Kae Tempest at Camp & Furnace

Liverpool

Review 

08/05/2022

Opening up for Kae Tempest tonight is Alexandra Shungudzo Govere, better known as Shungudzo. She is a Zimbabwean-American singer and reality television personality. She first attracted media attention by being the first black female gymnast to represent Zimbabwe in artistic gymnastics at the 1999 All-Africa Games. She also co-founded a charity called The Kijana Project, which provides relief for AIDS orphans.

My favourite song of her set was the song titled ‘White parents’ that describes a mixed-race girl’s experience of dating a white guy whos in love with her but is scared to introduce her to his ‘White Parents’. If you have not heard of her then check her out, this woman is a headline act in her own right.

Shungudzo_Credit: Billy Vitch

So on to the main act.

It’s not often that you get to see an artist as complex, raw, and poetic as you do with kae Tempest. Haling from Brockley, South East London Kae has gone on to become one of the most powerful voices of a generation that is crying and screaming out for change from the powers that be. Tonight’s show is yet again a testament to Kae’s versatility as a poet and artist. The lion’s mane of hair that once adorned Kae’s head is no more and has now been replaced by a smart crop that makes them look even more self assured than before. The shyness and vulnerability still come through but somehow I’m left feeling that they have become more self shure and confident.

Kae starts the set by introducing their new album ‘The Line Is A Curve’ and telling us that they will play it in its entirety and then add on some of the old ones towards the end, usually I find this can be a bit hard on the fans because listening to an hour of songs you do not know can be a challenge to anyone listening, but I was mistaken this time!

From the first track ‘Priority Bordom’ I am completely hooked! The set continues unbroken from track to track and its spell bounding and mesmerising, the skill and complexity of kae’s words literally wrap around your soul and make you feel at times as if kae has been inside your head and has then written about all of your joys, fears, loves, hates and experiences because it literally feels as if each song has been written for you, a truly remarkable feat when I’m sure every single person in the venue feels the same!

Kae Tempest_Credit: Billy Vitch

So is the new album as good as Kae’s previous work? Better! And I must admit I’m going to be obsessively listening to it on repeat now for a few weeks at least!

After the new album, it’s time for some of their better known songs. At one point the man next to me smiles and looks at me with tears in his eyes as kae bursts into their track ‘Firesmoke’ from their third album ‘The Book Of Traps And Lessons’ as he tells me this song is the song he and his fiancé who is stood next to him grinning from ear to ear are getting married too!

Kae Tempest_Credit: Billy Vitch

An emotional show, to say the least, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the entire building tonight listening to these songs that talk about life, love, peace, harmony, fear, and social injustice.

If you’ve not had a listen to Kae then I highly recommend you give them a go and make your own mind up.

I promise you won’t be disappointed!

By Billy Vitch

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