Eliza Carthy @ Mechanics, Burnley

9:02am Friday 7th December 2007

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"ELIZA Carthy, she's that folk singer isn't she?" was the comment when I told someone where I was off to.

As anyone who was at the Mechanics will tell you, that's the last thing you could call her.

The show was a very relaxed affair and was a bit like sitting in on a rehearsal - there's a full blown tour planned next year.

But the informality of it - and Carthy's natural wit - made for a hugely entertaining show.

Many of the songs from her new album, due out next May, were showcased and for a live set, some were works in progress.

But the diversity of songs highlights how Carthy brings many influences to bear on her work.

So we had everything from Irving Berlin to blues and even a bit of ska thrown into the mix.

Carthy - best known as a fiddle player - showed her diversity by playing accordion, ukelele and what looked like a child's electric guitar.

But her most powerful instrument remains her voice, which is full of emotion and raw power and truly is a thing of wonder.

Because of her family ties - Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson are mum and dad - Carthy's own unique songwriting skills are sometimes overlooked.

There's a lovely, dark aspect to much of what she does tinged with bar room humour.

Folk musician she's not. As a traditional musician, she's one of the best.