DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION

VENUE TRADING BOUNDARIES, EAST SUSSEX

DATE 28/09/2018

There’s a palpable air of expectation tonight in deepest east sussex before downes Braide association begin their first ever live show. they’re introduced by roger dean, who quips that he first met dBa’s Geoff downes and chris Braide about 40 years and 40 minutes ago, respectively.

while this is dBa’s live debut, they don’t lack ambition tonight, playing Prelude before launching with gusto into the 18-minute title track from last year’s skyscraper souls album.

the key question is how dBa’s meticulously studio-crafted music will translate live. while the first two albums relied exclusively on the duo’s own talents, skyscraper souls deployed assorted guests.

dBa’s live configuration tonight features bassist andy hodge and rick wakeman guitarist dave colquhoun, both of whom played on that album, but there’s no drummer, with the band using backing tracks. live music hardliners may blanch at this, but they work pretty seamlessly here in tandem with the four musicians.

the band play a quartet of songs from previous album suburban Ghosts, with machinery of Fate in particular given a sharper edge by colquhoun’s guitar and hodge’s insistent bass, while live twice is enlivened by an impressive, lengthy closing solo from colquhoun.

downes, more visible than usual without a phalanx of keyboards, plays Bolero and video killed the radio star solo before the show’s second half, which consists of the balance of the skyscraper souls album. it’s a strong finish, of which the highlight is the reprisal by Big

Big train vocalist david longdon of his album guest appearance on tomorrow, transforming that song from solid to spine-tingling with his vocals and flute.

dBa encore with stripped down versions of asia’s heat of the moment and the smile has left your eyes, Braide displaying genuine affection for the latter in particular.

it’s musically stunning, with hodge and colquhoun impressing alongside downes, but the real revelation is Braide, whose clear vocals are topdrawer. while his pop songwriting credentials are undeniable – lana del rey, sia, Beyoncé and Britney spears being just four of his clients – he rarely performs. But if Braide has any nerves about playing live, they’re not on display here.

it’s unclear whether tonight is a one-off or the launch pad for future shows. hopefully the enthusiastic response dBa receive will encourage its key protagonists to venture beyond their day jobs more often to ensure it’s the latter.