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Swiss progressive folk rock trio Cellar Darling have recently released the follow up to their acclaimed debut album, ‘This Is The Sound’. Album number two, ‘The Spell’, is a dark concept album that quietly draws the listener in as the tale of “Death and The Maiden” unfolds around them. How would these deeply personal songs sound when performed live? Before that question could be answered, there was the small matter of two opening acts.
First up and swapping the folk aspect of the headliners, in favour of a prog metal sound, were fellow Swiss proggers Appearance Of Nothing. Both lead guitarists, Manuel Meinen and Albert Ibrahimaj, opt for seven string guitars, while bassist/vocalist Omar Cuna goes with a five string weapon of choice. Plenty of low-end then.
Current album, ‘In Times Of Darkness’, is naturally featured heavily in the set, and with good reason, it’s a bloody corker mate. Shades of Evergrey here and there during the album, and set, with Cuna’s soft vocals reminiscent of Tom S. Englund himself. ‘The Black Sea’ heralds in a blend of clean vocals and low growls, as well as some fretboard fireworks from both guitarists. Cuna has a friendly approachable persona onstage, and this comes across throughout the set. Tossing the proggers playbook out by constantly smiling, he is beaming from ear to ear when he calls up Cellar Darling’s Anna Murphy to duet on the spellbinding ‘Storm’. Again, special mention has to go to his clean vocals, outstanding. Ending on the epic ‘The Huntress’, Appearance Of Nothing exit the stage, having made several new friends, and hopefully a quick return to the UK in a headlining capacity is on the cards.
Providing the Blackpool rock between the Swiss roll (sorry, that door was open, had to go through it), that would be post-rock outfit Blanket. 2018’s ‘How To Let Go’ was met with huge critical acclaim from everyone from Kerrang to The Independent. Let’s face it, not many bands will get that sort of approval from such diverse publications. Their sound is expansive, cinematic and at times hypnotic. If you wanted a point of comparison then perhaps you could mention Mogwai? But with vocals, also, less harsh that Mogwai. Their songs take you on a journey, best exemplified by the soaring ‘This Moment Right Here’ and set closer ‘Turn Ourselves To Stone’. A different band to what you might have expected to be on the bill tonight, and a break from the norm.
After a quick breakdown, with Appearance Of Nothing gallantly lending a hand in stripping the stage, the dry ice billows out and Cellar Darling take to the stage. The chugging riffs from Ivo Henzi signal the intro to ‘Black Moon’ and we’re off. Anna Murphy is as engaging as ever, as she sets out to make eye contact with everyone in the room. A room that has filled up rather nicely thank you. When she starts to play the hurdy gurdy, it’s impossible to take your eyes from her, simply because she makes what must be a very hard instrument to master, look easy.
‘Hullaballoo’ is still the same infectious few minutes that it was when Cellar Darling first played this same venue in 2018. Merlin Sutter is incredible to watch behind his drum kit, totally lost in his playing on one of the stand out tracks from the debut album. Murphy pauses to soak up the applause and mentions that although they have a brand new album to try out, the first part of the show will be songs from ‘This Is The Sound’. And then bang, straight into ‘Avalanche’, followed in quick succession by ‘Challenge’ and ‘Six Days’. Henzi is dressed all in regulation black and in all honesty, makes this guitar playing lark look easy. He has a fantastic poker-face and doesn’t give much away, but every now and again you catch him smiling.
After thirty minutes or so, Murphy talks about the new album and says that the band are going to play most of it. They then begin to play the vast majority of the album in order, it’s a concept album after all, the pacing is crucial. ‘Pain’ and ‘Death’ lead into the magical ‘Love’, the arrangements on the latter are staggering and the melodies sweep over everyone. After the title track blows everyone away, Anna pauses to say “Nice to see so many smiling faces, considering how depressing our new album is!” before continuing with “It’s mind blowing to see so many of you singing along to the new songs, I’m speechless!” ‘The Spell’ album is a dark album with a dark subject matter, but it clearly resonates on many fronts with those in the crowd.
With its heavy intro and trippy flute solo, ‘Insomnia’ is one of the stand out moments on ‘The Spell’, live, it soars above the heads of the crowd and fills the room. It was one of the new tracks which I was most curious to see how it would work live, damn it blew me away! Difficult second album? Arse!
After closing the main set with ‘Love Pt II’ (“The only one on the new album with hope!”), it’s encore time with their bold cover of Queen’s ‘The Prophet Song’ followed by ‘Redemption’ from the debut album. Murphy jokes that you are not supposed to cover Queen, but they did, and it’s perhaps the best Queen cover that I’ve ever heard. She also points out her cousins in the crowd as the loudest in the room, as well as joking that if anyone wanted to come say hi to the band afterwards and hang out, then to do so as “We’re very Swiss, we don’t bite!”
