Originally Posted by sdevine

from todays indo


Vyvienne Long The Village Dublin


Vyvienne Long looks -- and occasionally acts -- like a cartoon character brought to life. She totters about the Village stage in comically tall high-heels, bright red creations which accentuate her broomstick frame. She converses in a breathless chipmunk twitter. Her music is extravagantly baroque, as if fished from the subconscious of Tim Burton or Edward Gorey.

Yet, the most surprising thing about Long is her fantastic range as a singer. To date, the wispy Dubliner has achieved some local celebrity as a cellist: her mournful playing set the tone on each of Damien Rice's two albums while she enjoyed a novelty hit with her perky cover of The White Stripe's 'Seven Nation Army'.

She's no less compelling as a vocalist and songwriter, though. On the final night of an Irish tour Long, accompanied by two backing cellists, a bassist, drummer and piano player, moves light-footedly between frantic art-rock, heartfelt piano balladry and Bjork-esque weirdo pop.

Long truly soars when she forsakes her cello. Accompanied by a human-beat box, she delivers a flamboyant freak-folk rap. Later she sits behind a piano and belts out several Tori Amos-tinged torch-songs.

As final curtain looms, Long flirts with cuteness but pulls back just in time on a tune that urges us to stay happy no matter what life has in store (arguably she pushes her luck inviting the audience to hum the ditzy chorus). Carry on like this and soon she will be famous for more than novelty cover versions.

Originally Posted by mariaoran

^ luv her too!!! cant get her new "inheritance" song out of my head!

Very good review also!