Lanterns on the Lake - Waterfront Studio, Norwich, 19/11/2021

  by Nige Nudds

published: 23 / 12 / 2021

Three or so postponements later and it’s finally happened, Lanterns on the Lake embrace the moderate crowd in a live venue and not a “new normal” live stream setting. It’s great to be back! Hilang Child is Brighton-based Ed Riman, and starts proceedings with some epic keyboard laced soundscapes which comprises, acoustic and electronic elements in piano-led, multi-layered emotive songs. He is accompanied by tour bandmate Sofia on keyboards and vocals, whilst Ed concentrates on hitting skins and singing lead vocals. The set is vibrant and clearly destined for greater things to come. It’s Lanterns on the Lake turn next and this time they are able to play and tour their latest album 'Spook The Herd' which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize back in 2020. They proceed to play said album in full. The songs reflect on issues including polarized politics, social media, addiction, grief and the climate crisis. It's a diverse set, going from quiet piano led songs with Hazel Wilde’s soft vocals on 'Before They Excavate', to almost shoegazing giddiness and slaying guitar from the band's guitarist Paul Gregory on 'Through the Cellar Door'. One highlight was 'Every Atom'.which combined effortless melodic passages of violin and guitar combining to make a breathtaking sound. At this point, whilst not playing too much in the last twp years the band are clearly enjoying the live experience as well as the respectful audience reveling in the whole spirit of a live show once again. The band end with the very apt titled song 'A Fitting End. With its lyric of “Oh, what a fitting ending, Oh, what a perfect scene”, it seemed the absolute unity between music and its fans in a time of such an unsettling nature was true and back here to stay. To conclude, the return of live music is something to greatly savour even with Covid case numbers being at sustained high levels. My opinion on this is that the likelihood of catching or unwittingly spreading Covid, particularly at a venue that requires you to demonstrate a vaccine or negative test, is outweighed by the love to see live music once again. Photographs by Nige Nudds

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