Coracle floats the Corn Hall Boat

Posted on 7th May 2023

Accordionist Paul Hutchinson, multi-instrumentalist and singer Anna Tam, and clarinettist Karen Wimhurst are a pleasingly eccentric trio, bringing their disparate musical talents together to offer up a sound that is grounded in folk, yet clearly influenced by early music and contemporary classical. Obviously people that enjoy each other’s company, their performance proved to be a mix of excellent musicianship, good natured banter and mordant wit.

Drawing heavily from their recently released album, Murmuration, the gig opened with Swash,  a composition by Wimhurst. A swash, it was explained, is a kind of wave- aftershock, represented by the bellowing accordion, wtih Wimhurst’s evocative bass clarinet bringing to mind the work of Michael Nyman. Topped off by Tam’s nyckelharpa, it made for a characterful start to the evening. Thereafter, Anna Tam proved to be dexterous on all manner of obscure instruments –  the viola de gamba, hurdy gurdy and cello all got a look in, while her elegiac vocals injected new life into traditional works such as the Undaunted Female and Golden Glove. These songs were a delightful contrast to the equally engaging instrumental compositions, amongst which The Beast, Life in the Bus Land and True Lies Matter stood out.

In what was a heady mix of styles, I heard hints of Purcell, a Twickenham based Tango, moments of jazz, complex time signature and the influence of Vaughan Williams in their reworking of his Down Ampney and Greensleeves fantasia.  All in all, it made for an evening that was as involving as it was entertaining.  I am struggling to think of a fair comparison – the best I can do is the mix of minimalism and folk from the likes of Spiro – but in truth, the sound Coracle produced was uniquely their own, and all the better for it.