The influences and references in Lisa Gerrard’s music are so scholarly and, at times, ancient that seeing her perform is akin to a history lesson in some forgotten language. Yet in spite of her radically obscure expression, she’s drawn a faithful following through work as one half of Dead Can Dance and as a solo act.
As part of The Arts Centre’s stellar Spring Music Festival lineup, Gerrard and band delivered a conceptual show, dubbed The Blank Page. Executed as an almost entirely language-free run through of uplifting, stark and embracing pieces, the artist’s idealistic presentation translated beautifully. In Hamer Hall, nagging tribulations fell away easily under Gerrard’s spell.
The magic didn’t begin with Gerrard herself, but a trio of vocalists emitting somewhat tortured vocalisations over the top of one another. The effect was an all-too-real communication breakdown between three non-descript languages and the raw frustrations that ensue. It was a thought-provoking set-up for the main act.
When Gerrard emerged and positioned herself at her long-time companion – an ancient Chinese Yangqin, her silence felt heavy. The sound of a voice, almost disembodied, began to warble and murmur in the most surprising tones.
The setlist consisted mostly of back catalogue works, including Dead Can Dance and soundtrack pieces. Musically, Gerrard’s band took the audience from the hills of Peru to the days of China’s colossal empires via humid Turkish bazaars. All the while Gerrard, donning a fine vintage Empress’s cloak, remained a guiding light through the tour of the exotic and time honoured with the precision of choral singer performing as though her life depended on it.
The relatively short concept work, punctuated by two encores including sole English language piece, Dream, was extremely focused and engaging. It was only on stepping out into the post-show mingling crowd that the impact of Gerrard’s homage to a primal form of expression devoid of social, cultural and language norms hit home.
By Leigh Salter
HIGHLIGHT: Lisa’s vocal gymnastics and the kettle drums.
LOWLIGHT: Impossible to pick one.
CROWD FAVOURITE: Epitaph.
