It took a confident man to leave a Mercury Music Prize
nominated group and that’s exactly what Nick Mulvey was as he walked onto the
stage at Proud in faded jeans, sweatshirt and backwards cap. Having left
Portico Quartet where he played percussion, Mulvey set out on his own and has
already supported Laura Marling and Lianne La Havas.
Part of his charm was his obvious influences from his exploration
of African music, with his vocal delivery and melodies having a very West
African feel about them that suited the dreamy tone to his voice, especially
when he hummed, which he did in most songs. His song writing had more of a 70’s
vibe, a Jackson Browne and James Taylor quality. He fused this with an eclectic
and technical approach to guitar playing, although at times it felt like the
guitar solos went on for just a touch too long.
His musical aptitude was showcased on a deconstructed
version of Donna Summers ‘I feel love’, which wasn’t the only surprise cover as
‘You’re Not Alone’ by Olive also got the Mulvey treatment of taking a well
known song and bending it in a way so it could easily have been one he had
written.
