Believe me when I say I’m resisting the urge to gush here but based on the evidence on display at The Unit tonight, Little Boots will be the biggest popstar this country has produced since Lilly Allen and, whisper this part to yourself, she could just go global.
Arriving on stage by dragging herself through the 200 capacity crowd, an entrance not befitting the glamorous sheen of her songs, Boots or Victoria Hesketh as she’s known to friends, launches straight into forthcoming album track ‘Magical’. It’s an astounding opener on many levels, not least for the ambition of recreating the studio gloss of space age pop between three band members and a laptop but also for the sheer quality of song writing prowess on show. Anyone familiar with Hesketh’s previous act ‘Dead Disco’ will know she’s always had a way a tune but in her new outfit the bar has been raised beyond recognition.
Time after time tonight Boot’s will unleash yet another gem waiting to smash her unknowing multitude of public admirer’s right between the eyes. ‘Love Kills’ writhes in ecstasy around a glorious mix of sexed up synth and crashing cymbals whilst the otherworldly sheen of iTunes free download ‘Stuck On Repeat’ crescendos around the aptly placed line “And it’s you that makes me move to the beat / And you that’s got me stuck on repeat.” Inside The Unit may seem as hot as midday in the Calamari desert but that doesn’t stop the crowd of assorted scenesters and music journalists moving in unison. Every verse seems like a chorus and the choruses, oh the euphoric choruses!
The act does slip slightly however, around Hesketh’s stage persona. Not that she shouldn’t be playing for mystique by pulling out some Madonna-esque moves but in a room so small that Boots can see the slits in the eyes of her audience, their effect is somewhat sullied. Similarly as between song banter goes, “I went down to West Quay today and bought a new pair of knickers” does somewhat inevitably prompt the lager lout’s response of “Get them out and show us love!” Such shortcomings though, can be worked on. Besides when you’ve got the armoury of Little Boots, these quibbles don’t really amount to much at all.
All signs then, point to a rocket propelled trip towards international prominence for Victoria Hesketh, a journey she seems eminently aware she has already embarked on, as mid way through the set she announces stonking new single ‘New In Town’ with the line “please buy it and make me a proper pop star.” This Brighton born songstress already fits the criteria to a tee, she’s just waiting for the world to catch up.
‘Hands’ the debut album from little Boots is set to be released on 8th June
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