Review: Rachel Sermanni @ Ten Feet Tall
Scottish singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni justified her standing as one of folk’s finest emerging talents with a beguiling performance at Cardiff’s intimate Ten Feet Tall.
Set to take to the road this weekend on a European tour, the 20-year-old played tracks from dazzling debut album Under Mountains, released on her own Middle Of Nowhere Records earlier this year.
The evening began with two insightful young artists. Sam Barnes of Cardiff outfit Denuo gave his first solo performance with an impressive selection of self-written tracks; his fragile vocals adding to the poignancy of the often deeply personal lyrics. He then covered John Martyn classic Go Down Easy, and even fluffing some of the words didn’t hinder a delicate and endearing version.
Next was gifted 17-year-old Greta Isaac, a Cardiff based singer songwriter who continues to show signs of a bright future. She is probably fed up of being compared to Laura Marling but both in look and, at times, sound there are clear similarities. For someone of such tender years, her voice is impressively rich and it delivered a sad, hopeful and mature set of songs. “I wrote this when I was fifteen” she said of one of her best tracks My Book. Audible gasps were heard.
Then came Rachel. Alone onstage with but a guitar, she slowed time to a pensive pace. Her songs poetic, her voice layered in a subtle patchwork of light and shade. She had stories to tell and in doing so totally enchanted the room. With heart melting vocals, The Waltz began “May I have the pleasure of your hand to lead this dance? / Aware that you will tread upon my toes,” while the image-packed and metaphor-filled Ever Since The Chocolate opened with, “I had a chocolate bar, the finest you could find” I was hooked. Her writing full of longing, she reflects upon loneliness and being alone. And there is a difference.
Given its title by an Irish fan, Marshmallow Unicorn turns out to be a haunting confession and even the more literal Burger Van Song, about a time when she worked on a burger van and was blamed for a man putting sugar on his chips, had a wonderfully warm and human feel. Food for the soul on an otherwise miserable Wednesday.
She finished the evening off stage, performing in the audience, before moving to wait by a delightfully lit merchandise table. A queue formed instantly and the glint in her eyes remained.
“This is a true artist at work,” I thought, as I actually hummed my way home.
Download Rachel Sermanni’s track Eggshells for free here.
For news on upcoming S?n gigs, check out their website.
Organisations Community Music Wales
Info Sport & Leisure Performing Arts Music
Photo: Jo Whitby
