Gabriella Cohen – Sever The Walls

There was a big vibe on Gabriella Cohen at Brisbane’s Bigsound music conference in September this year. I’d seen a clip of one of her songs prior to the conference and wasn’t overly excited, but like any passionate music fan I’m always on the lookout for a new sensation. Gabriella’s gig during the conference was a knockout, such a different vibe from the solo acoustic song I’d previously seen online. That small performance space at the Foundry was packed out and the vibe was palpable – the room was alive!

Gabriella Cohen’s voice drifts by you on a dreamy drawl, it’s almost as if it’s devoid of emotion and yet there’s something about it that’s magnetic. The original song I’d seen/heard didn’t really carry that vibe on screen, but in concert with an amazing band behind her – that was something completely different. That gig sounded like Lee Hazlewood and Mazzy Star had got it on at Pink Floyd psychedelic happening in the late 60’s.

I suspect because the visual medium hasn’t succeeded in translating that same level of excitement is why Gabriella Cohen hasn’t broken through in a big way yet, but once word of mouth gains momentum it will be a very different story. Gabriella has just wrapped up some key UK appearances and is about to embark on a selection of North American gigs, so that vibe could grow very quickly. Those dates are listed below, along with her Australian summer shows.

Sever The Walls is taken from her debut album Full Closure And No Details and is the closest clip I’ve found on the web that captures the spirit of that live performance back in September.