Paloma Faith knows how to make a theatrical entrance. 

Introduced by a Samuel L Jackson monologue, dressed like the heroine of I Dream Of Jeannie in a magenta-sequinned flared jumpsuit and floor-length sparkling cape, she erupted from the top of her iridescent crystalline mountain set.

The title track from her new politically engaged album The Architect saw her belting out the anguished lines “I will forgive you – but I won’t forget,” dramatically beating time with her arms and flicking her waist-length ponytail for emphasis.

When chatting to the audience, however, her friendly, cheeky Cockney side came out, confessing her insecurities about returning to work after traumatic childbirth and extended maternity leave.

The stories Faith shared behind her new songs were fascinating, from the up-tempo appreciative tribute My Body, with its irreverent dance routine celebrating tummies and armpit hair, to the societal disadvantages faced by her black ex-boyfriend in Kings And Queens, to her fury at Donald Trump in the grinding rock breakdown WW3.

Guitarist BB Bones stepped in for John Legend (who appeared on the record) on the moving duet I’ll Be Gentle, while her talented band and backing singers continued the 1960s sci-fi theme with their costumes.

However, a major flaw in the sound engineering meant that the quality of the music was muddied and confused, with the instrumentation and basslines hard to pick out through the wall of noise – even Faith’s powerful soaring vocals were often impossible to hear clearly.

Despite this, the sold-out audience were here for a good time and eager to dance – swaying with arms waving to Only Love Can Hurt Like This and Picking Up the Pieces; shimmying to the impassioned disco groove of Can’t Rely on You and the tropical house of DJ Sigala’s Lullaby; and finally chorusing along unaccompanied to the moving Love Me As I Am.