Sunday night in Islington’s Union Chapel, and we are gathered to watch retiring 60s chaunteuse Vashti Bunyan; and what appropriately lovely surrounds we’re in too.
Despite her shyness, Vashti Bunyan is a gracious, self deprecating hostess whose voice is enough to still the sternest of critics. Not that I am one, as I sit obediently on the pew and listen in fan-girl awe to tonight’s performance.
Bunyan and her band play through the songs from her Just Another Diamond Day album as well as her more recent output.
She opens with the love song ‘Hidden’ before musing ”I wrote this song when I thought life could be so simple…I don’t know if I believe that now, but I truly did then” as she introduces ’Just Another Diamond Day’ Most of her songs are strongly rooted in that which she holds dear: her children, love, nature and of course her well-documented love of travelling adventure. Even seasons are synonymous with particular feelings.Tthe melancholy, winter songs ‘Rosehip November’ and her “19 year old heartbreak song” ‘Winter is Blue’ tell stories of lost love and disillusionment. On the other hand, spring-themed songs like ‘Glow Worms’ tell the tales of new love.
She speaks softly between songs, suggesting she would far rather let the songs do the talking, but she is still a very engaging storyteller. Vashti Bunyan once described herself as channelling the voice of twelve year old choir boy – which is as good a definition as any I can think of. Her voices echoes round the beautiful old Islington church while her band play out melodic arrangements. In ‘Here Before’ A Calimba tinkles like raindrops underneath the dulcet tale. She dedicates ‘Rainbow River’ to the memory of arranger Robert Kirby and plays a new song on her own, admitting that she and the band “hadn’t quite worked it out yet’. Despite her reputation for being a reticent performer, she smiles and pays tribute to her fellow musicians. Some things just stick in your mind, Vashti once wrote. Her melodies certainly do.
