18 October 2024 (gig)
12 h
Bill Ryder-Jones' show at the Barbican, following his earlier appearance this year supporting Beth Gibbons, was a captivating and deeply emotional experience. Unlike the intimate setup of that previous gig with just his cellist Ev, this performance was the full production, delivering on all fronts with both intimacy and grandeur. It was a show that proved Ryder-Jones' ability as a solo artist, just under 10 years since The Coral’s last live appearance.
The concert comes hot on the heels of his UK & Ireland tour with Gruff Rhys, a collaboration that has sparked intrigue among fans. Their recent session at End of the Road festival provided a glimpse of the chemistry between the two musicians, and that creative energy seemed to carry over into this solo performance.
At the heart of the show was Iechyd Da, Ryder-Jones' fifth album, released earlier this year to critical acclaim (though it was unfairly overlooked for a Mercury Prize nomination). The album explores themes of love, loss, and heartache, yet, as Ryder-Jones himself has noted, it’s a record infused with a sense of hope. This duality was ever-present during the concert. Tracks like "…And the Sea…" – featuring a reading of Ulysses by Mick Head – and the haunting “I Know That It’s Like This (Baby),” which samples Brazilian legend Gal Costa, were performed with a cinematic expansiveness that felt both grand and deeply personal.
These intricately crafted songs translated perfectly live in the Barbican, which proved the perfect setting for the introspection required to fully connect with the heavy themes. During each song, not so much as a whisper could be heard from the audience, but judging by the rapturous applause- their silence was out of respect not indifference.
Whilst there was little in the way of stage presence, and no encore, for fans of Ryder-Jones, this concert was a beautiful way to celebrate what has undoubtedly been a transformative year for him as an artist. Four stars.
