- Music
- 04 Aug 18
There are some phrases that form a universal part of the Irish experience still. A nation holds its breath. Who’s taking the horse to France? Sally O’Brien, and the way she might look at you. Roisin Murphy may have moved away from this isle at the age of 12, but it’s clear that she’s never lost the ability to tap into her Irish psyche and connect with us.
She opens her Main Stage set with two new songs, ‘Innocence’ and ‘Plaything’, both disco-inspired house bangers stand among her finest work - and then, as is her wont, she pops off for a costume change. And how does she fill the time? By repeating the phrase “Stand clear - luggage doors operating”.
Her set is an hour-long triumph of exuberance and expression. It’s the freedom of Saturday night, a joyful vibe close to what you’d find at Dublin club night Mother. Each new item of clothing draws cheers - she starts off in an oversized brown pinstripe coat , ends in a ripped pink tracksuit and what looks like an inflatable ribcage, and a lurid green and gold cape is a literal highlight. Her four-strong band keep the people with their driving rhythm.
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It’s appropriate that Murphy, the most amorphous of pop stars, has to her name a song like ‘Sing It Back’, which has been a hit in so many forms. Here it’s teased out in a relaxed manner that must be the envy of so many lesser songwriters. It’ll be hard to top it as anthem of the weekend.
Though, there is the small case of Underworld later tonight…