Narration (Acoustic)
Van's Store Showcase, Carnaby St, London
3 May 2008

It's a very rainy supposedly summer day and two members of Narration are playing an acoustic set at Van’s on Carnaby St. as part of City Showcase: Spotlight London. People filter in and out while a handful of dedicated listeners pay close attention as Dan Holt and Simon Macson sit with their backs to the rain and play their guitars. It’s impressive what one half of the band can sound like in a room not meant for gigs and with the added distraction of people bustling about around them. Dan’s voice is crystal clear and he hits all the right high notes without sounding whiny or strained. Vocally, these songs are a challenge and from up close, it’s easy to appreciate the mediated control he exerts on his voice to sound the way he does. Yet what you hear sounds effortless and smooth.

Simon’s lead guitar is meticulously played, and his backing vocals could hardly be considered simply backing. Having heard the band do a fully plugged set, and being aware of the melodrama and power of the songs, it is reassuring to hear that the guys can maintain these qualities in the acoustic versions. The band is known for being true hard workers in every sense, and this is clear on today’s improvised stage - singing and playing with uttermost concentration and passion regardless of their setting and the number of people actually watching. To these ears the songs are played flawlessly and are an unexpectedly excellent 50 minutes in an otherwise uneventful, bleak day in Soho.

Nina Cromeyer Dieke