Photo: Theo Cohen
Darkness and Disgrace
Pleasance Dome 4
This is a rum 'un. English chansonnier Des de Moor and pianist-singer Russell "three Fringe shows a day" Churney explore the shadows of David Bowie's songbook and life, transporting Diamond Dogs, Lady Stardust et al to a Flanders & Swann, Noel Cowardish setting and examining the influence of the family madness on Bowie's music and, possibly, incidentally, of Margaret Thatcher on his writer's block.
It's an uncomfortable experience, chiefly because, although de Moor tries hard to engage, he recalls the class square who re-appears extolling drugs or trendy religion, clearly Bowie-besotted but a mite proprietorial and smug. He does, however, solicit unlikely community singing on All the Madmen's "ouvrez le chien" [sic] line, as well as representing the most unnatural-looking guitarist this side of Michael Foot, and the very capable Churney makes several fine contributions riding creepy, coldly malevolent shotgun.
Rob Adams
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