Jape is relatively unknown over here, yet back in Dublin he’s an award-winning star. This does not come across in his humble shuffle onstage, but is there nonetheless in his confidence and humour. With songs such as ‘Floating’ and ‘Graveyard’ infecting the packed crowd with their electro beats and dark humour (‘It’s such a short short distance from the nipple to the soil’!) he is a perfect warm-up for the delicious Lisa Hannigan.
I could end this review there – clearly I am deeply enamoured with the delicate singer-songwriter who once accompanied the great and vengeful Damien Rice. Her vocals proved to be as clear, powerful and perfect as her recordings, and her presence on stage was like witnessing something miraculous and beautiful for the very first time. If I were to end my review there, I might risk sounding like a psycho-stalker, so instead I shall expand a little more.
The stage was an intimate reproduction of her new album, ‘Sea Sew’, down to the hand-embroidered backdrop that refused to stay up, and the ornaments and fairy lights dotted about. The set included most tracks from the new album which delicately layers craft references as metaphors for relationships (‘Ocean and a Rock’) alongside scientific charts (‘Venn Diagram’). Interspersed were some ingenious covers, including a haunting rendition of ‘Playground Love’ (Air) and a gravelly dirty version of ‘Lady and the Tramp (Peggy Lee). Rather interestingly, her encore also consisted of two covers, ‘Couldn’t Love You More’ – Lisa’s favourite John Martyn track, and finishing with a drawn out version of ‘Free Until They Cut Me Down’ by Iron and Wine. Throughout, Lisa said little but smiled and responded to the crowd between songs. Her delicate politeness and gentle demeanour only amplified the quirkiness of her lyrics and melodies, and the intimacy of the show.
Many were sad to see her split with Rice, but having experienced her solo show I only wish it had happened sooner. Her songwriting is beautiful and her performances are superb. It’s a loss for Rice, but definitely a win for the music industry overall.
Words: Adrienne Frances
Photos: Lee Allen
