Live review: Celeste showcases 'Woman of Faces' at Academy 2

"It took some time to get to this point," Celeste admits to a packed-out Academy 2, here for her show ahead of the release of her new album, Woman of Faces, on the 14th of November. It's true, it has been a while. But, after several years of much-needed time away for the BRIT Rising Star Award-winner, Celeste is back and better than ever, as her breath-takingly moving performance shows.

Academy 2 might not be the venue of choice for an intimate album-release show, with its sports-hall-esque ambience, but Celeste's stripped-back set-up made it almost possible to forget that 532 was just below us. As the audience, BBC-Radio-6-Music-listening dads aplenty, eagerly awaited the start of the set, Celeste's band arrived on stage — a cellist, two violinists, and (weirdly enough) Seth Evans from black midi on keys.

Suspense built as the band launched into an instrumental version of Woman of Faces single 'This is Who I Am', and, although the introduction began to verge on too long, as soon as Celeste entered the stage with a smile, the audience were completely enchanted.

With such vocal power, Celeste's voice in between songs was surprisingly soft — she brought an incredibly warm and joyful spirit to Academy 2, laughing as she introduced 'Happening Again' as an audience member whooped. "One person knows it," she chuckled. "This is a song about getting in a repeat cycle that's not that good for you and you don't know why." A suspended string arrangement that could bring a tear to the eye was coupled with heart-wrenching lyrics: "Unravelling again, these feelings I befriend grow in ill content." The simple lighting, steadily moving between red, orange, and purple, truly allowed for Celeste to shine on stage, with no need for frills.

'Lately', a collaboration with Gotts Street Park from Not Your Muse, proved to be one of the highlights, with Celeste showcasing her incredible vocal capabilities through intricate runs and belting choruses. The band continued to play after the song ended, transitioning into 'Everyday', where a percussive, impish, tango-like feel brought a change from Celeste's typical ballad-esque style. Building suspense through crescendo-ing held notes and a breath of relief through plucked phrases, the string instruments brought out a new dimension which differs from the recorded version that features guitars and, at times, thudding drums.

Taking a moment to slow down, Celeste announced, "I wasn’t going to sing this song tonight, but I like this one. I’m going to sing it a capella in key," before launching into a moving rendition of 'Ideal Woman'. Holding onto the slower, emotive energy, Woman of Faces single 'Time Will Tell' followed — "a song about trusting time to give you what you would like and trusting yourself to get you there too." It's a hopeful ballad, with that trademark Celeste sound that we know and love from the likes of 'Strange'.

This continues into 'Both Sides Of The Moon', another Gotts Street Park collaboration with a Sade-style movement. After an audience request, 'On With The Show' follows, which is about "this moment of life where you feel quite an overwhelming sense of loss and you have to take a step forward... knowing you always emerge at the other side, greater.” This is another stand-out, where sombre lyrics intertwine with a gentle piano backing until the strings join and the track builds to a dark crescendo, where it abruptly ends.

After introducing 'Woman of Faces', Celeste's performance took a short pause, as she tended to an audience member who had fainted in the crowd. Afterwards, she made her way back to the stage, announcing, “I’m so pleased I got to come in and see your faces,” and even recognising an audience member that she met outside a burger shop: it's a testament to the warmth that Celeste brings with her.

Celeste returned to 'Woman of Faces', which she dedicated to the "women that I’ve seen in life that sometimes feel unseen." It's a beautiful, Nina Simone-esque track with a classic jazz feel, although this is the only moment in the set where the lack of brass feels like a true loss. After 'Strange', perhaps Celeste's most famous song, she closes with 'Keep Smiling', a quieter, dark and unexpected end to the set. The depth that the strings bring paired perfectly with Celeste's raspy, sombre tone, highlighting her vocal range and ability.

Despite a fairly simple set-up, Celeste's performance never felt sparse or empty — testifying to her truly unrivalled vocal prowess. In all honesty, it's impossible to fault her performance as she truly shines on stage.