LIVE REVIEW: ANGEL SNOW - THE WORKSHOP CAFE - OXFORD

#TEAMw21 love nothing more than a quirky venue and the Workshop Cafe, certainly falls into that category. On entrance all of the usual chairs and tables one would expect to find have been removed, there's a small drum kit to the left and an open display cupboard full of random things like a polystyrene head or a tambourine. There's a free standing light with a purple wig hanging from it. The right hand side of the room has a variety of plant life. There is a selection of various chairs and sofas with cushions on the floor for the more nimble or late arriving attendees. It has been a foul day weather wise with torrential rain falling all day but the mood in the cafe is upbeat awaiting the arrival of Angel Snow.

It's been a while since we last saw Angel who let's not forget did grace the stages of C2C alongside sell out dates at the Green Note and Little Rabbit Barn. This show was definitely most different, as if felt that we were not just entertained, but that we shared an experience and got to find out lots about Angel that came as a total surprise.

The whole tour luckily came to our attention via Angel's excellent new single "Midnight Sun" and attending would be one of our best decisions of the year. She entered the Cafe during a short support set, with the grace of a film star, sporting a cream dress that could easily make you feel that she had been nominated for an Oscar!

As she took to the stage, Angel reflected on past trips, of visiting the Oxford Libraries with Elles Bailey. Playing as a trio, Joe Wilkins provides additional support on guitar, and in Matt Brown, quite possibly the quietest percussionist ever - it will all go to make the most special evening. Playing with her 80 year old guitar, Angel would open with "Coals and Water", the acoustic refrain of her guitar supported by electric guitar flourishes and the gentlest of shimmering cymbals. Immediately painting a picture, with her super smooth voice wrapping itself around a rich tapestry of lyrics, Angel created a world and invited us in, something we were more than happy to do. There was a wonderful atmosphere created and Angel gave off a broad smile on completion.

The intro to "Secret" would see Angel open with soulful "Ooohs", the band would gradually build up their volume throughout. Angel would have a certain timbre as she sung "Got a secret" that gave a real air of mystery. The title track of her "Magnetic" album followed, Angel's voice almost effortlessly floating over the accompanying band. The band would once more increase in volume as the song progressed, the second half turning what had been an almost ethereal tune into a bit of a rocker over which Angel now soared! From the same album came "Let You Down", another slice of atmosphere, with Angel singing "I'll never let you down". Another moving line came as she repeatedly pleaded "I'd take a bullet, if you asked me to! Angel would declare "I'm so happy here - I love the intimacy" before launching into the latest single "Midnight Sun". Once more a combination of Angel's guitar matched to shimmering cymbals and additional guitar flourishes displayed a rich musicality that perfectly fitted Angel's vocals and drew appreciative "Yeahs" from the crowd who all went on the same three minute journey of discovery.

"Window Seat" was revealed to be written in the UK, just at a time she was going through a break up, the percussion had a slow metronome effect, and the combined guitars once more worked to great effect to create an overall dreamy soundscape that was a thing of beauty. The song "Arrows" from the EP of the same name, had a slower hypnotic feel as Angel's vocals took on a deeper, huskier tone, on this slow burner of a tune.

In a somewhat unusual moment, the show stopped while the band ordered their drinks, and after a short break things resumed with "Low". From a slow acoustic opening, it would develop into a pure pop song, with a prominent electric guitar line. Angel would step back from the microphone as the signal for the song to end. Angel revealed that she now lives in Georgia and works with women who were formerly incarcerated, "I Need You" touched on the addictions that is an issue they can come with.

In a show of many highs, the next two songs were quintessential Angel, "I Miss You", a straight up love song, while "Lie Awake" the song that was later picked up by Allison Krauss, and opened up many doors for Angel just as she was contemplating moving to South Korea to teach English! sounded as perfect as the very first time we heard it - a moment of pure perfection. The set would close with a Tom Waits cover, "Hold On" from "Mule Variations" during which Angel would just hold her guitar at times, while she concentrated on the vocal.

Naturally there was an encore, following up "Hold On" with "Holding On" which was in many ways a summation of the evening, sympathetic percussion, atmospheric guitars and the voice of an Angel combining to great effect.