Coal Exchange, Cardiff Bay, Fri 18 Nov.
words GARETH LUDKIN
photos WWW.RICHARDDAVIESPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK
With the return of Soundtrack – Cardiff’s very own film and music festival – a unique opportunity arose to see the Guillemots perform a one-off improvised re-score of the 1926 silent film, Faust, at the wonderfully historic and richly atmospheric Coal Exchange in Cardiff Bay.
Coming together through a passion for improvisation, the Guillemots, who have previously composed similar re-scores at music festivals around the country, appeared immediately at home as Faust began on the large screen behind them. Working together to complement each other throughout, there seemed an easy symmetry cast between each member of the band as they moved through the motions of the engrossing film.
For some Guillemots fans, arriving at the Coal Exchange to find that the band would not in fact be performing a normal set, was a surprise that led a few to leave before the second half. However, for those who had read the posters, a bewitching live performance was the reward. From Aristazabal’s double bass to Greig’s sparse percussion, Guillemots delivered an intricately layered performance filled with warmth, bass and subtlety.
Directed by F.W. Marnau in 1926, Faust sits along cinematic classics such as Metropolis at the heart of the history of cinema, and to see such a pioneering film brought to life with such a brooding and intense score from the Guillemots’ was a real treat.
After what was an engrossing 100 minutes of musical exploration, the band thanked the crowd for sticking with them before offering the chance to watch an acoustic live performance from lead singer Fyfe and drummer Greig in the corner of the bar. A fantastic and very intimate end to the evening, Fyfe and Greig took suggestions from the crowd, playing some of their popular classics alongside a few personal favourites. Fyfe’s fantastic voice echoed through a bar full with fans eagerly anticipating a potential return visit next year.