Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
One of the great successes of the last decade in the musical relationship between Liverpool, L.I.P.A. and the interestingly diverse culture of students that the city makes welcome every year is undoubtedly that that is the driving force of Science of the Lamps, Kaya Herstad Carney. One of the embodiments of Norwegian culture, of the tremendous ability to create atmospheric and delightful Nordic music which stands up to the heights of the story teller and the poetic nature of a people shrouded in the shadow of Northern Europe, Ms. Herstad Carney never sells herself or the audience short.
Even when away from the overwhelming abundance of musical talent that makes up Science of the Lamps, there is something very much of the special about her and the lyrical repose she employs and as the Be Lovely Day organised once more by another rare talent in She Beat was underway at Liverpool’s Brink, that passion, the dance of the Norwegian tale, was one in which was irresistible and beautiful to hear.
Music is one of the three great passions of Liverpool and when someone does one of them so well, with vigour, enthusiasm and a force that radiates round the room, no matter which venue or time of day, then the only thing the heart and soul can ever do is surrender to the moment, to allow those words free reign to muster and seep into every pore and the rear guard action of the guitar employed with devastating but simple effect, the time to bleed as it pounds each note in time like a beat poet in full flight.
When on stage as part of Science of the Lamps, the audience arguably doesn’t get to see Ms. Herstad Carney close up, the natural barrier that stands between performer and crowd, a gap that takes some of the energy away but as she played her way through her four song set, that vitality of life became more apparent, the strength and dynamic shift a piece of conjured magic in which to wallow with a smile etched upon the face; a moment of beautiful truth shining throughout the songs 27 Club, Scary Smile, the new track Love Gamble and a very superb cover of Kris Kristofferson’s Me and Bobby McGee, a spot of sunshine on the darkness that surrounds the January day.
There is nothing better than catching a performer on a lighter day but who still gives it their all, a towering presence whenever and wherever she goes, Kaya Herstad Carney is a true ambassador of one of the three personal graces of the city.
Ian D. Hall