Gig review: Mindy Smith, Glasgow
Mindy Smith
St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow
* * *
Parton herself subsequently contributed backing vocals to the version featured on Smith’s stunning 2004 debut album, One Moment More, in return tribute to the younger singer’s feat of re-infusing the song with all its original, nakedly abject desperation.
Nearly a decade later, with her self-titled fifth album – and first self-release – just out, Smith chose to open here with that same breakthrough hit, but in a slower, almost languid rendition that lacked the searing intensity of first time around. This proved sadly symptomatic of the show as a whole, largely thanks to the combined effects of the venue’s echo-heavy acoustic – never the friendliest to electric guitar and drums, which comprised Smith’s backing line-up – and a blurry sound mix which failed to foreground her delectable vocals sufficiently.
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Hide AdThus while it was possible to appreciate her outstanding timbre and range – shading from limpid, radiant purity to commanding raw steel – the vividly etched lyrics with which these qualities go hand in hand were substantially unintelligible.
There were a few welcome exceptions, when she sang simply solo, but the frustration was exacerbated by the evident quality – blunted though it was on this occasion – of several tracks from the new album.