Venue and musician have never married so well as The Mackintosh Church embracing the languorous and enveloping sound of Gareth Dickson. For those not yet acquainted with his repertoire, Dickson is formerly Vashti Bunyan’s live guitarist, now found ably peddling songs from his own growing back catalogue.
Amongst his dynamic harmonics-drenched songs, are gracious moments sung in hushed, accented lament. Touches of flamenco heighten the beauty with refrains such as ‘This Is the Kiss’ and ‘Jonah’ sounding particularly haunting when echoing through the architectural beauty of Mackintosh’s art nouveau inspired backdrop. Songs about apocalypse and nuclear war have never sounded so luscious or so welcoming.
As Dickson played Kathryn Joseph and Marcus Mackay watched from the front pew. Kathryn’s had a phenomenal year and tonight’s show marked the one year anniversary of her stirring release, ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I’ve Spilled’.
In that time, the unadorned beauty of her music hasn’t unravelled. If anything repeated plays only serve to heighten its melancholic rawness. Throughout the set, and in typical Kathryn Joseph fashion, she sings directly out to the rapt crowd, only this time it feels like they’re eager to meet her gaze.
Album opener ‘The Bird’ feels weightless, Marcus Mackay’s subtle and perfectly executed rhythms only just anchoring it to the ground. Whilst ‘The Why What, Baby’ manages to be both devastating and poignant after Kathryn tells the crowd the story of its name.
The natural quiver in the Inverness born singer’s voice during ‘The Mouth’ evokes shivers down the spine, whilst the simple lullaby refrain of ‘The Crow’ mesmerises.
‘The Worm’ deftly finishes a remarkable set, but there’s no sign of it marking the end. If tonight’s celebration proves anything, it’s that the songs within ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me…’ are going to be around for just as long as the church in which they were exquisitely sung tonight.
New review: Kathryn Joseph//Gareth Dickson. The Mackintosh Church @ccfest @isthismusic @kathrynjoseph_ https://t.co/7CDhTrbPy1
RT @isthismusic: Gig review: Kathryn Joseph / Gareth Dickson @ Celtic Connections – https://t.co/qayWwZi9vp
@KirstyFwrites @ccfest @isthismusic Kirsty thankyou thankyou for your beautiful words so so lovely and kind xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
@kathrynjoseph_ @ccfest @isthismusic thank you for your beautiful music. It was an incredible night
@KirstyFwrites @ccfest @isthismusic thankyou and thankyou I loved all of it so much. Gareth dickson is the most of beautiful xxxxxxxxxxxxx
In case u missed it (I tweeted it at 6am), I reviewed the gorgeous Kathryn Joseph + Gareth Dickson at #ccfest16 https://t.co/7CDhTrbPy1
A couple of things went live this week – my review of beauts Kathryn Joseph and Gareth Dickson at #ccfest https://t.co/7CDhTrbPy1
RT @isthismusic: Gig review: Kathryn Joseph / Gareth Dickson @ Celtic Connections – https://t.co/qayWwZi9vp