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26 March, 2008
Bachelorette, Ned Collette - Port Chalmers Masonic Lodge 9/02/08
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Bachelorette, Ned Collette - Port Chalmers Masonic Lodge 9/02/08
Page 1
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Musical backing and background vocals were pre-recorded and played through the PA with the lead vocal and lead instrument (be it guitar or keyboards) played live so the sense of spontaneity was certainly missing (except when the backing track had the occasional minor skip) but the opportunity to hear such finely honed and beautifully layered pop songs rendered such that you could totally immerse yourself in their warm inviting world more than made up for it. Bachelorette herself was positively charming, engaging in easygoing banter with the appreciative crowd between songs, announcing the last two songs as a chance to have two encores if so requested, and complimenting the venue on it’s relaxed and inviting atmosphere.
Self described as ‘Space Pop’, the music conjures images of quantum events happening just beyond your ears, rhythm sections built on quasars and space debris passing by at incredible speed, the harmonies deep and warm enough to swim in. The pre-recorded backing did give wonder to how the songs would stack up with only a single voice and instrument and the opportunity to compare came when Bachelorette ditched the gizmos in favour of a lone ukulele (after first breaking (!) a microphone stand), and the result was just as transfixing. The set ending up covering most of the album Isolation Loops with a couple of earlier songs as well, and even though the performance was to all intents and purposes like listening to the album through a PA with a visual focus, the sound was so beautiful you could easily lose yourself in the situation.
Ned Collette is a different prospect, the songs are less exuberant, more understated and winding than the opening act. Setting the tone of each song Ned draws out a line on the guitar and sings a haunting melody over the top, then starts to build a fuller sound by sampling a loop into a pedal and adding more guitar lines over the top. The result is a dreamy journey, songs stretching over seven minutes and winding up and down as layers are added and removed. The audience rapport is not quite as freely achieved as Bachelorette however, a description of the beauty of Dunedin being it’s foggy, windswept hills coming across a little flat, as the last two months Dunedin had been bathed in glorious sunshine. Bachelorette added her keyboards and vocals to a couple of songs, providing moody atmosphere and adding some much needed variety.
In the end it was a distinct contrast in styles, with Bachelorette’s clear exuberance being somewhat tempered by Ned Collette’s more introspective fare, both artists being worthy of further attention in their own rights.
Dave Local
Posted by rob
