The first time I saw Lenny Kravitz live was when he played Nottingham’s then Trent Poly in 1989. As our spotty-student contingent, think Mr Logic and siblings, queued to get into the smallest and sweatiest venue you can imagine, a tout approached offering us 50 quid for each ticket we wanted to sell. Our not-for-love-or-money reply soon got rid of the pesky blighter.

The last time I remember catching a glimpse of Lenny Kravitz was when he turned up on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross in 2002. Instead of treating us to a song, Lenny donned an apron. To prepare pancakes for Wossy whilst being interviewed at the same time.

It’s fair to say than that credibility is no longer Kravitz’s middle name. Where once love ruled, now money seems to be Lenny’s guiding light. ‘Breathe’, though by its very nature a commercial project with Absolut Vodka, restores some integrity. It sees the erstwhile rock god switching to a more dancefloor-friendly sound. Despite starting off like the spoof ad for Vegina, "a fizzy vegetable drink in an edible can" as promoted by Adam Wells on Alan Partridge’s radio show, it soon metamorphoses into something that you’d expect to hear in the world’s most exclusive nightclubs.

So, if I had a ticket for an upcoming Lenny Kravitz gig, I still wouldn’t sell for 50 quid. Potential buyers would have to up their offer. Ooh, did I hear 75 quid? Done!
(3½/5)

Release Date: 16 January 2006

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