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home » festivals » The Edge Festival (formerly T on the Fringe) » T on the Fringe 2005
Emiliana TorriniT on the Fringe 2005 reviewTuesday 16th August 2005 Emiliana Torrini was playing The Liquid Rooms as part of Scotland's T on the Fringe festival, held throughout August. Sophisticated art students who wouldn't look out of place sauntering around Le Louvre in Paris made up the majority of the crowd, the rest being pensioners keen on sampling some of the musical culture that has become synonymous with the city of Edinburgh. I wasn't expecting to see a crowd of leather clad Hell's angels turn up at any point and I very much doubt the cluster of tiny candlelit tables at the front were present during The Rakes performance just two days prior, but it was refreshing to know that The Liquidrooms could conjure up such a pleasant atmosphere and entertain such a diverse range of both bands and crowds. It was one of the darkest venues I've ever been to and I mean dark in a literal sense; It wasn't the type of place you imagined doubled up as a gothic sacrificial chamber for a religious cult. The subtle illumination and refined use of low-key lighting was a befitting choice for Emiliana Torrini's unusual blend of acoustic trip hop. Torrini's talents are split in two, her brilliance as a vocalist is almost overshone by her enchanting lyrical grasp. Her endearing personality is reflected in the intelligent lyrics that conjure up images of a carefree and soothing, rustic landscape, a place that seems unreachable in a society as chaotic as our own. This peaceful template on which Torrini bases most of her songs leads to a relaxing, pastoral vibe. You can't help shun the impression that she is a country girl, living in a urban environment singing of a land where life is slow, relaxed and complete with a tranquil serenity that is on the verge of being lost. The volume of the gig was so low that you felt compelled to be quiet, for fear of talking over Torrini and her band. I even stopped tapping my foot after realising how audible it was. Torrini worked her way through 2005's 'Fisherman's woman', 'Lifesaver' stretching her vocals proving she is as talented a live performer as she is on record. The song featured the sounds of a rickety boat creaking as waves lap at the shore, perfect for a middle-aged housewives relaxation tape. It wasn't all blissful classical guitar and pleasant strings though. The touching lyrics of 'Snow' was ruined by a piano accompaniment which sounded like someone had given a toddler a xylophone and instructed him to play the 'Windows startup sound' repeatedly. It's annoying enough every time I switch on my computer without having to listen to it plague one of Torrini's best songs. The tempo of the evening took a surprisingly upbeat twist when Torrini played 'Heartstopper'. There was a chirpy rhythm guitar added to a measured drumbeat that formed the basis for this particular song. The single 'SunnyRoad' had a similar beat and the stage was saturated with a warming deep-red light. Throughout the performance Torrni swayed from side to side, fidgeting nervously with her hair and introducing each song with a pleasant grace. As a performer Torrini is extremely charismatic. She's immediately likeable and embodies a personality abundant with modesty and femininity. Torrini covered a song by one of her favourite artists 'Next time round' by Sandy Denny. Irish support artist Foy Vance had set the tone for covers after twisting, changing and transforming Michael Jackson's 'Billy Jean' almost beyond all recognition. Torrini wasn't going to dramatically distort 'Next time round', but her unique accented voice, a product of her half Italian, half Icelandic roots was what made the song so different. Torrini played her favourite song from 'Fisherman's Woman', the romantic 'Thinking out loud' before performing a song that provides her with her favourite memory. The song is called 'Summer Breeze' taken from her debut album. The set finishes with Torrini introducing her band to the warm hearted 'Serenade' before coming back on stage and performing 'Nothing Brings me down' for the encore. It was a brilliant set and Torrini has certainly cemented herself as one of the finest female soloists I have ever seen. The nervous charm that encompasses her likeable personality is definitely a credit to her performance. Sometimes she was romantically poetic, others she was hilariously funny. Whether she decides to further her career as a singer or a writer I think the future looks promising for Emiliana Torrini. photos by Scott Johnson 
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