Unencumbered by a guitar and acting solely as a frontwoman rather than a solo star, Polly Harvey’s Brighton show with John Parish allowed her to fully explore her vocal range.

Backed by a grizzled-looking, besuited and hatted backing band, the cult singer’s voice moved from fragile and childlike on The Soldier, to almost hysterical on Taut, before effectively barking the lyrics on the defiant set-closer, Pig Will Not.

Judging by the amount of between-song banter with the audience compared to previous solo shows, and the wide smile on her face, it was an experience the singer was clearly enjoying - her only apparent security token taking the form of a handbag clutched in the crook of her arm throughout the set.

Anyone expecting songs from Polly’s solo work would have been disappointed, as this hour-long performance drew entirely from the two albums she has created with producer John Parish.

On both albums she was responsible for the lyrics and melodies, while John provided the musical soundscape, moving between guitars, banjos and even a ukulele on stage.

The main focus was new album A Woman A Man Walked By, opening with new single Blackhearted Love and featuring virtually every song, including the brilliant title track.

The 1996 collaboration Dance Hall At Louse Point may not be as well known as some of her solo work, but the selections from it, including the brilliant one-two punch of Urn With Dead Flowers In A Drained Pool and Civil War Correspondent, proved it is a hidden gem.