Emeli Sandé, Koko - review

Indeed, this sold-out show featured a joyous medley of the choruses she's recorded for other artists. So while most new acts struggle to fill an hour, she was able to justifiably sing hits from Tinie Tempah, Chipmunk and Wiley.

While her blonde quiff was oddly deflated, the 24-year-old offered an emphatic introduction to her own material ahead of an album in February. Tiger had the sort of knockout, soulful delivery you expect from million-selling US divas but not necessarily from former medical students from Aberdeen.

In fact, another effort sounded a lot like Alicia Keys. Fortunately, Sandé had a decent excuse: she recently went to New York to write it with Alicia Keys.

The lyrics were sometimes pedestrian - "Suitcase" is hardly a song title to excite - and on the piano ballad Clown, she sang of music industry frustrations that only her manager should have to endure.

Her tunes transcended any overwrought sentiment, though. Next to Me had a pounding rhythm and relentless vocal similar to Adele's Rolling in the Deep and X Factor contestants will be fighting over the strident My Kind of Love.

The new single, Daddy, had a fierce vocal unlike her soft Scottish burr between songs. She topped that with Heaven, a glorious tune powered by Nineties-style breakneck beats.

It's curious that Sandé can perform a song that has shades of Massive Attack as well as co-write a soppy ballad for Susan Boyle's last album. But however she might deploy it, her talent is not in doubt.

Emeli Sandé
Koko
NW1 7JE