Sugar Club, Dublin Wed 8pm €14 01-6787188
We first experienced the natural grace and wonder of Canadian Cold Specks (aka Al Spx) last year at the Other Voices event in Dingle. In person she was as quiet as a church mouse; on stage she owned the room. She sang songs from what would be her garlanded debut album, I Predict a Graceful Expulsion, which was subsequently nominated for her country’s Polaris Music Prize 2012.
It was a worthy contender, with its spooky blend of Deep South field recordings and deep-soul/blues greats such as Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. That the album didn’t win means little – Specks continues to quietly thrill with her voice and the music she terms “doom soul” for some time to come.
But what’s this? She’s playing the Sugar Club? Oh, dear – there’ll be no sweetness here next Wednesday. On that you can safely bet.
Can't see that? Catch this:Lianne, La Havas Mon, Dublin
TONY CLAYTON-LEA
