Josh Rouse at The Garage, London - 25/04/2018

With a career spanning 20 years, Josh Rouse is an artist who continues to stylistically evolve with each new release. Originating with the alt country rock of 1998 debut Dressed Up Like Nebraska, his experimental creative approach has formed a catalogue that covers a multitude of genres, notably the 70s inspired pop/soul of 1972, Spanish influenced El Turista, and the atmospherically cinematic arrangements of Bedroom Classics Vol. 2, to name but a few.

However, Love in the Modern Age – Rouse’s latest offering, may be his bravest transition yet, with an overriding 80s electro sound that is worlds apart from the rootsy, thought provoking, and at times, poetic aspects of previous release, The Embers of Time. Drawing inspiration from bands such as The Blue Nile and Roxy Music, the 80s influence is very much present throughout on Love in the Modern Age, from the keyboard and synth focused arrangement, right down to the Bryan Ferry-esque album artwork. On a side note, the album is reminiscent in places to the self-titled She’s Spanish, I’m American EP that Rouse released as a side project with wife Paz Suay in 2007. Suay also appears on Love in the Modern Age, providing background vocals that further enhance the authentic 80s vibe of the album – perhaps to most effect on the title track, which is also noteworthy for its impressive sax solo.

At his recent gig at The Garage, Rouse performed seven of the nine songs that comprise Love in the Modern Age, in addition to a solid selection of tracks from previous releases. The electronic 80s sound of the new album was most successfully conveyed by Rouse's band on the breezy synth-led 'Salton Sea', and perhaps more surprisingly on 'Businessman' – a track that sounds overly brash on record, but seemed to translate more fluently in a live setting. A further highlight of the new material was the dreamy 'Tropic Moon', while the uplifting vocal harmonies of 'I’m Your Man' seemed to evoke a sense of euphoria among the crowd.

Rouse offset the new material with a satisfyingly varied mix of classic tracks from the first half of his catalogue; my favourite song of the night was a full band version of 'Under Cold Blue Stars' – a song that has proved somewhat of a rarity during previous tours, but slotted in perfectly amongst the 80s theme of the new material. Other standout tracks came courtesy of the 1972 and Nashville albums - 1972’s title track in particular, sounded as timeless and sublime as ever, while Rouse later embarked on an encore that featured a solo acoustic version of 'Sad Eyes', that, midway through, progressed into a dynamic anthem when his three fellow band members re-joined him on stage. The equally addictive 'Love Vibration', the final chorus of which prompted a rapturous call-and-response exchange between Rouse and the crowd, drew the set to a joyous close.

Setlist

It Looks Like Love

Ordinary People, Ordinary Lives

Comeback (Light Therapy)

I'm Your Man

Salton Sea

Winter in the Hamptons

My Love Has Gone

Love in the Modern Age

Businessman

It’s the Nighttime

1972

Under Cold Blue Stars

Dressed Up Like Nebraska

Tropic Moon

Directions

Women and the Wind

Sad Eyes

Love Vibration