Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7 ^½ / 10

There can be no doubting the utter class in Laura James’ voice when she sings as she simply radiates warmth and musical sincerity when she performs.

In Palm Sugar on a Sunday afternoon in which the wind had finally blown away the dark clouds that had got in the way to an extent of a tremendous Liverpool Pride the day before, the sound of Laura James’ voice carried out past the expensive decorative windows and out onto Chavasse Park. Looking out of one of the windows it was possible to see an elderly lady reminisce at the sound of Ms. James’ second set of the afternoon and see her fix on a point in time in which music carried all before it, in the days when numerous and in some cases insidious so called talent shows spat young gifted performers out or swallowed them in the hope of producing pound signs.

For Ms. James to tackle a set purely of covers might have been the only sticking point in the session at Palm Sugar, however what she played, she played with grace and tremendous aptitude. With the Cure’s Friday I’m In Love, Carole King’s and Gerry Goffin’s Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, the gorgeous Baby Can I Hold You by Tracy Chapman and the obligatory nod to The Beatles with All My Loving holding a spell over all inside Palm Sugar.

It was a pleasure to take in a voice and guitar that twanged at the heart strings and pushed the disheartening feel that normally comes with watching young performers covering sets entirely made out of covers. For Ms. James may have played them but there was a resonating ghost of gratification and sensuality that came tumbling out as each word was placed, almost lovingly, before the audience.

Sunday afternoons are meant to be a time in which you can spoil yourself to a bit of indulgence, for all inside Palm Sugar, that indulgence was keenly devoured and enjoyed.

Ian D. Hall