ST GILES' tranquil retreat, a stone's throw from the bustling West End, is the perfect spot for Mountain Man. Far from the fearless survivor their moniker suggests, in constant dang

MOUNTAIN MAN, St Giles-In-The-Fields Church, St Giles High St, WC2

ST GILES' tranquil retreat, a stone's throw from the bustling West End, is the perfect spot for Mountain Man.

Far from the fearless survivor their moniker suggests, in constant danger of starvation, dehydration, wild animals and the freezing night cold, this female trio prove themselves a dreamlike antidote to such rigours.

"This is like Sunday school!" beams one, jumping up and down as the audience gather around their bare feet, before they slip into a sweet set of a capella melodies, backed just occasionally by finger-picked acoustic guitar.

Their saintly harmonies are often spine-tingling, the music and as old as the hills, and their sensibly-set hair, long dresses and make-up-free faces ooze a rarely-seen, genuine innocence.

Far from sounding threadbare, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig's acoustic guitar is bolstered with inventive use of Molly Sarle and Amelia Meath's voices as instruments, sharp intakes of breath, a tapped foot, and wordless singing.

Nature and love are lyrical touchstones, all brought to expressive, yet delicate life, coupled with a wide-eyed enthusiasm that made for a sparing, yet intoxicating, experience.

- STEPHEN MOORE