MUSIC & MUSICALS

Burt Memorial Hall

22nd January 2015

Reviewed by Julianne de Souza

The glass-stained windows and romantic, candle-lit shadows of Burt Memorial Hall forged the perfect canvas for this year’s Hush: An Evening of Quiet Music. Creating a highly intimate and respectful space in which local musicians can perform acoustic sets, Hush was conceived as the antithesis to the noisy, rowdy pubs in which up-and-coming artists usually begin and are often ignored.

Founded by musicians Davey Craddock and Stacy Gougoulis in 2012, Hush returns to Fringe World for a ‘Duets’ edition, featuring unlikely collaborations between some of Perth’s finest acts.

First was Golden String, consisting of vocalist and keyboardist Mai Barnes and violinist Hayley Jane-Ayres. Throughout the set, Barnes’ masterful wrangling of the loop station created a sound impressively larger than the two musicians onstage. Countless layers of lush harmonies spun a rich, hypnotic sound complemented by minimalistic lyrics. However, at times Golden String’s signature melancholia ran the risk of becoming repetitive, making it difficult for listeners to differentiate between songs.

Luke Dux and Leon Pratt’s blues brought a change in pace from Golden String. The two musicians stood at opposite ends of the stage, staring each other down; Dux growled into the microphone and strummed an electric guitar while Pratt plucked his double bass. The duo’s undeniable stage chemistry brought the best out of Pratt’s guttural vocals and Dux’s finesse on the bass, delivering one punchy song after the other.

Next were Jacob Diamond and Benjamin Witt, who impressed with their modern and alternative style. Discordant and somewhat noisy in the best possible way, Diamond and Witt keep listeners on edge and admittedly may not be for everyone. The highlight of the set was the final song, ‘Goodbye’, penned by Diamond, which saw the electric guitarist’s vocals soar.

Hush ended on a high with Stella Donnelly delivering a standout performance in her duet with David Craft. Donnelly’s heavenly, breezy melodies and Craft’s deep country twang were an odd pairing, with Donnelly’s undeniable indie charm stealing the show. The set list alternated between songs penned by each artist, the highlight being Donnelly’s ‘Mean To Me’, a charming yet melancholic tune about being unappreciated.

Hush succeeded in creating the ideal venue for intimate acoustic sets, with the grandeur of Burt Memorial Hall setting the ideal backdrop for the four duos who hypnotised their listeners with everything from dreamy, romantic pop to rasping blues.

Hush: An Evening of Quiet Music ran for one performance only on January 23 at Fringe World Festival Perth.