Scout Niblett, Corsica Studios, London

Emma Niblett, or Scout to us, starts her set at Corsica Studios alone on stage. And despite the picture of her passionately kissing someone on the cover, her new album ‘It’s Up To Emma’ deals with being left solitary after the wretched abandonment of a cheating lover.

But she is not completely alone tonight. The room is packed for what now seems like a rare appearance for the US-based musician in the capital of her home country. And after a couple of songs she is joined by a drummer and guitarist. It is hot and humid, but no one in the crowd moves for fear of losing their spot, while late comers are left straining for a view from the bar area.

The songs on ‘It’s Up To Emma’ sound complete with the backing of a band and occasional addition of strings. But live, Scout’s minimalist Nirvana-esque playing takes centre stage and her controlled intensity is so entrancing you often forget the other musicians are there. Few people can add so much charge to such a stripped back sound. She slowly picks out swaggering, bluesy notes and chords that build until a barrage of heavier riffs are let loose to break the tension.

The bulk of the set is made up of tracks from the new record. Reading the lyrics you could be mistaken for interpreting elements of self-pity, but as Scout sings you can hear strength and grit in her voice. As the title of the album implies this is about self-reliance. Sure, the strong can be hurt but that doesn’t always lead to despair. The personal empowerment sometimes boils over into caged aggression as on ‘Gun’, which is a fine addition to Scout’s live arsenal. And when she lets out clipped yelps during older track ‘Nevada’ it sounds like a defiant fist in the air, which brings cheers of approval.

Scout’s heart may have been scorched rather than just scarred but you can feel the residual heat emanating from her.

After an hour, including a short break before an encore, she’s gone. With such few opportunities to hear Scout live it’s not enough and the crowd call for more but she picks up her guitar and with a smile on her face exits the room.