London, England - Media Reviews

The Luxury Of Real Fur By Philip Bell

"Leppards" spots have undergone alterations, no doubt about it.

But however hard you scrutinize the new-found versatility, the arrogant stage-craft, or the factor which constitutes the full-stop of any worthy assessment, the music itself, you'll detect little trace of the stars 'n' stripes supposed to have sprouted on the young face of the band.

Indeed I'd say they've broken out into a feverous rash of blue-blooded heaviness, projected in their virile revamped high velocity performance of past classics.

Sadly mistreated on their debut album.

As well as the High 'n' Dry battery.

The set consisted roughly of alternate airings from each platter.

It was one long highlight, an orgy of sweat 'n' dandruff.

'Another Hit And Run', 'Let It Go' and 'Mirror Mirror', blasted the discerning London mob and I can say in all honesty that I saw refined looking characters reduced to blabbering, nervous wrecks, showing sheer shell-shock symptoms.

'Rock Brigade' (shoutalong), 'Overture' (the slow one), and 'Wasted' and an abundance of flints, lighters, Brymays, etc, burn the sky.

First encore was 'NO NO NO', the logical successor to what was of course the grand finale.

The one that sparked it all off, er, wossitsname, er, on yeah, '(Getcha) Rocks Off'.

A perfect climax.

Worth the weight, eh Joe?.

Forgive the pun.

Once the countdown tape 'Switch 625' was absorbed by collective eardrums and we'd recovered from flash pot induced sightlessness.

First observation was that Elliott's lost a roll or two (of fat, not money) though baggy trousers can deceive a lenient (blinded) gaze.

As for the chic line in tent legs being unashamedly sported by the tall and similarly by Steve Clark.

I'd wager a striving for originality explained this, for escape from the cliched tradition prevalent in the last two years.

Enough of the fashion reviewing.

The state of the stars is of secondary importance.

The dazzling array of coloured beams around the stainless logo (another Sheffield product, I dare say).

Gripped yer by the eyeballs and spelt out absolute professionalism.

Experience usually only evident in only the most accomplished bands radiated from every member of the quintet.

Though occasionally crowd handling was a bit suspect.

The new era Defening style ain't really an advancement since a year ago.

More a total reassessment.

I like it, it works.

By Sounds 1981.

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