VANCOUVER SLEEP CLINIC delivers an outstanding performance at The Courtyard in London.

Tucked away in Hoxton’s The Courtyard Theatre last Thursday night, we were immersed into the divinely haunting sound of Vancouver Sleep Clinic. As tender vocals and beautifully gentle yet vivid arrangements filled the room, the crowd found themselves in an atmospheric state as the musical emotional journey took off.

Three piece MTNS opened the nights proceedings with some electronically driven raw tunes. Sharing some “New music that no one else has heard” displayed some exploration with the drums and vocal arrangements compared to older tracks like Fears. Showing more production driven approach is an exciting step but doesn’t shy away from the good foundations they have set.

Then Tim Bettinson aka Vancouver Sleep Clinic from sunny Brisbane, Australia graced us with his ever so slightly nervous and humble presence. Making the trek up to London to share new music since the vivid and enchanting debut EP, Winter, released two years ago.

Opening with a new track, it crashed over the crowd in a wave of sublime textures and sounds that Vancouver Sleep Clinic creates so well. After teasing the audience with this new taste he dove into the stunningly melandolic Vapour. Vocals immersive and expansive, combined with highly emotive lyrics continued song after song. Tender strings and paced drums were soothing, complimented by echoing vocals made a flawless execution.

As the set continued, this year’s first single Lung delivered breathtakingly and intricate melodies that you couldn’t help be immersed in. The Courtyard was the perfect location for this etherical moment and the set flowed into a velvety and substainical thought provoking experience. Seeing a cohesiveness in older and new releases VSC showcased a refined progression. Well constructed and beautifully produced pieces, shows this 18 year old is continuing to create stunningly arranged lullabys. Exploration in vocal effects and production will be shown in more releases to come in the new year.

Showing vulnerability in a distinct and raw point of view isn’t an attainable thing to acheive even by the most trained of artists. Yet Vancouver Sleep Clinic‘s delicate vocals and heavy hearted lyrics were perfectly translated on stage. The few lights enhanced the delicate and soothing tones.

In the second last song, Collapse, the musician didn’t fall short, and again the nurturing and soft guitars along side soothing drums complimented the heavy hearted tones.

The final and new track, Killing Me To Love You, left a sticking effect. Verses well paced then building and beating drums meet at the chorus with heavy hearted lyrics. With the sold out crowd singing along to the latest release it is a true indication that the connection made is going to be hard to break.

Overall the performance nurtured, seduced and captivated. The remarkable substance created by Vancouver Sleep Clinic was truely breathtaking.

Photos: Liz Stephens