LOUISE LEMÓN

VENUE THE BLACK HEART, LONDON

DATE 26/09/2018

SUPPORT THE OSIRIS CLUB

Asmall, dark room in a north london pub, a glow of purple and reddish light and – out of nowhere – a little ambient mist. Just the setting for five figures in black robes to enter and take up sonic arms. But wait – is that a bearded lady on bass? no, it’s The Osiris Club’s Sean Cooper, his long, wavy hair and face fuzz enhanced by some glam eyeshadow beneath his dark hood. it’s a signifier of the psychedelic pop sparkle these gothic proggers have, within a catalogue of expansive, brooding epics.

inspired by dark Horse comic hero Hellboy, there’s a cartoonish element to the look of the london-based band but that doesn’t detract from what they do. Saxless tonight (regular member Hanna Petterson is unwell), they still whip up very accessible and darkly dramatic ditties. Most compelling are tracks from latest album The wine-dark Sea – the eerie title track, Hammer Horror banger wormwood Grange and darkwave earworm The Hopeless distance.

as a tiny rock venue, The Black Heart is kitted out with a massive Pa that can often be too loud. This was the case tonight, but remedied quickly, so every synthy nuance of island Of Stone shines through. it seems a more electronic direction beckons, so watch this space.

Headlining tonight is the muchwhispered-about Scandi singer louise lemón. The Swede moves in muso circles, currently collaborating with sonic influencer du jour randall dunn, notable for his work with elemental wailer anna von Hausswolff, drone commanders Sunn O))) and black metal types wolves in The Throne room. Her trick is a haunting hybrid of goth, pop and blues that’s termed ‘death gospel’, and it’s one she pulls off very well. Statuesque in a fringed black mini dress and with long bleached hair, lemón cuts an alluring figure, but like all the best sirens, she ultimately slays. Her voice is a breathy contralto on creepy death ballad Shipwreck, rising to powerful, emotional, soulful pop heights by appalacherna.

if von Hausswolff, Myrkur and Chelsea wolfe have floated your goth banana, lemón is for you. and if those artists have been too harsh for prog ears, lemón could still be for you. a bridge between goth, soul and prog, ignore the hipster tag and let yourself get swept away.