Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Either co-leading Yaz throughout the early part of the 1980s or spending exactly four decades on her own, Alison Moyet’s inimitable voice and hypnotic presence is as consistently compelling as they come.

In fact, she’s one of the few to be a defining force of the entire synth-pop/new wave era and then become just as much a staple of soulful rock, R&B and jazz, usually with at least one foot on the dance floor.

After an eight-year hiatus from the area and America in general, the English singer/songwriter sold out the Vic Theatre, where for 90 or so minutes, alongside two keyboardists/guitarists, Moyet moved and mesmerized the masses.

Much of the material contained therein can be found on the new “Key” collection, a retrospective of sorts featuring both singles and rarities reinterpreted with contemporary production and perspectives, plus a couple new cuts.

Considering the headliner’s voice sounded identical at 63 as it did when she debuted as a mere teenager next to a post-Depeche Mode/pre-Erasure Vince Clarke, even the most radical recasts had a significant sense of familiarity.

Whether it was individual tracks such as “Fire,” “More,” “Such Small Ale,” “The Impervious Me,” “Can’t Say It Like I Mean It” and “Beautiful Gun” or Yaz’s “Nobody’s Diary” and “Only You,” it was impossible to pinpoint any of them to a particular timeframe.

The same could be said about acoustic versions of “It Won’t Be Long” and the harmonica-laced “Dorothy,” followed by further plugged-in reflections, including “Is This Love?,” “All Cried Out” and “Whispering Your Name.”

For the encore, Moyet transformed the Vic into a throbbing club, nailing the iconic trifecta of “Situation,” “Love Resurrection” and “Don’t Go,” each bounding to extra life in the present and reinforcing this envelope-pushing artist’s ongoing relevance.

For additional information on Alison Moyet, visit AlisonMoyetMusic.com.

For a list of upcoming Jam Productions concerts, visit JamUSA.com.

Upcoming shows at the Vic Theatre include Allison Russell (May 8); TommyInnit (May 9); Harry Mack (May 11); Jim Jefferies (May 15-16); Larkin Poe (May 17); Bear McCreary (May 31); Jake Tapper & Alex Thomson (Jun. 5); Jeremy Piven (Jun. 6); Nepathya (Jun. 7); Honey Revenge (Jun. 8); Betty Who (Jun. 13); Bethel Music (Jun. 15); Perfume Genius (Jun. 17); Steve Earle (Jun. 20); The Blue Stones (Jun. 27); Ramy Youssef (Jul. 10-11); Peyton Hardin and Cam Kennedy (Jul. 18); “The Best One Yet” Podcast (Jul. 23) and The Crane Wives (Jul. 26). For additional details, visit VicTheatre.com.

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