It’s been thirty years since Lisa Stansfield’s solo debut album Affection was released and a recording that proved a career-defining moment in her life. The Affection album proved a world-wide hit and spawned a couple of hit singles with All Around The World hitting the top spot in several countries and becoming her signature, go to song. So, how best to celebrate than at a packed St David’s Hall to witness the album played in its entirety.
Though she may be small in stature, Stansfield still possesses a big, big voice, and whether it be dance music or ballads, her voice still has a quality that is almost unrivalled amongst her peers.
Opening with the title track Affection, it set the stall out for a quite upbeat and danceable evening with songs sourced directly from this soulful classic, still very much held in high regard today as it was on its release.
There is no denying her Northern roots, her warming, unmistakable Rochdale burr so noticeable as she introduces another song from a fast-paced 90 minute set, the last of her UK tour with the support of her quite stunning band akin to the unveiling of a classic.
It didn’t take Stansfield long to get backsides off seats with This Is The Right Time leading to a surge to the front of the stage and a rather distracting period of selfies taken by fans enjoying their opportunity to get up close to their idol.
Dotted in for good measure were a songs that featured prominently in her career, hits The Real Thing and the much earlier People Hold On which helped bring the evening’s proceedings to a quite stunning and delightful climax.