Altered Images - 02 Academy, Liverpool, 23/10/2024

  by Richard Lewis

published: 19 / 12 / 2024

Fronted by the hugely charismatic Clare Grogan, Altered Images were briefly one of the biggest, brightest fixtures in British music in the early 1980s. Arriving as spiky New Wave operators, the Glaswegians morphed into a slick pop machine in their four years together. Arguably their strongest LP, the band’s third album 1983s ‘Bite’ which was to be the last of their initial run saw production geniuses Tony Visconti and Mike Chapman helming half of the songs each. Splitting later that year, Grogan resurrected the group name full=time in 2021 and has been touring ever since. The current tour sees the band essay ‘Bite’ in full, alongside hit singles and recent material. Arriving on stage to the strains of ‘Shiny Happy People’, the ‘Images’ output genuinely did embody the ethos of the R.E.M. standard, a combination of Grogan’s instantly recognisable vocals and upbeat guitar jangle. Referencing the cover art of ‘Bite’which featured the singer in full Holly Golightly regalia, Clare enters in an Audrey Hepburn-esque black ballgown and bug eye shades. While their songwriting ability was clearly evident, Altered Images’ early era embodied the DIY ethos of punk. Which, put politely meant their live performances were somewhat erratic. The group’s ramshackle 1981 Old Grey Whistle Test appearance was so disorganised the members almost appear to be playing in different time zones. The polar opposite is true in the present day as Grogan’s impressively ageless voice is backed by a superbly well-drilled ensemble. Teasing out its funk roots, opener ‘Bring Me Closer’ grooves along like Chic, while ‘Another Lost Look’ meshes trebly guitar lines and helter skelter bass work to sterling effect. Possibly the apogee of the group’s career, Donna Summer meets Talking Heads floorfiller ‘Don’t Talk To Me About Love’ is one of the best singles of its decade. With the original album only extending to thirty-seven minutes, the quintet take a fifteen minute intermission and costume change prior to the second set. Supplying the here’s-what-we’ve-been-working-on-recently element, three tracks from 2022’s ‘Mascara Streakz’, the band’s first album in almost forty years features alongside the joyous ‘I Could Be Happy’. The newer material slots into the set seamlessly, Bernard Butler co-write ‘Glitterball’ gleaming brightest. Winding the clock right back to the beginning, what 1981 debut single ‘Dead Pop Stars’ loses in terms of unsettling post-punk abrasion, it gains in rhythmic power courtesy of the pinpoint drummer. The final song of the night with entirely welcome inevitability is the band’s calling card, ‘Happy Birthday’, which sees the crowd emulate the quintet’s formation bobbing around the stage. Excellent proof of how well the Glaswegians’ material has dated, with roughly three albums worth of songs to their name, the ‘Images would be well advised to schedule tours celebrating their rest of their catalogue soon.

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