You can't dispute the fact that Heather Nova has a distinctive voice. The way she sustains the high notes during Island, well, it makes my spine tingle. It's no wonder her 1998 album was called Siren; I can picture her sitting alone on a shore, her haunting voice entrancing sailors, enticing their vessels onto the perilous rocks. (No, not the sound of an ambulance careering along North Street!) This was the sixth time I've seen her live and within the first couple of songs I knew it was going to be a special night. After her rather lacklustre acoustic tour to support her last album Storm, it was a welcome return for her full band, who added a powerful backing to her soaring vocals. There was also a surprise guest, with Heather's former cellist (Naomi) joining her onstage for a few old favourites. Everything about this gig was spot on - the voice, the band, the clarity of the sound, the lighting, and even the enthusiastic audience who were clearly enjoying the night every bit as much as I was. I have a confession to make; her rendition of Doubled Up from the Oyster album actually brought tears to my eyes - and that never happens to me. The 105 minute set consisted of tracks from her excellent new album Red Bird (a real return to form) and a good mixture of songs from her earlier releases. The only notable omission was Sugar, always a live favourite of mine, but that kinda summed up the evening - she left the audience craving more. An absolutely stunning performance.A few of us caught up with Heather out in the London rain after the gig and she was very obliging, talking to everyone in turn and signing items, despite the fact that baby Sebastian was nursing a cold and the tourbus was waiting to ferry them over to Brussels. The perfect end to a perfect evening.
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