Concert Review by EDF
Dingwalls, London – 5 December 2000
There are very few new acts out there at the moment that, when you look around the venue at the people who have come, you feel that you have been missing something quite special. If you took away the number of people that were invited from the record company, the rest of the crowd represented nearly every country in Europe and of course Iceland where Torrini is from.
As the diminutive figure of Emiliana Torrini came on stage, with her strange combination of clothes and hairstyle, she is instantly easy on the eyes and ears. Announcing that this was her final gig of the year, Torrini and her band had been touring solidly for two months and also supporting Gabrielle on her own tour, this show was going to be a more relaxed show. Going by the following performance, this was not so as Torrini gave it her all and then some.
Announcing that she would like to see the audience to “drink until you die”, she starts her set with EASY. Torrini has a strange way of immersing herself into the songs by her swaying and hypnotic hand and arm movements. The next track is BABY BLUE which is introduced as a heavy metal song. FINGERTIPS is followed by a round of drinks for the band to consume. Torrini’s backing band is very competent and compliment the songs played. SUMMERBREEZE is followed by SEA PEOPLE which then runs into TUNA FISH. After noticing that the crowd were not drinking, Torrini announces that the next track was stolen from the Sneaker Pimps and that they had ‘kidnapped them and were tied up to chair somewhere’.
Then comes the brilliant UNEMPLOYED IN SUMMERTIME followed by TO BE FREE. While most of these songs are atmospheric, the crowd is mostly silent and captivated during the performance of each track. This is especially true during DEAD THINGS which then halfway through the track comes the all instruments cranked up to 11 instrumental break that then runs into TELEPATHY which becomes equally as loud with Torrini belting out as loud as the musicians could give. Torrini’s vocal workout here is a strange mixture that frightens and excites at the same time.
As part of the encore, Emiliana finishes off the night with a cover of a Minnie Riperton tune, which they had only rehearsed that afternoon because they were being lazy ‘cows’ for not writing any new tunes. Judging by what followed, you would think that this track had always been part of their set.
While there might be some flaws noticed at most gigs, giving this one 6 out of 6 might be a bit unfair but as a recent convert to Emiliana Torrini’s music and by judging from tonight’s performance, to score it any less than 6 would be unjust. The songs are brilliant and the performance top class, that is if this is your sort of music. Apparently with plans for a small tour in the United States in early 2001, if she comes to your town, GO! You will NOT be disappointed.
