Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

People tend to confuse themselves sometimes, the Universe is spectacular like that, believing that to be the best requires the finest of everything, the largest venue perhaps, the abundance of both food and drink on tap, and in this day and age either all for nothing or they are willing to brag about in the Netherspehere of social media that they paid thousands of pounds to a tout outside and that makes the evening perfect.

Whilst perhaps there is no argument when it comes to the best venues, most people would not turn down the opportunity to see their favourite recording artist live at say The Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert or the Vienna Opera House, sometimes just a room full of people and a musician who smiles with absolute sincerity can blow the Royal Albert Hall into the Thames and see it sink below a tidal wave of envy and over priced goodwill.

To host an album launch in Leaf on Bold Street, an intimate setting, one that sits perfectly for a musician of cherished renown, works wonders for the general atmosphere of the area, and on a night when there truly was an abundance of music going on in the city, ranging from the ever impressive Alan O’ Hare’s Only Child at Magnet through to the outstanding Hegarty at Studio 2, to find yourself in the company of Roxanne De Bastion on arguably the most unspoiled Liverpool nights was to know that the venue does not have to be grand, the audience does not need to have spent a couple of hundred pounds in an exercise of looking cool, this was just an outstanding woman creating the most magical of evenings possible.

With Ms. de Bastion having already had two outstanding support acts pave the way for her set, the dynamic voice of Thom Morecroft and Catalan’s Anaïs Vila, the scene as ever in such moments that Time sees fit to let you sneak a peek through the window of pleasure, was made a night of cool, of smiles, of the unexpected brilliance in a cover and for an album launch which was just divine.

Armed with three musicians by her side, the graceful Patrick Pearson, Tim Langsford and Stuart Irwin, the first public showing of the album Heirlooms and Hearsay in Liverpool was one of great satisfaction and enjoyment.

With the songs Within and Some Kind of Creature setting the pace, what followed was heart jolting and impressive, the sense of Bold Street coming to a standstill as each song was played, ever present in the mind. With Thicker Skin, the gorgeous Train Tracks with its personal overtones and a truly remarkable, dare it be said even more alluring than the original, version of Outkast’s Hey Ya! making an appearance in an already beautiful night, Time not only allowed the visitor a peek through the windows, it opened the door and bade it welcome; this was arguably a night of high performance and one which no doubt would have fed up the hill to Magnet and across to Studio 2 as the eternal triangle of music which makes the city the true home of art, was rampant and brilliant.

Ian D. Hall