Joan As Policewoman @ The Liquid Room, 13 Dec

It's a bizarre sight to observe Joan Wasser work herself into a frenzy before appearing on stage, with a high pitched scream and a punch of the stage door before coming out to perform calm, plaintive, piano-only versions of To Be Lonely and To Be Loved. But then she's never hidden her Kate Bush-esque 'quirky' side; this performance does nothing to dispel that image. Backed only by bass and drums, with Joan herself flitting between keys and guitar, the orchestral arrangements of her latest release To Survive, and debut album Real Life are necessarily sacrificed. In doing so, it allows Wasser to bring to bear her prized asset, her wonderfully expressive, yet never laboured voice. Disappointingly, the set is cut short just as she prepares to launch into her new single, the superlative To America. But she makes up for it by closing with a tumultous version of Furious, neatly bringing the evening round full circle.[Wilbur Kane]