words: Paulo Carmona (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Nuno Lopes
Noiserv is a brilliant project, conceived by a brilliant artist gifted with an unusual, multifaceted creative capacity.
David Santos, the driving force and sole member of the project, is a talented multi-instrumentalist who manages to capture an audience’s full attention, despite barely being able to move, far too occupied playing instruments, recording, sequencing, and performing all at once, offering his audience live music that almost always grows in dynamic range until it reaches its melodic peak.
Sala Suggia of Casa da Música, though not sold out, was very respectably filled to welcome Noiserv, and David delivered exactly what was expected, or even more.
The concert revolved around his new album, 7305, the artist’s fifth full-length record. Another remarkable work whose spacious, contemplative sound carries us into landscapes with the atmosphere of a northern lights sky.
All one had to do was close one’s eyes and let the sound take us anywhere. Long Journey and Resumidamente opened the way for older pieces such as The Sad Story Of a Little Town and Don’t Say Hi, If You Don’t Have Time For A Nice Goodbye. The set list moved fluidly between tracks from the new album and selections from earlier periods.
Special note must go to A Self-Conversation Is To Loud For An Empty Room, singular and unsettling in its beauty, performed entirely on acoustic guitar.
Noiserv also presented tracks featuring collaborations with A Garota Não (Cátia Oliveira) and Milhanas, the latter appearing onstage to perform A Casa das Rodas Quadradas, where their two voices intertwined in perfect synergy. The staging and lighting were superb, fully worthy of that iconic Porto hall.
It was a warm, celebratory evening, not least because David is an excellent storyteller with a wonderful sense of humour. We all left happy.
Mondo Bizarre Magazine 