16 February 2016 (gig)
17 February 2016
Not far from me during this gig, I hear the repeated refrain of "What a voice." And they are right. Mind you the songs aren't too bad either. For someone near the start of her career, Norma Jean Martine's already got half a dozen tunes people much further along the road would kill for. She starts with Hang My Hat which wouldn't be out of place as the theme to a sparse nordic noir TV detective show then moves onto I Want You To Want Me.
Throughout her set her clear voice comes out powerfully on top of the drums and rhythm guitar, like Adele but grittier. A delicate and beautiful Welcome Stranger is a highlight, before she heads for home with Only In My Mind. The encore was the highlight of the night. A pained and truthful I Will Never Love You Again. There's plenty of, "Ooh this one sounds like..." with Norma Jean, but once you've got through Adele, Norah Jones, and Duffy, you realise what she sounds like is herself.
She's more raw and full of life than the people you'd compare her to. Unlike those others mentioned, Martine would be no good for a dinner party. You would have stop talking to listen.
Review thanks to Sam Quentin.
