An Anglican church in the heart of Kemptown might seem like an incongruous setting in which to warm up for a performance at Glastonbury, but then Emiliana Torrini is accustomed to flouting convention. In between recording six solo albums, the Icelandic chanteuse has worked on a diverse range of projects, including collaborating with GusGus, penning a hit single for Kylie and recording ‘Gollum’s Song’ for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers soundtrack. As a former Brighton resident the singer has a great affection for the city, and after taking to the stage she’s quick to tell the audience how happy she is to be back among old friends. She opens with ‘Tookah’, the title track from her most recent album, which provides the basis for much of the set list tonight. Torrini has been compared to a certain other Icelandic singer, though this is as short-sighted as likening the Proclaimers to The Jesus and Mary Chain due to both being Scottish bands of brothers. Her blend of electro funk and enchanting lullabies explores the same sensual world pop territory inhabited by the likes of Liz Fraser and Julee Cruise, with whom she shares a similar ethereal quality. Due to the eclectic range of her songs, it’s difficult to pin down Torrini’s influences, though ‘Sunny Road’ from 2005 album Fisherman’s Woman is reminiscent of Norah Jones, while the up tempo ‘Home’ has shades of Stereolab. In between numbers we’re treated to a mixture of anecdotes and humorous asides, including a request (in German) for a glass of white wine. To round off the evening Torrini ups the pace with a raucous ‘Jungle Drum’, before slowing things to a crawl with set closer ‘Summer Breeze’. Gig over, the audience file out of the church and into the night; it’s a strange sight, seeing this mixture of middle-aged Brighton bohemians and Kemptown hipsters, given what usually goes on in St George’s, yet somehow on an evening like this it seems wholly appropriate.
Paul Sng
@sng_paul
Paul Sng
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