Diane Cluck

Part of the Brighton Wordsmith festival anti-folk singer songwriter Diane Cluck fuses intimate, sensitive, and evocative lyricism with a unique guitar style. Performing here with a cellist and resplendent in heavy red dress, red rose and soft medieval shoes, Cluck’s folk-driven songs pack a traditional punch – merging the odd structures and vocals intonations of The Incredible String Band with the often spoken-sung vocal style of Suzanne Vega, and lyrically grounded in the complex realities of human relationships. Propelled and embellished by the textured cello work of Isabel Castellvi, together they create a sombre and melancholy sound, deeply personal and yet embracing. DIY to the core, Cluck may not be a household name, but in nu-folk circles she is seen as something of a goddess.

Studio Theatre, Brighton Dome, 2 November 2012
Rating:
Jeff Hemmings