Katie Kim delivers her
first song kneeling on the floor hunched over a microphone, fiddling
with a loop station Her coal hair covers her face completely. She
resembles a performance art piece, laid out between the stage monitors,
almost removing herself from the visual equation altogether – indeed it
must have seemed like the stage was empty to those standing several rows
back
And so begins what turns out to be an astounding performance perhaps the finest performance I’ve ever seen by a solo artist. Katie Kim’s
voice is powerful subtle and emotive. Her simple one,two classical
guitar style allows her to weave magical, elegant vocals, above the
sombre funeral march below. Her lyrics are classy stimulating daggers of
love/hate romance, regret and expectations. Her ability to build
four-part harmonies with a loop station is astounding. Only great
singers can utilise loop stations in this way. Perfect-pitch, is the
true skill required in using these devices in this fashion. And Katie
Kim has it in spades.
Songs from her forthcoming double album Cover and Flood have surpassed those of 2008′s critically acclaimed début album Twelve.
We are really excited to hear the fully formed songs with the band. If
tonight is anything to go by the album will be five-star.
The sublime simplicity of Katie Kim is followed by the countless chords of Jennifer Evans. Evans is an accomplished jazz and rock guitarist whose songs draw together eclectic influences tn the way the songs of Jeff Buckley once did. Evans is backed by an impressive rhythm section called The Ripe Intent. On stage she is restless like a fidgety tigress. When she sings syncopated Noir-ish refrains Ella, Amy, and Feist
spring to mind. Yet strangely, between songs she is humble, with the
shy speaking voice of a woman who doesn’t realise, how good she truly
is. “Tomaseli Has a Friend” is the highlight of the material from 2010′s Salient Point EP.
A feel good cover of “Feel it all Around” by US hipsters Washed Out offers a sugar-coated disco distraction from the darkness. While “Prophet” The Ambience Affair’s
first post album material, offers us an exciting glimpse at the future.
Indicating that the band have grown significantly since Yvonne Ryan joined on bass and keys.
Other highlights include “War Weary 2″ and semi instrumental “Tearing At The Seams”. However the intriguingly titled “(…)” ends the evening on a high. It’s a beautiful mournful ballad which displays a gentler side of The Ambience Affair and in particular a more sedate vocal from Jamie Clarke.
An excellent performance by one of Ireland’s most intriguing bands.
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