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Amy Duncan

Venue: Summerhall
Town: Edinburgh
Date: 16/8/14
Website: http://amyduncan.co.uk

The Demonstration Room at Summerhall provided a suitably intimate setting for three prestigious 'Made in Scotland' showcase concerts by Amy Duncan. These gigs provided an opportunity for Amy to preview the songs from her forthcoming fifth album, "Undercurrents", accompanied by a string trio, harp and double bass.

Amy Duncan took to the piano for the first two songs of the evening, which included the lyrical and evocative "Silver Net". A number of outstanding guitar-led songs followed, including "Fragile From The Storm"; "Guardian Angel"; "Undercurrents"; "The Good Life"; and "Constant Without Me". Returning to the piano, Amy performed another impressive new song, "Lights In Houses" and an old favourite, "Clouds" (from her 2007 album, "Story Of A Girl"). Amy's last album, 2013's outstanding "Cycles Of Life", was represented by the sweeping and majestic "When The Dead Are Watching".

Amy Duncan was in quietly commanding form throughout, demonstrating the full range of her considerable vocal talents in delivering her moving and profound lyrics. Her mesmerising musical arrangments were brought to life in stunning fashion by the flowing strings, intricate harp and sparkling flourishes of double bass.

This performance underlined Amy Duncan's growing stature as a singer-songwriter of real quality. Recording of her new album "Undercurrents" was due to begin soon after this series of gigs and I, for one, will be pre-ordering it at the first opportunity.

David Ferguson