LISA HANNIGAN & STARGAZE : LIVE IN DUBLIN

1. Ora
2. Prayer For The Dying
3. Little Bird
4. Undertow
5. Bookmark
6. Anahorish
7. Nowhere To Go
8. Lo
9. Swan
10. We The Drowned
11. Lille
12. A Sail
13. Barton
14. Fall

Label : Play It Again Sam

Venue : National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland

Recording Date : October 6 & 7, 2018

Release Date : May 31, 2019

Length : 65:12

Review (DaMusic) : De uit Ierland afkomstige Lisa Hannigan is bij het Belgische publiek minder gekend, maar misschien moet hier verandering in komen. Aan Hannigan zelf zal het alvast niet liggen, want ze heeft een vierde album uit, een album in samenwerking met de klassiek getrainde muziekgroep Stargaze. Reeds zeventien jaar is singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan terug te vinden in de muziekwereld. En van die zeventien jaar, is ze reeds twaalf jaar aan het timmeren aan haar solocarrière. In die twaalf jaar bracht Hannigan reeds drie studio albums uit en nu ook haar eerste live album; een live album dat tot stand kwam met de hulp van de Duitse dirigent André de Ridder. Samen met hem en enkele andere componisten nam Hannigan reeds bestaande nummers onder handen en zo slaagden ze erin om stuk voor stuk nieuwe pareltjes van pure Indiefolkkunst te creëren. Maar een herwerking is pas volledig geslaagd als deze ook perfect past bij het stemgeluid. En net dit hebben ze meer dan ooit kunnen bereiken. De reeds prachtige en dromerige stem van Hannigan werd naar nieuwe hoogtes gebracht. Haar delicate en breekbare stem komt uitermate tot zijn recht door op de achtergrond het geluid van een hypnotische wals te creëren, in combinatie met strijkinstrumenten en een minimale hoeveelheid aan percussie. Voeg hier nog gitaren en mandolines bij die zo zacht worden bespeeld dat ze amper te horen zijn en je krijgt een dromerige sound die je in een rustgevende trance brengt. En net in deze trance zweef je zonder moeite van het ene hoogtepunt naar het andere. Nummers zoals Little Bird (uit 'Passenger'), Lille (uit 'Sea Sew') en We, The Drowned (uit 'At Swim') komen wonderbaarlijk nog meer tot hun recht; een teken dat de samenwerking tussen Hannigan en Stargaze duidelijk een match made in heaven is. En zoiets verdient het om vereeuwigd te worden op een plaat. En waar kon dit beter gebeuren dan in de National Concert Hall te Dublin, de hoofdstad van Hannigans thuisland? Het mag gerust eens aangekaart worden dat indie en indiefolk muziekgenres zijn die steeds meer aan een opmars bezig zijn. Toegegeven: dit is zeker niet voor ieders oor bestemd, maar als je er open voor staat om rustige doch veelzeggende muziek te ontdekken, dan kunnen wij alvast dit genre meer dan ooit aanraden.

Review (Hot Press) : For many artists, the live album has become something of a conciliatory gesture to fans, labels and critics; a consolidation of work done, while maybe figuring what to do next. For others, it's a step into a brave new world, an opportunity to explore old songs in new ways, and a chance to augment and evolve. Lisa Hannigan has wowed fans with live performances for all of 17 years, but in the popular imagination, many still think of her in a Dingle snug, singing otherworldly folk to a select, lucky few. Her latest offering, Live In Dublin - recorded at the National Concert Hall last October with contemporary-classical orchestra Stargaze - confirms just how far beyond any such misconceptions she has travelled. It is terrific. Hannigan has carved a hugely impressive solo career (three albums, multiple awards, collaborations with The National), based on her fine vocals and softly plucked guitars. Hannigan herself often seems as soft-spoken as her music: she is carefully comfortable in her skin, a master of her craft, smiling politely at the nonsense that can sometimes accompany it, but taking no shit all the same. This latest collaboration is a joy, adding fresh layers and cinematic elements to songs previously memorable for their haunting sparseness. Of the 14 tracks, there is only one new offering, the lovely 'Bookmark', with the rest being Hannigan staples: 'Lille', 'Little Bird', 'A Sail' and 'Undertow' are all present and correct. "Hang the rich and spare the young," Lisa whispers on album closer 'Fall', before the song gently fades out. Far from being suffocated by the accompanying orchestra, the songs are instead enhanced by the carefully lush percussion and hypnotic strings. Those familiar with Lisa Hannigan will know not to expect any rambling soliloquies about childhood pets in between tracks. Her music does the talking and does it supremely well. This is the real deal: a live album that takes us to a new and enchanting place.

Review (The Irish Times) : Irish audiences will need no introduction to Lisa Hannigan; the Kildare woman is by now a stalwart of the indie scene, with three solo albums to her name and a long stint with Damien Rice before that. However familiar you may be with her songs, you've never heard them quite like this. Hannigan crossed paths with the conductor of contemporary classical orchestra Stargaze in 2015, and her ensuing regular collaborations with them led to the recording of a full live album in Dublin last October. The delicacy of her back catalogue is both enhanced and expanded by these sumptuous arrangements, from the swoonsome Prayer for the Dying to the tender, hesitant Ora, the soft songbird shudder of her voice blending beautifully with the orchestration. The addition of strings softens the electronic judder of Barton, while the gently majestic sweep of Little Bird could soundtrack a classic Disney montage. There's a new song, too: the soft parps of brass on Bookmark break into a quirky, cantering torch song. More new material would be nice, but, until then, this will tide you over very nicely.

Review (Highway Queens) : Most of us are stuck in the gutter looking at the stars, others like Lisa Hannigan are shining brightly in the sky like a celestial angel sent to serenade us lowly wretches. With the help of contemporary chamber orchestra Stargaze she has reimagined her songs for the stage, with her hometown Dublin show being recorded for this new release. The album begins with warm applause and a few whoops, which tell us this Irish singer is rightly celebrated in her home country. Set opener Ora is a fitting beginning, her delicate voice singing 'I'm going home / won't you come with me' as the orchestra creates seascapes of sound around her. It's a transfixing beginning and you find yourself swept away from shore right into the waves with her. Vocally Hannigan stuns on every song, creating intricate moments of emotion, echoed by her background singers. There is haunting and hypnotic quality to songs like Little Bird and Undertow, which feels both of the earth and otherworldly at the same time.The previously unreleased track Bookmark is brought vividly to life by the orchestra, who create an intense and almost sinister moment of unease. In contrast Anahorish is a stark lament, with just the sound of voices heard. On Nowhere to Go she reminds us that those who wander will always find shelter if they look inside themselves. Swan blossoms in this setting, the modern synth sounds of the original transformed by the impressive orchestra. We the Drowned is quite an overwhelming surge of sound, and in the aftermath Lille feels like waking up after the shipwreck. Sail and Barton are darker moments of experimentation. Sometimes orchestral reworking of albums can sound gimmicky but Hannigan's ambitious arrangements mean her voice blends beautifully into the orchestra, becoming one mesmerising instrument. Final song Fall sounds like she is playing solo acoustic, a moment of reset and a reminder that simplicity can be equally as beautiful as the ornate. Live in Dublin is an album of luminous wonders. Tilt your ear to the heavens and experience it for yourself.