25th November 2008
National Centre for Early Music, YORK
Mid-point through David Ferrard's support set comes a beautiful a capella version of the Appalachian ballad, 'My Dearest Dear'. Using the venue's impressive acoustics to the full, his clear, ringing voice is absolutely captivating - the highlight of a set which, whilst well-received by the near-capacity audience, leaves me rather cold. Perhaps I'm just missing something?
No such doubts about the night's main act, though, as she takes the stage with an unaccompanied 'When I was Sweet Sixteen', before being joined by her band for 'Sunset Hymn', the opener from her recent Too Long Away album which supplies the core of the night's material.
Although Emily's name is on the CDs, the posters and the tickets, she's fulsome in her acknowledgement that the night's performance is by a band: she may well be the beguiling voice of the mix of self-penned and traditional songs, but the spotlight is far from hers alone. Jamie McClennan on fiddle, guitar and a touch of piano, along with backing vocals, is superb, his versatility on the fiddle impressive throughout, whether on the urgent, percussive drive of 'May Colven' - one of the most exciting traditional ballad settings I've heard in years - or the whirling Dervish reels which spin the first set to a close. A more understated performer, Ross Milligan adds some nifty jazzy licks which surprise with their tone and sparkling lines on the five-string banjo. Underneath it all, Kevin McGuire - the only musician not on the album - firms the foundations with booming, rolling bass, particularly on the Glasgow 'home from the sea' song, 'The Bleacher Lassie o' Kelvinhaugh'.
It is a beautifully paced set, from the exuberance of 'Caledonia', one of many songs on which rocks out with an accordion which looks the size of her piano to the seductive 'Mermaid of Galloway', on which she sings of the uncanny ringing of a bell, which 'sount' as if nae earthlie hand had pulled the silken string': not a bad way of describing the charm with which Emily and her band draw in the audience and hold them rapt throughout their mesmerising performance.
Reviewer: oz hardwick
