ACRE TARN AT SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS

The electronic music duo Acre Tarn has brighten up the London evening for the second time in the first week of November with their wonderful performance at Servant Jazz Quarters. The small underground bar in Dalston was a great venue for this intimate gig.

Anna Louisa Ethernigton is the founder of the project and the lead singer and songwriter, originally from Lake District and her style reminds of another musicians from north of England – Ladytron. The vibe and the beats have similarities in its experimental pop approach.

Etherington’s vocal skills are impressive and she passes the almost spiritual energy of her art to the audience with the moves, gestures and dancing. The audience was dived into her outstanding performance and the whole atmosphere was fantastic.

She has performed some of her most famous tracks such as Vampire that is an unusual experiment of the sounds and lyrics, then Wishing Bone and Lanterns as the typical examples of her work with the powerful beats and fresh sounds. Skeleton Key was especially mesmerising with its long instrumental intro and interesting chorus.

Etherington introduced her new single Dawn Faces that was more explosive and louder than her previous tracks. She is also suggesting how she has grown and progressed in her music with the line “Raise our arms outstretched, we are not children anymore.”

The melodies of Acre Tarn songs are dreamy and light yet powerful and loud. It attracts the listener with this contrast of beats and sounds. It also relaxes the audience, as its appeal is tender and whimsical.

With this gig Acre Tarn created an atmosphere where it was hard to stay indifferent. The overall emotion that was coming through their songs immersed the audience deeply into their wonderful soundscape.

SUNNY AFTERNOON

West End musical based on the music by the popular band The Kinks from 1960s returns you right back to that period of time. It is very authentic – the scenery, the costumes and music are beautiful step in time.

Musical follows the rise of the London based band from Muswell Hill from the time when they were just a group of anonymous friends to the years of fame.

Except for the wonderful music and a feeling like you are on a good tribute concert the plot is written impeccably. It has a nice dose of humour and at the same time it gets emotional in some parts. The relationship between Davies brothers who are the initiators of the band is portrayed in an interesting way as well as the relationship between Ray Davies, the lead singer and song writer, and his wife.

There are some very funny observations and comments about popular culture of the time and other bands that were around. For example, when Ray decides to marry his pregnant wife there is a comment from his manager: “John Lennon was married and had a child years before the press found out – it is because The Beatles were professionals.” There is in general a lot of self irony and comparison with the bands who are indisputably more popular in the similar genre.

Their first appearance in the USA is shown in very satirical and funny way with a lot of political commentary from that time. It was the time of anti communism in America so Davies was asked if his wife is a communist since she is originally from Lithuania that was a part of the former USSR and he replies that he is a socialist. The mockery continues when they ask: “Is the baby a communist?”

Kinks were part of so called British Invasion so their shows in America are historically very significant.

Screenplay, acting and singing are flawless – the whole musical is an excellent piece of work and it is definitely worth to see it. It is a great mixture of a concert and interesting theatre play with all the elements of drama with humour.