Glissando Review
This is a review of Glissando at the Freebutt, 2nd February 2009.
“You were on fire, as we ran towards the flames,” sings Elly May, sat at the piano with her eyes closed and seemingly wrapped up in her own world. At the back of the stage Glissando’s other half Richard Knox plucks at a guitar, hidden in the shadows with his head bowed. The song, Floods, draws to a close with the whole band singing the lines together, a haunting crescendo that rings around the half-empty Freebutt.
Unfortunately, Glissando have come to Brighton on a night when the city is covered by several tonnes of snow and everyone wants to stay indoors with a mug of hot chocolate. Even a short walk to the local venue seems like an arctic expedition in this climate; it wouldn’t be entirely suprising if some atendees had to don skis and bring out their pick-axes to get here.
For those that do make it, the gig is almost as magic as the snowy landscape outside. Inspired by bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor, Leeds-based Glissando play goose-bump-inducing, orchestral post rock songs. The set draws mostly from their debut album, ‘With Our Arms Wide Open We March Towards the Burning Sea’, which was released on their own Gizeh label last year.
Elly May is the focal point of the show, sat at the front of the stage. She has a striking onstage prescence as she gazes wide-eyed into the audience. Singing lyrics about the darker side of nature, with frequent references to fire and the sea, her wispy voice can easily be compared to Bat for Lashes or Liz Fraser from the Cocteau Twins. With Richard’s effect-laden guitars weaving around her vocals and piano parts, the duo create an epic sound that the string section behind them build on.
Glissando describe their music as ‘best listened to at night’. It feels like their music fits this cold, starry evening perfectly.
Read our interview with Glissando before they played the gig.