Border Crossing

The forty-five or so minutes of music led by the young guitarist, Alex Goodman bristle with hip energy and feature extraordinary instrumental and vocal combinations such an angular cello wailing in not-so-unison with Goodman's sleek guitar lines or heavenly vocalastics and a twinkling vibraphone backed by a whole topographical ocean of arresting percussion eventually buttressed by dark bass. Through it all the lead character, Alex Goodman, provocatively manipulates tune and tempo. 'Acrobat', radiantly sung by Felicity Williams is like a spiritual hymn. The theatrical delights of 'Style Brisé', once again voiced by Williams with full-hearted affection, golden-toned eloquence and good-natured humour, embraces cabaret, singspiel and gospel, before ending with an interminable dance. Prompted by dance and Mozart is 'Eine Kleine Gigue', which has a heart-stopping melody and a Technicolor sound to become what could easily be an instant radio hit. Alex Goodman's musicianship is imaginative, expressed in a singular voice glowing with bright timbre often veering into lyrical territory. Throughout the experience is absorbing, eventful, involving references to classical favourites to score entertaining points.