Polly Scattergood

There's a small and select crowd in the plush Soho Revue Bar as Polly Scattergood, poet and musician, takes to the stage looking waif-like and pale; her name suggests a character in a children’s book and she looks the part with red tights under her checked dress, teamed with green socks and shoes. I'm assured she's 21 and old enough to play in the Soho Revue Bar, unlike poor Laura Marling who was barred from performing last year and ended up busking outside the venue.

Scattergood sings the first short song, 'I Am Strong' a cappella, starting off as a whisper and a sigh, which grabs the crowd's attention and then her band (guitar, keys and drums - talented musicians but clearly happy for Scattergood to take centre-stage and the limelight) joins her to launch into the second song 'I Hate the Way'. This is the arresting track that I heard on BBC6 a couple of weeks ago and was the first time in ages that I'd stopped to listen to a song right through and hear who the artist was at the end of it.

Scattergood's unusual vocals have touches of Tori Amos, with shades of Kate Bush and P J Harvey, and she sounds fragile and child-like, occasionally squealing and sometimes her voice breaking as if on the verge of sobs. Scattergood, unencumbered by an instrument, is very expressive and her lyrics are interesting, some surely the product of a troubled and imaginative mind that is at odds with her sweet and innocent looks. 'I Hate the Way', which is to be her new single, finishes with the line "My doctor says I've got to sing a happy tune". I defy anyone that hears that track a couple of times not to get a bit addicted.



The disturbing '24' appears to have sadomasochistic overtones, containing the memorable lines - "so bite my nails and tape my mouth, and pretend like life's so sickly sweet, you've got these bitter eyes, you've got these rotting teeth". One of the other highlights of the set is 'Please Don't Touch', a little bouncier and more light-hearted than the rest with a poppier, more accessible feel, though the lyrics are still intriguingly dark. Scattergood finishes with 'Nitrogen Pink' where the music sounds almost cheery, but the words speak of rotting memories, and life and death.

This is a short set but totally charming and absorbing. Scattergood is playing at various venues in London over the next few weeks, including the Luminaire in Kilburn on Wednesday where 50 signed copies of her new single will be given away. It's definitely worth catching Ms Scattergood near the start of what will certainly be a sharp upwards trajectory.



Set List:
I Am Strong
I Hate the Way
Other to Endless
24
Please Don't Touch
Untitled 27
Nitrogen Pink

FUTURE GIGS

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