‘I’m chasing this bit of phlegm round my throat as I’m singing’ Josienne reveals during her set on a wet Wednesday night at Basingstoke Forge. She apologies at the top of the show that a cold has left her slightly off her game vocally. However her 90% is worth most other artists 110% and her voice has all the depth, emotion and purity that we’ve come to expect. Sniffles or no sniffles, we weren’t short-changed tonight.

Josienne released ‘Onliness (songs of solitude & singularity)’ reimagining, rearranging, reframing & reclaiming songs from her past in April of this year and tonight draws mostly from that album with a couple of brand new tracks from an album she has already recorded last month. ‘Most of them miserable’ she half jokes but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Never happier than when my melon is being collied.

For me her songs have a slight feeling of dark forbidden magic about them. Often invoking passing time, nature and the frailty of love all bound to a steely sense of righteousness. ‘The Tangled Tree’ lyric ‘Beautiful birds are not meant to be caged / You should have been true to your wings‘ meaning may have changed a little since it was first recorded but the imagery holds its magic. Her fresh take on ‘Two Sisters’ an ancient murder ballad, retitled ‘Dead Woman’s Bones’ about a man who creates a musical instrument from a skeleton he finds washed up on a shore yet the music it plays comes from her not him. ‘Any similarity to people living or dead etc’ she deadpans.

‘Fear Of Flying’ is one of the new tunes opening with a lovely couplet ‘Water hugs the harbour and its swelling like the flesh of a peach / Breathing like the belly of a baby softly lost in sleep’ driven by an undulating guitar refrain like the tide. Accompanying herself on acoustic & baritone guitar, the music has an intimacy that holds the room in rapt silent attention where often taking breath feels like it will break the spell. You physically and mentally lean in to try and take in every moment.

‘Bathed In Light’ and ‘Chicago’ both aimed at the music industry and the travails of the touring musician have a dark humour to them like her inbetween song chat. With the world imploding around our ears these past few weeks – this was a place of calm and yes, pleasant dark reflection aka misery to drown in. She plays Brighton & Ramsgate this week – treat yourself.

–Setlist —

Something Familiar
Super Recogniser
Ghost Light
Driving At Night
Fear Of Falling
It Would Not Be A Rose
Seconds
Homemade Heartache
Letter On A Page

The Tangled Tree
Anyone But Me
Season And Time
If I Didnt Mind
Walls & Hallways
Dead Woman’s Bones
Chicago
Bathed In Light
Silverline
Magic Somehow