Snakefarm Spins Dark Web of Folk Songs

It wasn’t gangsta rap or thrash-metal, but Snakefarm’s performance on Saturday at Spaceland was all about hard-core murder and mayhem, as art-pop singer Anna Domino and her multi-instrumentalist husband, Michel Delory, put a trip-hop spin on traditional American folk songs.

After a false start due to technical difficulties, the 40-minute set featured selections from the duo’s debut album, “Songs From My Funeral,” which recalled everything from Portishead’s wispy detachment to Nick Cave’s similarly themed 1996 album “Murder Ballads.” Domino’s cool sensuality proved more immediate in concert, lending a subtle menace to the lullaby “Pretty Horses” and a resigned righteousness to “Frankie and Johnny.”

By keeping the tunes intact, rather than weaving lyrical snippets into larger sonic tapestries as Moby did with vintage folk and blues field recordings on his latest album, Snakefarm underscored the songs’ timeless themes while solving the all-too-common problem of making electronica into something more substantial than musical wallpaper.

Considering that the beats, bass, extra guitar work and other musical embellishments were all on tape, the performance was surprisingly engrossing, yet ultimately it seemed merely an interesting exercise. The lack of spontaneity kept Delory’s guitar playing and Domino’s singing from really shining, and the situation was only emphasized by the occasional appearance of additional musicians in the synchronized video behind them.