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Vashti Bunyan is a beautiful folk artist with a beautiful story.
A young talented singer songwriter, in 1970 she released her first Lp, ‘Just Another Diamond Day’ [a collection of songs written over the previous few years] and then went about her life, leaving the city and music behind, travelling to Outer Hebrides, by horse and cart... until 1997, when having stumbled upon the joys of the internet Vashti realised that her recordings were far from forgotten.
After a three -year struggle ‘Just Another Diamond Day’ was re- issued in 2000, giving Vashti a new found urge to write, record and release a second Lp, ‘Lookaftering’ [2005], all about the years in between...
Tonight she plays The Roundhouse in Camden, for the BBC Electric Proms series of gigs and she is eagerly awaited by appreciative fans of all ages. Clearly a mix of ‘first time round’ devotees and ‘second wave’ aficionados. One young lady, as grateful as we all are to be here tonight, presents the songstress with a huge bouquet of flowers and request that she autographs her two Cds.
Accompanied by a cello and a violin, or piano when appropriate, Vashti seats behind her microphone holding her guitar on her knees, and just as her fragile voice suggests, she is dainty and delightful.
She opens with recent track ‘Hidden’ and sets the tone for the remaining of the evening.
Stunning, unhurried guitar based tales of every day life laced with delicate, crystal clear, ethereal vocals.
Next up is ‘Just Another Diamond Day’, which is currently enjoying world-wide exposure featuring in a mobile phone advert, and as explains a smiling Vashti, was written in 1968 whilst she was travelling Europe by train.
Each song is carefully introduced and comes with a charming anecdote.
‘Lately’ was written for her children and ‘Here Before’, a beautiful lullaby, is about her daughter, a smiling child.
From ‘Lookaftering’, we also enjoy ‘Against The Sky’, ‘Feet Of Clay’, a reference to the fact that apparently she cannot dance and her dislike of housework is illustrated in ‘Wayward’.
But as expected we travel back in time with ‘I’d Like To Walk Around In Your Mind’ and absolutely gorgeous 1966 song, ‘Winter Is Blue’ depicting heartbreak.
Vashti has introduced piano on her more recent songs but her 60s material sounds as fresh as ever and both new and old blend into a generous helping of gentle ‘hippyness’.
The show is over, and a clearly moved Vashti Bunyan exits the room.
Unwittingly, Vashti’s story confirms that ‘good things happen to those who wait’ and that it’s never too late to enjoy well deserved recognition and success.
Hopefully the next album will be out before 2040!
Words: Florence ACHERY
www.anotherday.co.uk
www.myspace.com/vashtibunyan |
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