Ane Brun, Scala

She grew up in Norway, lives in Sweden and has been recording since 2003. Her new album, It All Starts with One, is her most assured, her most vital. But Ane Brun’s recent work with Peter Gabriel has attracted attention outside Scandinavia. Her vocal contribution to his remake of “Don’t Give Up” claimed it as her own. Last night erased Gabriel from her CV. This fabulous show was a new beginning.

Starting with a quartet of songs drawn from It All Starts with One (“These Days”, “One”, “Worship” and “Words”) instantly stated that this concert was about moving forwards. And opening with the tremulous and sombre “These Days” also said that the show wasn’t about instantly pleasing. Ten of It All Starts with One’s songs were aired (although “Dirty Windshield” is from the album’s bonus disc, rather than the album itself). “Lifeline” was missing.

Brun has never been this lively on stage. She roamed, whirled and swayed

Live, the new material wasn’t markedly different to the studio versions, probably not surprising as Brun was accompanied by the album’s musicians: Ola Hultgren and Per Eklund on drums and percussion, Martin Hederos on piano, Linnea Olsson on electric bass and cello, Jennie Abrahamson on keyboards and flute. Obviously, José Gonzales was absent from “Worship”. But there was an added spontaneity. Brun has never been this lively on stage and, apart from a few songs with her acoustic guitar, she roamed, whirled and swayed.

Her emergence in a school-masterish black gown suggested a nod back to Lykke Li’s chosen stage outfit earlier this year. And the presence of Per Eklund, who also plays with Li, brought passing thoughts of the relationship between Li and Brun, especially as It All Starts with One’s percussive pulse is shared by Li’s Wounded Rhymes. The pattering, rolling drumming of “These Days” also brought passing thoughts of Pink Floyd's "Set the Controls to the Heart of the Sun” and Joy Division's “Atmosphere”. The first encore’s “The Light from One” shares space with Joy Division’s “The Eternal”. Wherever it is Brun is going, it’s far from the folk box she was put into.

Watch Ane Brun play a solo version of “Do You Remember”