Wednesday 05/11/03 Erin McKeown @ Academy, Manchester

Having just dashed over to get to the gig, I’m now feeling rather chuffed with a cold beer in my hand, smoky bonfire air wafting through the window and 'Pablo Honey' playing in the background. There is just enough time to scan the circus of people assembled before me and find some clues about tonight’s performer. It’s an interesting bunch. A lot of people here on their own: Students, a young family (complete with small child trying to attach itself to my shoe), lots of drunk old men at various stages of follicular challenge: ranging from a full head of pony-tailed grey hair to glaring bald shininess. Did this quite evident broad appeal point towards watered-down bland crapness? As if on cue, the lady herself stepped up.

The first thing to notice was the visual contradiction of chunky guitar strap and delicate powder blue floral dress on the diminutive figure of Erin McKeown. Then came THE voice... and what a voice it was! You know the tingle you get at the back of your neck? Well, the first few notes of 'What Kind Of Lover Am I?' sent pins and needles around my head, down my back and even into my feet. Wow.

The rollercoaster set flirted with pop, blues, folk, jazz and rock but ultimately gravitated back to its 1940’s-50’s core. 'The Taste Of You' in particular you could imagine playing in the background of a cafe in a soppy black and white film. Some songs if tackled by a lesser voice would have fallen into the "averagely pleasant" bracket but hers is a talent that could redeem the Spice Girl’s ‘Wannabe’. Coupled with absolute standout track 'A Better Wife', the effects were both melodic and mournful in equal measure. At points it became almost uncomfortable to listen to without getting the feeling that all your thoughts were displayed above your head in a cartoon bubble.

After the phenomenal voice (the effect of which never quite wears off), the other striking thing about McKeown was her tremendous wit and undercurrent of Gandalf-sized wisdom. Translated into the new album Grand, you have an intelligent, honest inspirational and wholesome collection of stripped back songs. So go on, give the Busted CD a rest and insert a little rustic roughage into your musical diet.