Laura J Martin @ The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Laura J Martin began her musical career playing with hip hop artist Kidkanevil before branching out on her own with what is essentially a one-woman band: all written, played and produced by Laura herself using a variety of instruments, including flute, mandolin, keyboards and xylophone, all brought together live using a loop station.

Tonight, Laura has attracted a full and excitable audience for her album launch night at the Brudenell, a venue that ten years ago was still a very traditional working man’s social club, with cabaret singers, karaoke and bingo being the usual evening’s entertainment. These days, the venue has become famous locally for its old-fashioned charm and regular gigs covering a variety of alternative genres.

Laura begins by looping stark beats and flute before gradually building up layers of loops on her station, growing louder and more atmospheric whilst the screen behind her shows animations and film clips so that the Brudenell is transformed into what feels like a magical land.

The crowd, partly standing, partly seated on the floor in front of the stage, relaxed and transfixed, cheers with great energy after each song, feeling emerged in Laura’s enchanting world.  As she launches in to second song, ‘Jessie’, she remarks in a deadpan tone, “This is an ode to those who kill for money.”  Joined here by a drummer, Laura takes to her keyboards and sings in her sweet voice, reminiscent of Kate Bush.

Through much of the set, Laura welcomes to the stage support duo Richard James  (formerly of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci) and The Greater Good, commenting that she’s not used to performing with a real life musician instead of her loop machine. The result certainly works though, with the added harmonies of Richard’s voice creating a new layer to her musical style.

Laura’s wit and irresistible personality continue as she introduces ‘Fire Hose’ saying, “this next song should warm you up: it’s about an arsonist.”  Her lyrics range from relating real-life stories (this song began with her experience of an arson attack on her flat whilst living in Japan) to folklore and familiar references with her own twist, (“All for one and one for all.  Who is the most selfish of them all?”) all accompanied by simple melodies and brilliant skill as she goes seamlessly from playing one instrument to another.

“I’m bloody chuffed you all came by the way”, Laura tells us before launching into her last official song of the set, the slightly tribal-inspired ‘Salamander’.  After being cheered back to the stage for a final performance, Laura duets with Richard on their co-written track ’Never say goodbye’, a romantic ballad comically interrupted by Richard forgetting the words and being chastised by Laura: “I think we’ve lost the moment now, Richard,” she remarks.  It just makes the crowd warm to them even more before Laura performs her final solo piece for the night, a cover of Kathy Smith’s folk classic ‘It Takes So Long”.

Carrie Beth

Laura’s debut album, The Hangman Tree, is out on 23 January

She’s playing on Monday 23 Jan at Rough Trade Records in London.

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