MUSIC REVIEW: Cigarettes After Sex - The Albert Hall, Manchester.

This was always going to be an exciting one for me and I fully disclose before you read any further that I am a HUGE fan of Texan-based ambient pop band Cigarettes After Sex. Turning up to hear their romantic, dreamy, sexy, and oft melancholic lyrics sung by the kooky Greg Gonzalez was a bit of a dream come true. Their new album ‘Cry’ has been on repeat since the day I bought it and Gonzalez (lead vocals/guitar) accompanied by Jacob Tomsky (drums) Randall Miller (bass) and Josh Marcus (keyboard) were obviously a popular choice as The Albert Hall Manchester was full to bursting with their sold out gig. An excellent choice of music venue for this four piece, which provided an atmospheric, intimate and special experience for the audience. I was offered both a standing or seated experience from the hospitable staff at The Albert Hall and opted for seated upstairs and which still provided a close up view. Due to the cosy space you always felt you were within touching distance of Gonzalez himself.

There was no warm up or support act but before Cigarettes And Sex appeared we were treated to a short black and white film which line by line, reeled off the lyrics of ‘You’re The Only Good Thing In My Life’. All this set against a backdrop of pouring rain, sensual images and atmospheric chords. There was definitely a hint at film noir and it certainly got us in the mood for what was about to come, and boy were we in for an amazing experience. I believe music is a very personal thing, what moves one soul, may not move another and that is what makes it interesting and why concerts where everyone there is moved by a particular artist or band in the same way as yourself can be such a powerful experience to be a part of. Cigarettes After Sex are unique, to know there are others who also love that uniqueness, and then all gather together to watch live is 'kinda cool' in my book. Gonzalez first appeared to huge applause from the audience and got into the set straight away. I loved that there was no babbling, just a short hello and then right on into the singing. What we were there for.

Gonzalez has the most amazing stage presence, even though the stage was eerily dark and his face was half-visible much of the time due to the smoky stage with soft lighting, he still had the crowd in the palm of his hand, including mine. He has a really quirky move where he steps forward (often to a great cheer) to the edge of the stage and just chills whilst playing his guitar for a minute or two then returns to his singing at the centre-staged microphone. I loved this little manoeuvre of his! He is an incredibly sexy (imo) man and oozes something I can’t quite put my finger on, perhaps a coolness that you wonder is it an arrogance or unapproachability..perhaps a shyness, either way he’s an intriguing artist and I like that. There is much talk of his androgynous singing voice, his actual talking voice is deep and as far away from an androgynous style there is. Though indeed, his singing voice is dreamy and soft and has been known to send people off to sleep, in a good way! In fact Cigarettes And Sex are also known to offer some of the best ‘bedroom music’ out there. I’ll leave that one to your imagination! His accompanying band members all play their part and they work so well as a team. Randall on bass was so watchable on stage and I found myself really drawn to him and his playing. Big shout out to all the members.

We were treated to some of the favourites from both their self-titled debut album ‘Cigarettes After Sex’ and new album ‘Cry’. Every song gently collided with the next, with very, very little chatter. The sound was perfect, this is a band that watching live, you could be right there at home on your own with Gonzalez playing in the background such is the brilliance of his voice. It was a simple affair with no gimmicks and with myself going in with very high expectations he surpassed them all. When you first hear Cigarettes After Sex it can take a few listens to decipher the dreamy, blended lyrics from Gonzalez, but for me it doesn’t really matter too much, they do become clearer eventually and underneath the deep bass, powerful drums and energetic keyboard it all seems to work. They closed the set with ‘Apocalypse’ from their self-titled album to great delight and even greater when they come back onto the stage after darkness fell and we had all gloomily started to think this is definitely over. A double treat for us all. Cigarettes After Sex is an acquired taste most definitely but I urge you to give them a try, you may just find yourself hooked like I was after the very first listen.

Cigarettes After Sex are back touring the U.K. early spring 2020

Reviewer - Mary Fogg
on - 27/11/19