Jose Gozales played the Pet Sounds Arena at 1645 on Sunday.
Anticipation is building for the softly-spoken Jose Gonzales.
Due to some scheduling problems over at Pet Sounds things are
running a little late, but the crowd is unfazed - enlivened
even - by being forced to wait. They start chanting his name
to the tune of 'Ole Ole!' (well, it is World Cup final day).
Whether or not he looks, wants or even realizes it, Gonzales
is a fully-fledged star.
For a man whose intricate technique thrives in small venues,
a packed tent at T could prove a challenging experience - it's
hardly intimate - but the second he picks his first string there
are no doubts that this man and this music can translate into
something much bigger.
With new Jose's buddies and chill-out favourites Zero 7 forced
to pull out at the last minute, the Pet Sounds crowd are in
particular need of some sublime melodies. The melancholic 'Lovestain'
showcases the beautiful voice which has brought so many fans
flocking into the tent.
Gonzales' style is an intense and distinctive one, and he is
able to apply it to other artists' tunes as successfully as
he does to his own compositions. His now famous reworking of
Kylie's 'Hand On Your Heart' manages to reach into the glossiest
pop and wrench out something soulful.
The set finishes with a dark and forceful version of Massive
Attack's 'Teardrop' - then it's a brief smile, a humble wave
and Gonzales is off. It's a low-key exit which belies the fact
that something quite special has just occurred.
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