The soulful voice of Tracy Chapman blasted out with the kind of pathos and politics Tony Blair would do well to listen to.

Since exploding on to the music scene with her multi-platinum debut album, Tracy Chapman, in 1988, the singer has won four Grammy Awards and captivated audiences all over the world - Brighton was no exception.

Wearing jeans, boots and a loose shirt, Chapman looked and sounded as relaxed as if she'd just wandered on to the stage to jam with a few friends.

The delighted capacity audience swayed, sang and clapped along to powerful, husky tracks from her new album Let It Rain, including the passionate Another Sun and upbeat love anthem You're The One, during a two-hour set.

Old favourites that have become classics were seamlessly mixed in.

The audience cheered and whistled at the opening bars of Baby Can I Hold You - stunning as nature intended, without a member of Boyzone in sight.

The room hummed as hundreds of voices sang along to Fast Car, which made me - and many other members of the audience I'm sure - recall past loves with emotion.

The haunting final bars of Save A Place For Me were greeted by a moment's stunned silence before the hall erupted with pleasure.

An incredible reggae version of She's Got Her Ticket followed by Behind The Wall, sung a cappella and spot-lit, proved, for any doubters, the powerful range of Chapman's talent.

Her social commentary lends a depth to her songs that could seem contrived in a lesser artist.

However, the new tracks are lighter than previous work, bringing a warm humour and sexiness to her repertoire.

The audience was on its feet and many were dancing at the front of the stage by the first of two phenomenal encores, the Bob Marley classic Get Up, Stand Up, sung, as Chapman said: "For all those who stand against war."

Power, politics and passionate harmonies mixed with blues, soul and rock beats - absolutely outstanding.

Review by Hannah Richards, hannah.richards@theargus.co.uk