Giorgio Moroder, Koko, gig review: Laptop malfunctions couldn't stop this veteran producer

Luckily, he’d built up just about enough goodwill to smile the anti-climax away

(Kieran Frost/Redferns)

When Giorgio Moroder was affectionately venerated by Daft Punk on their 2013 album Random Access Memories, at a stroke the veteran producer was back en vogue. Capitalising on his newly heightened eminence, within two years the man responsible for pioneering synth and electronic music through his work with Donna Summer was out of semi-retirement and, with the help of a bevy of superstar collaborators (Kylie, Britney, Kelis), making his first album in 23 years.

Not that everything has gone smoothly. Déjà Vu has, in fact, taken something of a critical mauling, though much of the disparagement seems to revolve around the fact he’s less reinventing the wheel once again - quite an unrealistic expectation for a septuagenarian - and more sidling up to the sound of modern chart dance considered beneath him.

It’s true that Déjà Vu lacks any discernible aspects of Moroder’s personality - although it’s best track, 74 is the new 24, gives you some idea of his general philosophy on life - but what it has done is allowed him to take a “live” show around the world: Moroder, a laptop, some visuals, 40 years of pop production credits and, tonight, a questionable baseball cap worn backwards.

Plenty of Déjà Vu gets aired tonight, but the Britney sung cover of Suzanne Vega’s Tom’s Diner and Kylie-featuring Right Here, Right Now apart, it often jars against the sound of Moroder’s classic cannon. We get the full breadth and diversity of his astonishing production credits: Sparks’ Beat the Clock to Irene Cara’s Flashdance… What a Feeling, Berlin’s Take My Breath Away to the handful of Donna Summer hits which made his name. Remixed or not, the hits mostly guarantee a party atmosphere - Moroder himself leads the charge, all handclaps, finger pointing and lip synching - though it can be a frustratingly uneven fare: too often tracks are cut off in their prime, frequently making the evening a blink-and-you’ll-miss it tease.

By the time Foxes makes an appearance to sing her Déjà Vu contribution Wildstar, the evening has descended into something of a farce, with Moroder running over time dealing with laptop malfunctions. Luckily, he’d built up just about enough goodwill to smile the anti-climax away.