Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Published on Wednesday 24 January 2007 01:01

ISOBEL CAMPBELL AND MARK LANEGAN ****

ABC, GLASGOW

ISOBEL Campbell's Mercury Music Prize-nominated album Ballad Of The Broken Seas was one of last year's most beguiling releases. Conceived by the former Belle & Sebastian singer/cellist Campebll as a collection of bittersweet duets, it featured gravelly vocals from Mark Lanegan, playing the Lee Hazlewood to her Nancy Sinatra.

This eagerly-anticipated gig placed the odd couple on stage together for the first time. In contrast with the many voluble musicians at Celtic Connections, they made a taciturn pairing. Campbell has never been a comfortable performer and appeared reluctant, grimacing at her own hesitancy. The granite Lanegan, who had combed his hair specially for their onstage date, almost smiled on a couple of occasions, but fought that urge.

Despite their lack of interaction, there was a natural vocal chemistry between the airy, pure Campbell and the brooding, sonorous Lanegan. He has spent most of his career singing in rock bands but his superb, atmospheric vocals here suggest that a long-term future as an elegantly flawed Tom Waits-style crooner awaits.

The album was replicated in near-perfect detail, with Campbell loosening up as the performance progressed. A cover of the Nancy & Lee standard Sand was appropriate, if obvious. In a way, both singers were outside of their comfort zones, so it was a blessing just to have them in the same room for this brief, precious time.