Amanda Blank
Proud Galleries, London
30/10/2009

Amanda Blank’s rapping has created some buzz and controversy on both the hipster and hip-hop circuits, mainly due to her naughty lyrics and association with the first ladies of cool, M.I.A. and Santigold. With this in mind, The Fly is expecting something special from tonight’s headline performance at Camden’s Proud Galleries. After support from Ou Est Le Swimming Pool and the excellent We Have Band, the atmosphere is one of nervous anticipation, the crowd sidling curiously towards the barriers to see just what all the fuss is about. Sadly, tonight Blank does not live up to the hype.

She bounds onstage barefoot, body and face completely obscured in a black hooded cape. Very Halloween-appropriate, but also very Lady Gaga, and The Fly stifles a yawn – we’ve seen this act before. After unceremoniously shedding her disguise to reveal a tiny black lycra slip dress, she proceeds to gyrate around the small stage like a particularly pornographic American Apparel ad on speed. Her onstage persona is likeable and she engages with the crowd like a pro, bending over to swig water every five minutes and flash everyone her (black lacy) pants. Her nonchalance belies a certain ‘I don’t give a fuck’ post-feminism as opposed to toying with the boys, but this doesn’t stop some members of the crowd shouting expletives that would rival any in Blank’s lyrical catalogue – she takes it on the chin.

Although Blank can definitely sing, when she raps her flow is less like hip-hop contemporaries M.I.A. and Santi and more reminiscent of international electro darling Uffie. At times it is difficult to hear the lyrics at all, and the set as a whole seems frenetic and rushed, particularly final track ‘A Love Song’, arguably the best from her recent album, which is cut short at around two minutes. Despite this disappointingly hurried turn from the filthy Philly MC, we won’t be writing her off just yet  – she may well shock us once again.

Laura Vevers