Admittedly it's not easy to 'get' Joanna Newsom. Her intricate, overwhelmingly verbose lyricism and her high-pitched vocal range are never going to see her playing arenas, but the grand setting of London's Hammersmith Apollo seems to be a perfect fit for her and her band.
Following a 5-year absence and off the back of her new album 'Divers' – surely to top many forthcoming end of year lists, there's a real sense of anticipation amongst her audience. Opening her set with 'Bridges and Balloons' from her very first album, it's noticeable how her vocal delivery has changed, once jarringly at the upper end of the register, whilst it still loiters there, there's a real control and balance about her, even as she grips onto her oversized harp.
A large part of the new album forms the basis of tonight's performance, with the likes of recent single 'Sapokanikan' receiving wild cheers. This may be her most accessible song yet with its invigorating jazzy beat, but it's easy to see why she won't make a dent on the top 40 with opening lines like, "The cause is Ozymandian. The map of Sapokanikan is sanded and beveled". 'Leaving The City' also delights, with the delicacy of her band providing a subtle and mesmerizing atmosphere, whilst 'Anecdotes' demonstrates Newsom's extraordinary talents, moving from piano to harp and back again mid-song.
Throughout each song, Newsom is afforded the respect of the audience, deathly silent throughout; after all, this isn't a show for those with a short attention span. There are however elongated ovations for her as she digs into her back catalogue, with the likes of 'Emily' and 'Have One On Me', delighting the crowd from awe-struck silence, which leads into thunderous applause following the epic nature of the latter's dramatic sprawling 10-minute adventure.
Her band leaves the stage for the final song, 'A Pin-Light Bent', which sees Newsom alone at the harp perfectly demonstrating why she has such a devoted cult fanbase. Whilst her band perfectly accompanied her to add the necessary layers to recreate the startling atmosphere of her records, it is here where Newsom is allowed to prove her credentials – even if you find it difficult to get to grips with her unique voice, her harp playing is beyond beautiful.
Interestingly, the set lists thrown into the crowd at the end of the evening list 2 songs only 'if encored'. After such a spectacular show, there was an inevitability about this. What follows is arguably the highlight in an evening of highlights. A formidable, emotional and gut-wrenching version of 'Baby Birch' leads into fan favourite 'Peach Plum Pear', delighting every single member of the crowd, which bursts into a standing ovation that seems to last hours rather than minutes.
So there you have it – if you struggle to penetrate her cerebral lyrics and distinctive delivery, it's not a show for you, but for those who do get it, Joanna Newsom is amongst the very best. How she's been missed.
FUTURE GIGS
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