DM Stith

Hoxton Bar & Grill
20 July 2009

Sometimes something special just smacks you between the eyes.

Having offered our ears to, and then withdrawn them from, firstly, Oh Ruin, and secondly Caroline Weeks, it was with rather depressed anticipation valves that we reassembled for DM ("Hi, I'm Dave") Stith.

Courtesy of having just played a nice gig at Somerset House supporting Bat For Lashes, Mr Dave is joined by a larger-than-might-have-been-expected backing band featuring viola, cello, baritone sax, drums and a second guitarist/bass. Kudos for the coolest kit in town with only two drums and three cymbals, including bass drum slung round the neck of the slight but obviously sturdy drummer.

Knowing only one mySpace-worth about Mr Dave it was a largely hunch-based visit that was richly rewarded. Singing gentle, sometimes ghostly, classically-infused folk pop in a high register that warbled up to falsetto in places, Mr Dave treated everyone to a display of musical intelligence that is all too rarely heard. The music shares some sensibilities with Daniel Rossen's work in terms of arrangements, dynamic range and modulated pacing, also often using open guitar chords to form songs that often build and develop, not afraid of taking an unexpected turn.

Dissonant backing vocals were artfully deployed, provided by the string players, and lengths of tuned pink plastic hose added a mournful gentle hum when whirled about the heads of the band at a couple of points, and when a syncopated, slightly reggae-style rhythm was used it was with the lightest touch, adding bounce and momentum, not feeling like a misappropriation, as so often elsewhere.

Displaying musical wit and invention at almost every turn it was a joyful performance; the hour they played was almost over before it began. Looking around the room - and, London, you don't know what you missed, as the venue was at barely half of capacity - people everywhere were beaming.