Hem

The key to New York alt-folkists Hem’s unique sound lies in the mesmerising vocals of Sally Ellyson. Slow, sultry and soulful, it glides over the bluegrass violin, guitar twang and piano, cutting through the atmosphere in Whelan’s tonight like a knife.

Sadly, it’s not long before the novelty wears off. The lack-of-versatility monster rears its ugly head and the sparseness of organic, coloquial folk begins to reveal itself as a weak, diluted, and somewhat sickly affair as Ellyson’s honeyed voice loses momentum against the increasingly tepid backing. It seems as if the two major elements of Hem’s music are mismatched – both the instruments and the vocals are submissive, leaving us ultimately unfocussed and lacking direction. However, one of Hem’s greatest obstacles is their lack of on stage charisma, each of the seven members seeming somehow glued to the spot – the violinist hindering herself further by reading sheet music.

For all the promise of those haunting melodies and trickling pianos on Hem’s debut LP Rabbit Songs, live, the band fail to live up to expectations.