Alternative Escape: Woodpecker Wooliams

The early-risers who made it to this lunchtime show were richly rewarded with Gemma Williams’s alter-ego, drawing us into her world of wonderment. Playing a mix of old favourites and selections from the forthcoming bird-themed album, the harpist enchanted with her clever wordplay performed over scratchy backing tapes of screeching seagulls and white noise. A taped-down keyboard’s chord and ankle bells supported her switch to Omnichord, supplying beautiful waterfall arpeggios for her childlike voice to dance around. ‘Dove’ ended the wonderfully esoteric set with Gemma singing random numbers in German while ‘The Last Post’ played hauntingly in the background.

The Fishbowl, 11 May 2012

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