Review and photos by Annie Barber.
In the first of four Candlelight Original Sessions celebrating his solo project ‘&’ (Ampersand), Bastille’s Dan Smith brought his album release tour to St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh on the 11th of October. The show was an intimate look into a captivating project based on a series of muses.
The cathedral provided an unforgettable setting for the concert, in which the music echoed hauntingly. The stained glass windows and breathtaking architecture would have made a stunning backdrop on their own, but the addition of candles covering the stage and dotted around the church made it even more atmospheric.
The first song of the set, ‘Intros & Narrators’, brought the church to life with a moving folky track. The song is an introduction to the album, which is a collection of songs based on historical and mythological figures and ideas, told by Smith as the narrator. Next was the performance of ‘Seasons & Narcissus’, an uplifting song about being consumed by love, inspired by the story of Narcissus from Greek mythology.
When introducing ‘Emily & Her Penthouse in the Sky’, written about Emily Dickinson, Smith described her as a “tortured poet,” and said that her mind should be celebrated regardless of whether speculations about her character are true. The sound of the electric guitar and vocals echoing through the cathedral made it a fitting tribute.
The premiere performance of ‘Drawbridge & The Baroness’ revealed an introspective song with gritty electric guitar and angelic vocals in the chorus. During the bridge, repetition of the line “If I’m dreaming can I wake up” sung over the layers of instruments created a sense of euphoria. This was my personal favourite from the set, and I think it will be one of the best tracks on the album.
A mixture of acoustic, electric, and string instruments enhanced the show musically. The talents of Smith and musicians Merrick Winter, Charlie Barnes, Moira Mack and Ak Patterson were particularly evident during the performance of ‘Leonard & Marianne’. The combination of piano and violin intensified the vulnerability of the song, which is inspired by Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen’s relationship. With its honest lyrics and soft vocals, the ballad perfectly captures the feeling of missing someone.
Smith was very sincere when addressing the audience between songs, making the show feel even more intimate. I must say, it was somewhat cathartic to hear someone swearing so candidly in a church. Smith comically apologised to Jesus for swearing so much, which garnered a laugh from the crowd.
As someone who was only a casual listener of Bastille and Dan’s other work before going to the show, this recent project has captured my interest and I am now very eager for the rest of the album. ‘&’ (Ampersand) is a project that has been released in four parts, and the full album release is on the 25th of October.
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