“I thought I was someone else
Someone good”

House lights dim: but the stage remains ominously empty. Absent from the stage, Anohni appears on screen. Colourful projections of her are overlaid against a sombre black backdrop. She questions the state of humanity from her own position: Self-described as a “place of resource”. That when humankind thought itself “above nature” it wrought the most damage to it. Colonisation through religion being a prime example of this. The piece entitled “Benazir” was produced for the Forum Biodiversitie, but is neither proselytising nor preaching. It is simply a sober reminder that we could do better for the world. Her delivery is like that of a wise oracle. It feels cleansing before the show begins.

She emerges dead centre stage, garbed in black, with a semi-circle of five musicians around her. A single rail of iridescent light splits her vertically, making it seem like the light emanates from her directly. There is a hushed reverence as the Velvet Underground’s “Jesus” comes in with its woozy pitter patter before going to “Coney Island Baby”.

As the opening piano of “Perfect Day” begins, the energy shifts. The set gains in power. Whilst the arrangement from her band is faithful to the original. The power of Anohni is such though that her voice leans into the beauty of the song with a fluttering delicacy. No one can imitate Lou’s sardonic, and world worn delivery and there is no point in even trying to replicate that. This version has gained in confidence and space since Anohni first covered it for Lou’s “The Raven”. Both are good, but this has grown in beauty through the experience Anohni has lived along the way.

Another aspect that elevates the night is between songs, Anohni gives her experience of being Lou being of of her best friends. It began when “Lou’s people” got in touch with her to contribute to “The Raven”. They warned her that if Lou did not like her performance in the studio then he would probably just leave the booth without introducing himself. She laughs generously that she didn’t mind. She did not start their friendship as a fan. Laurie Anderson she would have been impressed with. Growing up in the 80’s it was all about synths. Lou and his guitar sound may as well have been…Aerosmith to her. After this Lou became one of her biggest initial champions – after David Tibet of Current 93. Through all this it does feel like Lou himself is in the room. She can summon him through memory as well as song.