Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea, (Corner Hotel, 20th September)

Jen Cloher is one of the best relatively unknown Australian artists around. She's a performer with a subtle yet assertive stage presence and writes great songs that have a complexity to them in their instrumentation and arrangement. After her first album Dead Wood Falls, this year she released Hidden Hands to much critical acclaim. The album launch at the Corner Hotel last night was an energetic showcase for Cloher's talents but also the talents of her band. From the sublime violin, viola and backing vocals to the lively drumming, the band serves her well. Jen Cloher herself has a rich, smooth voice that carries the lyrics across her carefully constructed tunes.

The gig opened with Spring from Dead Wood Falls, followed by new album highlight Fear is Like a Forest. This was followed by Fingersmith from the first album. Most of the new album was played including Mother's Day, Birdsong, Hidden Hands, It Must Come Through, Eden With Eve and Watch Me Disappear. We also heard plenty of songs from the first album including the single Rain. There were two covers, one of a Grant Lee Buffalo song and another of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues.

And thankfully, the Corner Hotel's sound gremlins from the previous night had all but gone. It was a lot less crowded but still a receptive crowd. I'm looking forward to listening to the album more over the coming months.