LIVE REVIEW: FLORENCE SOMMERVILLE - ENDLESS HORIZONS ALBUM LAUNCH WITH LAURA BECKWITH - THE SOUND LOUNGE

Each time #TEAMw21 walk into the Sound Lounge, we are instantly reminded of just what a wonderful enterprise it is. Firstly of course, a venue, with a nice stage, great sound and offering clear sight of view for all patrons. Not only that but offering a fine range of food and a record shop to boot! It is an absolute gem of an establishment, bringing quality live entertainment South of the river, which by comparison to the North is poorly served. It is a credit to the community and surrounding area and a template for how small businesses can help to make a difference in these most challenging of times.

Tonight it is the album launch of "Endless Horizons", the debut collection from Florence Sommerville, however first to entertain us is Laura Beckwith. Last spotted at Buckle & Boots where she was one of the artists who really grabbed their opportunity, Laura is a fast rising talent with a keen observational eye, able to deliver lyrics that stay with you long after she has finished performing. She may be petite in stature, as Florence will later demonstrate by having to raise the microphone some way, however she is full to the brim with enthusiasm and talent.

Taking to the stage, in her white cowboy boots, she would open with her 2021 single, "Hurt Me Too", a different type of break up song, with Laura wanting to find a reason to break up - it comes with the immortal line "loving you is insufferable!". All wrapped up in a delightful melody.

Turning to a more purposeful strum "Unlearn", Laura's recent single is a piano ballad, so hearing it on guitar was something different, yet still it generated the required intensity - and who could not feel for Laura as she sings "You told me I was too much to manage". If anything, this version conveyed the feeling being felt more, with Laura reliving each line as she sang it.

"Sick Of The Movies" once more demonstrated Laura's ability to conjure a melody, whether it be the rising one that charms the verses or the chorus that feels like we should all know it and be singing along, it is such an ear worm.

A new song "Traces Of You" showed why Laura is garnering such interest at the moment. This was only its second outing but already it has the makings of something special with it's levels of observation. Slower in pace, this was a country classic in the making ,with a killer pay off line in the chorus.

From a future gem to one already released this year, lifting the mood with "Not Used To This", another song making the transition from piano to guitar for a live rendition, which seemed to result in a slightly faster version. A rare happy country song it was now bouncy to match the sentiments of the song.

A cover of the seemingly ever present "Bar Song Tipsy" made for an interesting change before it was back to the originals for "Hit and Run". The uptempo sound may have continued but the lyrics of

"I hate you I hate you for this "

were more downbeat as Laura lamented

"Everything we could have been".

A surprising cover of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" was right in line with Sound Lounge philosophy - even if Laura didn't allow for inflation for the admission of entry to see the trees in the "Tree museum" - I guess she's not been to Kew! Let's hope the immortal line "You don't know what you've got till it's gone" doesn't come to pass for our fantastic surroundings.

The uptempo songs continued with "Everlasting" with Laura pleading "Promise you won't let me down" before her time with us closed with "Growing Pains" - where an audience singalong practice brought a huge smile to her face.

It was a fabulous start to the evening and with Laura keeping her new single up her non existent sleeve for the time being - the future looks nothing but bright.

Hearing the older songs re-imagined, and the strength of recent and forthcoming songs suggests that Laura has now found the perfect medium for her material and that will surely yield great results.

Having only previously seen Laura with a band it would prove to be the reverse for Florence Sommerville, as this was our first sighting of her with a band. The whole night there was a visible smile wrapped across her face, just hearing her songs fully realised, she would visibly get a little lift as each guitar solo, or prominent pedal steel piece came to pass. There did at times seem to be a few nervous glances between band members, but they pulled off a formidable night without incident and will only get better the more outings they get.

It would be the mid paced shuffle of "Broken Pieces" that would kick things off, the band immediately making their presence felt, with the live sound really enhanced by the pedal steel and the backing vocals. Florence in her floral print was as ever, our most charming of hosts.

One interesting thing that transferred from Florence's solo shows into her band shows was her habit of making her introductions, while playing the song she is about to play, except now it was the band providing the backing. The escapist "California" was a song that immediately benefited form the full band sound, with the electric guitar making its presence felt much to Florence's obvious joy. it is the song that gives the album it's title and simply sounded majestic.

#TEAMw21 have always liked "Overton" since initially hearing it, it is an album highlight as Florence invokes the spirit of Nanci Griffith. This was possibly one of the songs where the band failed to quite capture the spirit of the recorded version however that is probably more to do with trying to match perfection.

For "Boots In The Rain", Florence pulled out one of her effortless vocals that was so effective you almost forgot the band were present. Another song that has found its strength in a recorded format, is "Silly Little Things". It was always strong but now has an extra assuredness about it, and with additional vocals in the live environment it seems imperious.

At this point, the band would leave the stage and it was back to business as usual with Florence playing solo. Starting with "Forget The Water", Florence was really able to wrap her vocal around the melody of what is actually a quite dark song. Her slightly slowed version of "Landslide" was enough to raise it from a myriad of lazy covers that seem to crop up at any festival. "Love Me Then", the song that appears in two versions on the cd version of the album followed, interestingly Florence opted to go with the solo version.

The band return for a new song "Through The Embers", dramatic from the off, there was much to absorb and a big power chorus.

An engaging part of Florence's solo act has always been her unique, country version of "Sweet Child Of Mine" - it is one of the cd's bonus tracks. The band version with it's hillbilly romp section was maybe less endearing.

The show was by now entering towards its climax, the atmosphere of "Molasses", was faithfully recreated, the band, muted by comparison to the rest of the evening let Florence shine, and her vocals duly shone during the passionate pleading section of the song, through to the finale. There is a lot for people to discover in that track - it truly rewards.

One of Florence's songs, "Where The Love Grows", about her home, has been adopted by her village to fight an intrusive development, that threatens all that she so eloquently writes about. The main set would close out with "I'll Be Your Best Broken Heart", which saw the band possibly improve on the recorded version, something not unnoticed by Florence.

There was time for one last song, a song that is one of the quintessential reasons that Florence is such a force to be reckoned with, "Cut & Run". Lyrically strong, with a soaring powerful chorus that cannot be forgotten, once heard - and with the band providing backing vocals, this was the undoubted highlight of the evening.

An excellent evening all round from venue and performers alike - consider "Endless Horizons" well and truly launched.