Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Ben Lowes-Smith has an immersive folk experience at Cobalt
Photo by Amelia Read
Me Lost Me and Nathalie Stern are more suitable bedfellows than one might think at first glance, both have authentic folk voices explored with nuance, intelligence and a sense of modernity. Stern’s scintillating turn draws predominantly from 2019’s Nerves and Skin, utilising her incredible talent for harmony. She creates an immersive folk-horror sound bath; making the most rudimentary of backing feel forceful. Her concession to Christmas is the inclusion of an Icelandic hymn- a pitch-perfect choice in a set where the atmosphere oscillated between the gorgeously ornate and the grotesque.
Me Lost Me’s set is the perfect foil to this- a somewhat breezier affair- but embodying the same beautiful, mysterious qualities. Accompanied by John Pope on double bass and Faye Maccalman on clarinet; Dent’s material is really allowed space to breathe, ebb and flow. Material from most recent EP The Circle Dance is stoically gorgeous, hopeful and characterful. The deeply affecting Walking is a highlight- a meditation on the merits of light exercise. The band closes with a tremendous reimagining of Gaudete- described accurately by Jayne as “very Eurovision”. It’s always a delight to see one singular talent on a bill – to see two in the space of one evening is nothing short of inspiring.
