Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Ragnhild Nordset or Ragz to her fans and friends alike has been sadly absent from the loving scrutiny of those that come along to watch her perform for 18 months.

All that was soon forgotten as the young Nordic woman with the voice of a siren and the heart of an angel stepped on stage at Leaf on Bold Street and performed as if she had never been away. It might have been a short set but to Ragz and no doubt the assembled crowd, who must have been overjoyed to witness the ‘surprise guest’ make her appearance, every moment that she was once more in the spotlight was to savour and enjoy.

With two other artists to follow, Ragz employed deftness, a sleight of magic with her music that left everybody in the upstairs venue spellbound and bewitched. Opening up with the wonderful Where Its Gone and End to Ends, Ragz weaved her Nordic magic so well, so completely that the crowd were lapping it up in their droves.

There are a lot of special nights in Liverpool, especially where its music is concerned for the city’s population. Liverpool is renowned for having the very best play on its doorstep, venues of every size and shape and yet Mellotone stole a march so good by having Ragz along as a secret guest and getting her to perform; that it qualifies surely by right as one of the best nights of the year. Certainly in the eyes and affections of those that waited for this moment for a long time it would be.

Ragz continued her set with a few more songs that bubbled and cajoled the audience into spontaneous applause. The haunting Mama Pray, Love you Still and Adore Him were perfectly played and enjoyed by all.

Ragz finished off a set to die for with the Norwegian hymn Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker which translated as My Heart Will Always Wander. Not only did she sing this with such amazing passion in her voice but she stood alone of the stage of Leaf with no guitar to hide behind and sang as if she knew this was where she belonged.

A sensational return to the stage for this Norwegian songstress!

Ian D. Hall