“It’s all got a bit too sexy for them,” James remarks from behind the keys, as two audience members saunter out to the bar. On reflection, this could be the case. Since releasing their intimate debut Warm On A Cold Night back in July, HONNE have become to 2016 what Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ was to 1973. Pulling together influences from James Blake to Michael Jackson, the electronic soul duo have crafted an intelligent brand of late-night R&B, whose subtle grooves promise to soundtrack many a baby-making session for Generation Z. And tonight, their feisty funk fever seems to have gripped Brudenell entirely.

It didn’t start quite so magically, though.

HONNE’s natural habitat is somewhere in the background of a bedroom, the accompaniment to a 3am canoodle. This, at first, makes them feel at odds with a live setting. Despite accompaniment from backing singers, grooving bass and drums, alongside hype efforts from frontman Andy, the first few songs fall on an awkward, ambling crowd. Fortunately, a slow, stripped back sing-along of ‘The Night’ sees the audience find their feet. As the whole band blasts back in with ‘Good Together’, a gospel groove driven by backing vocals, spirits are undoubtedly lifted.

Herein, there’s a meteoric rise in funky vibes and good times. The room bellows back “go fuck yourself!” in throwback track ‘Love The Jobs You Hate’, while the biggest cheer is reserved for backing vocalist Naomi’s silky solo on ‘Someone That Loves You’. Returning for a stellar encore of ‘Warm On A Cold Night’, the band seem genuinely humbled by a room stealing the seductive lyrics right out of their mouths.

Undoubtedly, the whole room could feel the funk. It wouldn’t surprise me if a few others snuck out early, just to go pull a Marvin Gaye on this cold, cold night…

Sam Corcoran

[image: x.dmndr.com]