Lorde's first Glastonbury set lauded by fans, critics

  • 24/06/2017
Lorde
Lorde at Glastonbury. Photo credit: Getty

New Zealand's new music icon Lorde has captivated audiences and mesmerised reviewers with her first ever appearance at Glastonbury.

The festival, held in the grassy fields of Somerset south west England, is one of the world's most well-renowned - and a highlight of any burgeoning artist's career.

One would have understood, therefore, if the occasion had got to Aotearoa's finest musical export - but by all accounts it didn't, with Lorde winning over music critics with an assured performance that delved heavily into her sophomore album, Melodrama.

Perhaps most complimentary was The Guardian reviewer Alice Vincent, who described her performance of single 'Liability' as "a beautiful confession, one that demonstrated the purity of her flawless vocals".

Her entire set was held up as "bold and brilliant" by the newspaper - but most of the praise came for another of her new songs.

"It was 'Green Light', which she returned to after opening with it, only to frustratingly abandon one verse in, that proved her greatest triumph," Ms Vincent said.

"Resounding, ebullient, it will become an anthem of the freedom of newly single youth - it's more than fitting for a star who has always succeeded by breaking away."

While she was mildly criticised for moments of self-indulgence and "amateur" choreography by Ms Vincent, NME writer Sam Moore lauded her performance as "a stunning set".

Mr Moore also referred to the Kiwi's show as "eye-catching", "captivating" and "rapturously received", saying that her choice to play crowd-pleasers paid off.

Newshub.