Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There is a sadness that dwells within us all, a sense of melancholy that resides in our hearts, tucked away perhaps in a corner, being fed by the past, being ignored by the future; it is in this sense of sadness that joy can arise, that a set of songs that may have influenced you, arguably could have thrilled you, can dispel the gloom, and make you believe, despite it all, that the prospect of covering preceding work can bind you to all your own tomorrows.

If there is a sadness in us then it must not be cowed, cajoled or allowed to simply disappear, sadness can be beneficial, it allows art to be seen in a different light, it appears like a halo, and shines just as bright as overwhelming joy but it is at least more sincere, more honest and open, it is a truth that is inescapable and Immortal.

The only trouble with sincerity is, is the demands it makes on the soul, you end up pushing a part of life away as you search for a new meaning, a way of expressing yourself, and you soon come to realise that truth and art may achieve some kind of statuesque immortality, but the artist fades, becoming a footnote to the creations inspired.

For Ann Wilson, one of the finest Folk and Rock vocalists to ever have graced the stage, being Immortal is perhaps not the point but recognising the illustrious, saluting the eternal, is. It is in the covering of songs by those who have recently left us, those musical artists to whom the world has mourned, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Leonard Cohen, Chris Cornell, the superb Lesley Gore, Amy Winehouse, Gerry Raferty, George Michael, Jack Bruce and Tom Petty, that Ann Wilson goes on record as having been moved and touched by the sincerity in these geniuses mind and hearts.

Whilst the listener or fan of Ann Wilson may have preferred a new collection of songs to while away the day with, the subtle tones and lyrical hints of her own view of the wider world and her personal trials and tribulations, in covering songs such as You Don’t Own Me, I’m Afraid of Americans, Life In The Fast Lane, A Different Corner and Baker Street, and her in her own indomitable style, Ms. Wilson weaves a celebration, an acknowledgement that is natural, earnest and authentically beautiful.

Being personally Immortal is not the point, finding a way to thank others with candour, even if they may have left us behind, is the ideal to strive for, and one in which Ann Wilson does superbly.

Ian D. Hall