Lunarin Goes Acoustic @ Esplanade Library (13/11/10)

When I first heard of Lunarin's latest gig at Esplanade Library, I knew I had to be there. Having been to their acoustic shows twice (something from STOMP.sg and the other being an acoustic set at the Esplanade Library too), they've always made awesome acoustic versions of their album tracks and they've introduced more unreleased material through acoustic shows than their shows. With the mention of them playing Midas (from Duae, their latest album), I was psyched to make it to the show even when I wasn't feeling all too great that particular afternoon.

Reaching a little around 2.45pm, I managed to catch the finishing bits of Kevin Matthews' set and as much as I'm not a fan of the usual vocals+acoustic guitar+songwriting+vocalist thing, I have to admit that Kevin has one hell of an amazing singing voice. That dude could lull me to sleep with his smooth falsetto parts and perfectly pitched singing. I have to apologise for my lack of knowledge on his music as my main priority of being there has, from the start, being Lunarin's acoustic performance (Sorry Kevin, Debra and Vanessa).

Entering the rather small performance area a little after 3pm, Lunarin had two other members in the lineup, Victor Ong on Cello and Natalie Soh on Violin. These two additional instrumentalists proved vital in creating that almost haunting ambience to Lunarin's acoustic set.

from left: Victor Ong (cello), Linda Ong (bass/guitar), Ho Kah Wye (guitar), Loo Eng Teck (drums, keys, backing vocals), Natalie Soh (violin). Photo credit to Vanessa Faith Tan.

Setlist:

1. Ghost
2. 22
3. Right of Sleep
4. Wednesday
5. Midas
6. Coralline

Videos of each performance can be viewed under the Media Archive section.


Personal favourites of the afternoon were 22, Wednesday and Coralline.

Right of Sleep being one of two low points of the whole acoustic set (the other being the duration of the set) and eventhough I really enjoyed the track's chorus being catchy and all, that's when I realised why this track never stuck on to me. Lunarin has never played something as fundamentally pop as this. Then I started to squirm and writhe with distaste to the thought of this song being cultivated in the dark mountain caves where Lunarin records their dark masterpieces of melancholy and despair.

I kid with that comment, but in a nutshell, Right of Sleep can be reviewed as "Too pop, doesn't work for me, might work for others."

Other than that, I found the other 5 songs to be real solid acoustic pieces and I sure hope that there'll be an acoustic EP in the near future. Watch the videos and you'd agree with me.