Sleater-Kinney’s return from hiatus in 2014 was, and continues to be, a triumph. Coming straight off the bat with the release of a new record, 2015’s critically acclaimed No Cities to Love, the band has continued to tour and perform at the peak of their strengths, losing nothing in their break.
Live in Paris captures the band early in their reunion tour, a month after their first shows back and release of their new record. While the reformation of an iconic band runs the genuine risk of becoming a nostalgia-laden cash grab, Sleater-Kinney expressly made it their purpose to return as a fully functioning unit; as fierce and focused as they have ever been.
The addition of touring guitarist/keyboardist Katie Harkin has assisted the band in fillling out their sonic range, in particular replicating dense sections that would otherwise need to be stripped back live. Every member’s performance here is 100 per cent on point, with the energy and spirit of the band effortlessly channelled. With mixing handled by John Goodmanson, who mixed several other Sleater-Kinney records in the past, the capturing of the performance and the sound quality is flawless.
By Joe Hansen
