Mariee Sioux and Alessi's Ark at Cafe OTO

Mariee Sioux

Alessi's Ark
Rick Tomlinson
Cafe OTO, 7 August 2009

I pretty much did a little leap of joy when I saw that not only was folk chanteuse Mariee Sioux making a rare appearance in London but that she was also being supported by none other than my beloved Alessi's Ark. What a bill (along with Rick Tomlinson, who I was unfamiliar with) and at Cafe OTO, a venue in the backstreets of Hackney that I can almost imagine Bob, Joan or Joni playing back in the day.
There's something endearingly lovely and awkward about 18-year-old Alessi, dressed in a flowerly and frilly Gunne Sax-style dress that charmingly makes her look like a character from an old children's tale. Despite having created one of the best albums of the year and having a unique and sugar-sweet voice, she always seems nervous and unsure of herself on stage, shyly thanking the audience and pausing between songs, considering her next choice but looking like she's caught in a daydream. She begins by telling us "I'm not a witch, I just get sad" (the song Witch from the Rough Trade bonus disc of Notes From A Treehouse) but despite her protests she always seems to conjure up a great deal magic with her musical stories, flights of fantasy or, indeed daydreams. There's something very close to the original spirit of folk music in this ability to take us on this journey, especially since at the start of the show she doesn't even stick to the songs we all know, instead trying out new magical tales on us. It's not all unfamiliar material though, as, despite the heat (poor Alessi getting the worst of it under the bright lights of the stage) she treats us with Ribbon Lakes, The Dog and Woman. None of the singles make an appearance, not that is matters to me as all that album is sounding like classics to me right now. The set is far too short sadly, as I could have listened to her all night.
Next up came Rick Tomlinson,"the voice of the Seven Woods" apparently, which is a rather

misleading title (apparently that's the title he previously released his music under) as he doesn't sing, rather builds up guitar parts with his effects pedals for a long instrumental piece, almost like folk meets Krautrock. Many of the audience seem captivated by this achingly long number, one older guy in particular leaping to his feet in delight, but I have to admit I was pretty bored after the first 10 minutes and breathed a sigh of relief when he finally put his guitar down.

Finally, onto Mariee Sioux, looking dark, beautiful and very petite, as she sits down and takes up her guitar (lent to her for this performance by Alessi no less). One of things I love about her album Faces In The Rocks is the Native American feel to the music with its themes of nature and old folk tales filled with atmospheric flute, mandolin and drums making it all sound other-worldly and ancient. I did wonder how the songs would hold up without this backing, but Mariee's pure haunting voice and cascading acoustic guitar proved to be spellbinding enough. She draws us into her mystical world with Wizard Flurry Home, Flowers And Blood and Two Tongues At One Time (which, she tells us, is a song that goes back to ancient times) but the highlight has to be the song Homoeopathic, sung in dedication to a friend recently lost. It's chillingly beautiful and hopefully it will make it's way onto the next album.

I left the venue on a high: what a cozy, lovely evening filled with good music and a warm atmosphere. I wish more gigs were like this.