[FRINGE] simply sublime twice, add lemon, and simmer

[reverancepavane]

Two shows today which threaten to make me overuse the superlative of sublime (again). As in to sublimate, or "to reduce to the very essential essence or nature of the thing by removing the unwanted dross." Rather than, as chemists would argue, merely giving off vapours... The first show was a cabaret show based on the old songs from the World Wars, called War Notes. The singer, a Miss Lili la Scala, from London, had a most delightful voice, which she used to very good effect. [I believe that I may have commented in other forums that "angels must walk amongst us for I have heard their voices.*"] She truly loves these songs, and the message of hope and love and peace contained within them, and it shows in her impassioned and expert delivery. Simply sublime. If you have any appreciation of the songs from this era, this is a show not to be missed. She has one final show next Saturday at 5:30pm in the Speigeltent, and has plans to release a CD later this year. [She also cuts a mean rug with Richard from Sound & Fury, makes Puccini arias listenable (as miraculous as that may be), can sing just as well without electrics after they become waterlogged, and looks incredibly good in balloons.] This was followed by The Idea of North performing their Ballads by Candlelight to a sell-out crowd at St Peters Cathedral. This was a purely acoustic set (with a bit of fudging) of ballads, making use of the acoustics of the cathedral. Pure voice, unmodulated by electronics. Simply sublime. Yes, they've got their mojo back. I'm beginning to suspect it was the venue that caused the enervation I experienced last night, for they definitely were in the groove this time. There was quite a bit of overlap in the sets, so this wasn't my imagination. There was also much less fumbling at the introductions to the pieces and much more humour in the presentation. When the audience is sitting in stunned silence for a second or two after the piece ends, before exploding into wild applause, you know they are hitting it right. Anyway they've promised to do more unplugged gigs in the future (I believe this was their first attempt in Australia, if you don't consider their first garage concert for friends and family), which is something to look forward to. [* And no, I don't mean she sings like Alan Rickman or something from a Simon R Green novel.]