The Argus: Brighton Festival 2012

“We have some wicked services in Ireland but none as wicked as this,” said Camille O'Sullivan, part way through the second half of her Brighton Festival show Changeling.

The comment reflected the inspiring surroundings of All Saints Church in Hove.

The tall ceiling supported by vast columns gives ample space for a smokey landscape, pierced only by primary colour lights illuminating the stage holding the singer and her backing band, affectionately known as "the boys".

The focus was Camille's latest album, a tribute to a range of deep-thinking and soul-searching songwriters, from Nick Cave to Radiohead.

The Irish/French singer is at her free and captivating best when she is off-microphone singing a capella. It was then the comparisons to Joni Mitchell and PJ Harvey shone through.

Her take on Cave's The Ship Song was among the highlights, reaching depths as gripping yet hauntingly different to the Bad Seeds front man.

Camille's floating mannerisms and additional costume extras did bring a sense of theatre to the show. But sometimes the quirky personality crossed the line from sweet songstress to a little annoying.

It was a small price to pay for a performance that had to be seen to be heard.