Jessica Pratt @ Saint Luke's, Glasgow, 14 Jul
Californian singer Jessica Pratt and her band are a no-frills revelation; just elegant and inventive playing that startles in its intimate and intricate candour
Opener Clarissa Connelly is performing solo tonight – nothing but keys and eccentric vocal tics. She rebels against her naturally sweet singing voice with dips into a murky, low register and mixes things up with the occasional sample of smashing crockery. It's a sneakily experimental offering that twists what would otherwise be a lovely aperitif into something with a touch of spice; perfect to jolt the wilting punters at Saint Luke's.
Jessica Pratt, along with a four-piece band, enters with an unassuming air, glass of white wine in hand, eyes coyly averted from a seeming combination of shyness and aloofness. Though she throws out a little chat from time to time over the evening, she's mostly absorbed by her winsome and deceptively intricate songs. From the moment she begins to sing World on a String, her unique vocals captivate in the same way they do so frequently on record. Her dusky, tar-flecked voice is a special instrument, comfortably rising above her folk guitar, the assorted keys and even Diego Herrera's warm saxophone on By Hook or Crook and Better Hate.
The two oldest songs – On Your Own Love Again and Back, Baby – elicit the closest thing to movement from a respectful crowd that know this is a performance to be admired rather than augmented. Life Is closes the main set with a rare full-blooded arrangement, Riley Fleck's drumming rising above the pitter-patter of percussive rhythm for the first time all night.
On Your Own Love Again opens the encore with just Pratt and Nico Liebman (mostly bass, but additional guitar for this one); a bewitchingly spare performance, the high point for sure before the expected and appropriate Fare Thee Well sees the whole band return.
Pratt retains a certain retiring mystique throughout the hour-long performance, firmly in the camp of letting the music speak for itself. Her music can sometimes feel subdued or even downbeat, but tonight it sparkles, the band managing to occasionally wrestle focus away from Pratt's voice and highlighting the strength and originality of the songwriting behind that most immediately striking element.