Singer with a social message

Entering to a heroine's welcome, Tracy Chapman's self-effacement was all the more apt in the circumstances. Throughout a soothing 90 minutes she sang songs of social injustice, racial disharmony, optimism in the face of desperation, and the need to transcend certain situations which would otherwise be unbearable.

In the wrong hands, all of the above would make for an evening of desultory listening, yet through Chapman's intensely private lyrics it actually makes as much sense as anything else in a world gone mad. She started with Behind The Wall, a tense, virtually voyeuristic glance at domesticity turned sour.

Similar themes surfaced throughout the evening, most of which were handled with extreme care.

The best received were Fast Car, Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution and Baby, Can I Hold You Tonight?, but it was less familiar material (relatively speaking, that is) which just as easily superseded audience expectation.

The Promise, for instance, was a perfect, direct example of what the relationship between a singer/songwriter and their audience could be.

There were other highlights in what was a thoroughly effective gig, but the overall feeling was one of a voice of conscience saying something substantial and important.

Tracy Chapman plays the Olympia theatre tonight.