KT Tunstall at The Pepper Canister Church | Review

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KT Tunstall at The Pepper Canister Church on the 21st of June 2013

The summer solstice occurs when the tilt of a planet’s semi-axis, in either the northern or the southern hemisphere, is most inclined toward the star that it orbits. While street-crawlers and pint-guzzlers enjoyed the long evening that was; the star in orbit on this occasion was to be KT Tunstall.

As predicted, the night would serve as a showcase for new album ‘Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon’. Invisible Empire, the opening track of the night would set the scene as KT cuts a lonely figure on the alter of the Pepper Canister Church. Her soaring tone flickers in the air and races through the stunning environs of the sold-out venue. Waiting on the Heart and Carried show the increasing range that she has challenged herself with. Her last EP – ‘The Scarlet Tulip EP’, which she would later go on to explain “was all about the voice”, shows how KT has left the more rough and ready elements and replaced them with more variety, control and the ability to astound the listener.

Other Side of the World becomes the first known track from the first album, ‘Eye to the Telescope’. Despite the crowds extended knowledge of the lyrics, they still remain deathly silent out of respect as KT harmoniously delivers a shrilling version of the well-known track. Yellow Flower from the new album provides the filler between another first album track, Through the Dark. On the night, she excellently picked the most suited songs from her back catalogue to show in this stripped-back acoustic setting.

KT and her whipper-snapper wit are back in full flow despite the downtrodden theme running through the song lyrics on the night. Her wit and storytelling is as engaging, funny, witty and endearing as ever. She thanks the crowd for “spending their night with her and not Rihanna in the Aviva”. The week previous, she had to thank the London crowd for avoiding a suspect adults jewellery making class in a nearby library. She questions the motives for such a class and quickly stops herself upon the realisation of her position on an Anglican church-alter.

Black Horse and the Cherry Tree sees KT utilise her now trademark looping pedal as she perfectly delivers her biggest classic. The classic was to be injected with a lease of new life as she layers time-slot competitor Rihanna’s Only Girl in The World on top of the beat only to then finish it off with another layer of Seven Nation Army from The White Stripes – now that’s a bit of variety.

KT would then take to the church pulpit and deliver an almost Sean Nós acapella version of Shanty of the Whale. This chilling song would then be followed by highlight for the night, Feel it All. Despite missing the rich and imposing electric guitar backing from the album; the more acoustic version sends thrills through the wooden benches, up the religious statues and straight into the body of the punter.

A strangely entrancing version of Don Henley’s super 80’s anthem Boys of Summer brings all new meaning to the same lyrics that Henley has been known to make so throwaway. Made of Glass then sees KT employ the eery Tarantino’esque whistle midway that stands out so superbly on the new album. She exits the stage and returns quickly, probably to avoid the cheering/stomping crowd from breaking anything in the pristine church surroundings.

A song that means a lot to KT, Funny Man, is played in perhaps the most fitting or apt of locations. Regardless of sentiment, the song is a further note of KT’s emotion, song-craftsmanship and vocal ability. She then rounds off the night with a truly ethereal vocal loop on the new album track Chimes. She expertly layers her own voice atop each layer to create a patchwork quilt of tones and celestial notes. With the sublime loop continuing in the background, she bows to the crowd and exits the alter to the rear to a shaking sea of applause.

The word Solstice is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still) – once again, this seems apt as everyone in attendance stood still in awe as one beacon of light shone the most bright; KT Tunstall.