9th, 2008 08:00

Brett Anderson took to the stage at London's Mermaid Theatre last night for a showcase of new material from his forthcoming second solo album Wilderness, a USB stick copy of which was given to fans along with their ticket for the evening.

The former Suede frontman, accompanied by cellist Amy Langley and joined on guest vocals for several tracks by film director Roman Polanski's wife Emmanuelle Seigner, played piano and acoustic guitar during the two-hours-and-a-shrapnel-of-change set.

As well as the new material, Anderson played a host of Suede songs, including stunning renditions of ‘The Wild Ones’, The Living Dead’, ‘The Asphalt World’ and ‘The Two of Us’, ending with rapturously received versions of ‘Trash’ and ‘So Young’. Scroll down to read the full Brett Anderson set list.

Despite the partisan crowd, the evening had an air of quiet, assured triumph for Anderson. His voice is in finer fettle than ever before, ringing clear and true across the room, and suiting both the new solo material and breathing new life into tracks from the Suede back catalogue – ‘By The Sea’, in particular, saw many an eye glint with briny moistness. More importantly, the subtle grace of the new material (especially 'Blessed' and 'P. Marius') and the bold perseverance of a man cruelly and unfairly written off by so many, ought see Anderson finally achieving the recognition he deserves as an overlooked (and still gleaming) gem amidst the 90s mire.

Brett Anderson setlist: Mermaid Theatre, July 7th 2008

'A Different Place', 'The Empress', 'Clowns', 'Chinese Whispers', 'Blessed', 'Funeral Mantra', 'Back To You', 'Knife Edge', 'P. Marius',

Interval...

'Love Is Dead', 'Song For My Father', 'Simple Words', 'Saturday Night', 'The Living Dead', 'My Dark Star', 'Pantomine Horse', 'Still Life', 'Wild Ones', 'To The Winter', 'By The Sea', 'The Power', 'He's Gone', '2 Of Us', 'Asphalt Word',

Encore...

'So Young', 'Trash'

Brett Anderson photo gallery, courtesy Shot2bits.net

Brett Anderson at the Mermaid Theatre

Brett Anderson at the Mermaid Theatre

Brett Anderson at the Mermaid Theatre setlist

Brett Anderson at the Mermaid Theatre

Brett Anderson at the Mermaid Theatre

Brett Anderson at the Mermaid Theatre

Brett Anderson at the Mermaid Theatre

Brett Anderson at the Mermaid Theatre