Moses Sumney

Moses Sumney plies a sparse, drumless trade of deconstructed pop soul, with a confident musical swagger allied with a delicate manner. His live setup is minimally staffed but surprisingly effective, consisting of loud clanging, delayed guitar backing, a multi instrumentalist utilising bass guitar, a tiny sax and other options, while Sumney himself veers between guitar, loops and different microphones.

Sumney’s voice will always be front and centre in any discussion of his work, and his fluid falsetto, chiming self harmonies and impressive range are certainly noteworthy. Sumney’s seeming bashfulness was entirely at odds with his assured and confident stage presence, and this gig had the ring of a brilliant opportunity to see him at a smaller venue while we still could. Word of mouth for his live performances will undoubtedly be strong, and with a just few stronger songs in his repertoire it’s hard to see anything stopping him.

Komedia, 30 October 2017
Rating:
Joe Fuller