Camille O’Sullivan – Chameleon

• Anna Millar
• 13 August 2010

This article is from 2010.

More of a purr than a growl

There’s a sense of great expectation with Irish charmer Camille. The sexy chanteuse has long wooed us with her brand of sultry, ballsy theatrics and whether rock, blues or ballads, Cave, Waits or Bowie, she can belt them out like the best of them. This year, it’s Camille, the Chameleon. Arriving on stage in red heels, a corset, sparkly leggings, and lacy floor-length hooded shawl, she slowly sheds her skins until a sparkling negligee and bare feet remain for the final number.

This year’s setlist rids itself of some more popular numbers in favour of a lesser known collection, though she does treat us to a stunning return of Jacques Brel’s ‘Amsterdam’ and a Leonard Cohen finale – her five-piece band, are as always, exceptional.

The Camille we know and love is certainly in residence, tearing down her hair with one hand, banging a kettle drum with the other, but disappointingly her interaction with the audience and journey from one song to the next feels scattered, stilted and incoherent at times. Not that her army of fans care, as she meows, giggles and glides of stage to the clapping of a jubilant crowd.

Assembly @ George Street, 0131 623 3030, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), 10.25pm, £18.50 (£16.50).