KATE McGARRIGLE

I'd like to add my belated voice to those marking with great sadness the death of Kate McGarrigle. She was born February 6, 1946 and died this January 18. The McGarrigles' first album was one of those rare records that seemed to come out of nowhere, fully formed and radiantly beautiful, making the listener ache with nostalgia as much for things never experienced as for personal loss. The only sound theirs reminded me of was the young Maria Muldaur's on the exquisite track 'Cool River' from her Waitress in a Donut Shop album.

I saw the McGarrigles in concert in London once, in the 1970s, in a comparatively small theatre, perhaps in Victoria. It was the most shambolic concert I've ever seen by professional performers. Which, considering the number of "loose" Bob Dylan concerts I've seen, is saying something. Kate & Anna were wandering about, dithering not just about what number they might have a go at next, but which instrument they might use, which area of the stage to occupy (though "occupy" is a strong word for it) and whether to talk to the audience, the band or each other.

Didn't spoil the records, though - which at that point were just that incomparable debut album Kate & Anna McGarrigle and the more faltering but still terrific Dancer With Bruised Knees.

Here's a sample performance from the recent Transatlantic Sessions shown on BBC4 TV. (NB: like Joni, Neil & Leonard, the McGarrigles are not American but Canadian.)