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Jonathan Powell

20/07/2010

Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay, July 8
3/5

Fresh faced Cardiff singer songwriter joined on stage by mega selling pal Charlotte Church Whisper it quietly, but there’s something strange going on in Cardiff’s indie scene that could soon turn the Welsh capital’s notoriously cliquey musical coterie on its head.

Twenty-three-year-old Cardiff-based singer songwriter Jonathan Powell has been building a steady reputation since last year’s debut album Forgive This Day. The classically trained musician has been developing a niche for keen-eyed folk songs blessed with thoughtful string arrangements and a penchant for lovelorn lyrics.

His growing confidence more than ensures he’s able to stand his own two feet – something that makes his collaborative venture with the high profile Charlotte Church all the more eye opening.

Tonight’s intimate gig kicks off with winsome support from fellow Cardiff solo artist Tomos Lewis, who mines lilting folk melodies similar to Irish balladeer Damien Rice. The amiable singer’s voice soars on these introspective tunes, warming up the crowd nicely for the main act.
Opening with a five-piece band and string quartet, Powell launches into the polka-esque rhythms of ‘Unforgiven Days’.  Early on, Powell’s precocious talent for string arranging already seeps through much of this chamber pop-influenced work.

The nimble guitar playing of ‘Nicole’ and the celestial ‘Twilight Boy’ are among his finest tunes. But a needless cover of Joy Division’s death disco classic ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ shows he’s still maybe a few songs short of avoiding mid-set filler.

She’s been otherwise sat barefooted and cross legged on the floor near the stage all evening, but Charlotte Church has a big part to play in tonight’s success. Church and Powell apparently met when he was working behind the bar at Cardiff’s Robin Hood pub, which her family used to own.

Demo tapes were swapped and a mutual musical interest was sparked. The first fruits of this unlikely but alchemic venture are previewed tonight when Church joins Powell for a trio of songs.

Beginning with a cover of Sonny Bono’s ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)’, Church’s husky tones give way to a soaring vocal performance midway through. But it’s the next two songs that raise the bar.

Forthcoming single ‘Logical World’ is a foot to the floor guitar stomper with mighty power chords, while the relationship break up weepy ‘Snow’ finds the singer wondering “is there life beneath the snow”?

As tasters go, it’s a tantalizing one. Whether these works in progress are a reliable pointer to “our Char’s” new musical direction or not, “indie Charlotte’s” new vision is, on this evidence at least, beguiling enough to win her some new admirers.

As for Powell’s own career, it’s been too long since Cardiff has produced a breakthrough solo artist worthy of the name. But he might just have the mettle to do it. To borrow a phrase from a current Labour leadership candidate, if not him, who? And if not now, when?

Alex Donohue




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