Chad VanGaalen @ Captain's Rest, 27 Nov

Sometimes confusion on stage translates to an ear-pleasing, cacophonic blend of voices and instruments, other times it’s just confusion. Canadian foursome Women (**) are difficult to peg; the addition of Chad VanGaalen (who recorded their debut album) to their numbers tonight brings a synth edge to their prog rock leanings, which balances quite nicely at first. But more often than not, the band seems lost in their own creative ecstasy, forgetting they’re playing a rather intimate show. Unfortunately, the audience misses whatever wavelength Women are coasting on and are left behind wondering what the hell just happened.

Never underestimate a man with a banjo. Canadian singer-songwriter Chad VanGaalen (****), known for rewiring Casio keyboards to build his own instruments, wins the small crowd back to the point of transfixion. Plucking out melancholy songs like Willow Tree from his new album Soft Airplane, he is occasionally joined by members of Women on guitar and accordion. The atmosphere is enhanced by the microphone effect he uses which sends his ethereal voice echoing to the wistful corners of the mind and more practically throughout the small venue. But anything bigger would be unnecessary; VanGaalen could certainly captivate a larger audience, but the intimate setting is the perfect accompaniment for his laidback style.