Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Kim Edgar played to an appreciative and reverent audience at St Mark’s on Castle Terrace, during a set that featured songs from both of her two albums and newly written tracks.
Edgar, who has been called ‘our very own Tori Amos’ by critics, certainly has shades of the American artist present in her work, but her wide-ranging vocal skills are also reminiscent of Kate Bush. This comparison was most evident when she sang her later tracks, such as the single from her second album ‘The Ornate Lie’.
The simple arrangement of grand piano and her beautiful voice suited the surroundings well, and she utilised the impressive acoustics of St Mark’s to her advantage. It’s an odd experience to watch a singer perform whilst sat on pews, but it seems fitting; Edgar plays her music in such a self-absorbed manner it’s almost as if she’s praying rather than performing.
Whilst you’d be hard-pressed to find any blind spots in her set, highlights included the debut of three new songs which Edgar wrote back in July, when she attempted to write a song a day for a week. Whilst such a challenge is becoming more and more commonplace for contemporary songwriters, the results of Edgar’s retreat are unusually impressive: polished and fully-formed, without losing the raw edge of a fresh track.
Throughout the gig, Edgar seemed comfortable with the crowd, and she is a likeable performer, talking about the context of tracks in between songs. Although she might position herself on a less edgy platform than some of her critical equals, Edgar is a compelling and pleasing performer on stage, and a smart, catchy songwriter to boot.
