Joanna Newsom

In the evolution of popular music, Joanna Newsom is as closely related to Elvis as an aardvark is to a tomato & yet her latest album, ‘Y’s’ was voted by many music industry pundits as one of the best releases of 2006.

Performing the second of only four shows on her current UK tour, the classically trained harpist and singer played to a sell-out crowd at Manchester’s fantastic Bridgewater Hall on Monday night, supported by solo guitarist Alasdair Roberts and joined on stage by the 30-piece Northern Sinfonia Orchestra.

When Newsom walked out into the spotlight, she was immediately embraced by the young, arty crowd. Murmuring a greeting before beginning to play, the tiny performer at first seemed dwarfed by her harp – a giant blonde wood instrument resting stage left in order to make room for the orchestra & its conductor. Once she began to perform, however, her intensity and passion took over, making her seem like the only thing in the room.



You would never pick Joanna Newsom as a 25 year old from California, especially once she begins to sing. With a voice at times reminiscent of Kate Bush, sometimes Bjork yet totally unique, she seemed able to put the audience into a state of hypnosis and hold them there - at least until they were released for intermission.

Newsom’s songs seem like medieval fables set to music and they play out essentially without structure. The music evokes feelings of otherworldliness – lyrics of animals, flowers, meteorites and moonlight that put you in mind of dark European forests & mountain lakes (perhaps from childhood memories of compositions like Peter & The Wolf) mixed with the occasional burst of sound that displays a fusion of influences from depression era Blues, Enka – Traditional Japanese folk music and classical composers such as Stravinsky.

Several pieces were played as solos – simply with Newsom’s sometimes scratchy, sometimes trembling words sung over the plucks of her harp, while others saw the Northern Sinfonia playing faultlessly alongside her plus a drummer & a guitarist (who also played a variety of instruments including the ukulele & mandolin) adding occasional backing vocals into the mix.



Pieces such as ‘Monkey & Bear’ from ‘Y’s’ ran for over nine minutes with swooping violins and the occasional drum beat to accompany her vocals & harp. Other songs such as ‘Sawdust and Diamonds’ ran for over fifteen. What exactly was she singing about? Damned if I know, though it’s more about the mood that the music creates than the meaning (though perhaps the artist may disagree).

For the concert’s 45 minute second half, the artist sung several pieces off her debut album ‘The Milk-Eyed Mender’ – more conventional in arrangement and length, though still anything but typical. The eccentric, yet powerful performance concluded with an encore containing two great songs, again from her debut album; singles ‘Book Of Right On’ and ‘Peach, Plum, Pear’.

With an enchanting, powerful performance that would put many contemporary ‘alternative’ musicians to shame, Joanna Newsom live is definitely a unique and memorable musical experience.

FUTURE GIGS

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