A LIVE performance of Wallfisch and Tepfer’s collaborative album, The Origin of Adjustable Things, with the added richness of the fabulous Sacconi Quartet. The first number, Satin Grey, set the tone for the whole evening; a sad little waltz which conjured up a sound world of heartache, whimsy, poignancy and inward contemplation, with the strings rapid plucking giving a sense of raindrops falling chaotically.

Wallfisch used a looping pedal on many of the tunes; setting up rhythmic clapping sound-beds on This is How You Make Me Feel which grew into the ensemble tapping and clapping while her beautiful, slinky voice soared over the whole. This was perhaps the most successful use of the effect, which was rather over-used through the evening to give a sense of instant minimalism on many of the tracks; layers of short repeating modal vocal lines and so on.

Whilst all the musicians involved are rightly very successful in their own spheres, a real sense of the promised collaboration never quite materialised. One tune was listed as a Free Improvisation but only the pianist (Tepfer) and Wallfisch indulged, whilst the under-used Saconni string quartet got to sit pensively. Surely it would have been more exciting and more experimental to have just gone for it with the whole group?

The lingering feel of the night was a slightly self-indulgent evening which needed something else in the mix. Dance? Video projection onto the wonderful ‘sail’ stretched out behind the performers? A live backing choir? (rather than constant looping)… Be interesting to see where it all goes next.

Sarah Collins