Live Review: FKA Twigs

If you came for the songs then you would have been sorely disappointed, as this show was not about the music. In fact, FKA twigs barely touched her back catalogue, rather choosing to use her compositions for a purpose – to support a movement, a moment, a striking visual – because ultimately this wasn’t a concert. This was a visual masterpiece.

This was a show made to be seen. A visual odyssey that indulged all the senses and FKA twigs' creative vision. However, unfortunately much of the audience settled for catching it in glimpses, unless they were lucky enough to make the front row.

Visual impairment aside, you could not fault FKA twigs’ performance. Red curtains parted to reveal her illuminated under a spotlight, tap dancing her heart out to begin the show. The curtains opened even further to reveal a squad of dancers, and following a costume change for twigs, her ethereal voice rang out across the venue.

FKA twigs @ Carriageworks. Photo by Daniel Boud.

As she and the dancers moved through different arrangements and costumes to what one would assume is new music, you couldn’t help but look on in awe at the masterpiece she had created. Every detail had a purpose and meaning to decode and along with her magnificent falsetto it was a complete sensory overload. Moving into familiar territory, twigs sung Pendulum, played with the structure of Glass & Patron, and Video Game sounded as sleek as it does on record. The music was so visceral but it balanced delicately with the fluid movements and vocals.

A curtain drop revealed a backdrop of scaffolding that played host to her musicians, and we heard glimpses of Hours before an intermission provided a breather.

FKA twigs @ Carriageworks. Photo by Daniel Boud.

Returning to stage, FKA twigs used the next few songs to enthral us with her vocals on a range of piano ballads, before the lights and smoke were turned back up for a rendition of Papi Pacify.

Lights On had twigs spinning on a pole – each movement sensual and calculated. Our eyes were glued to the stage.

The familiar sounds of Two Weeks struck up excitement in the crowd, twigs and co shrouded in pink lights, smoke and confetti as she performed the song in its original form to close the show.

An air of disappointment as the lights came on was soon dissolved by a solo twigs returning to stage to sing Cellophane. She officially closed the show by bringing all the performers onstage to bow, and we clapped and squealed graciously for letting us witness her masterpiece.