The tiny songstress on stage played a major part in Britain's political history. New Labour's rise to power was accompanied by M People's 1993 hit Movin' on Up, as Small's dulcet tones urged: "Nothing can stop us." Six years after Labour's election triumph, M People have dissipated like Blair's cabinets (though they haven't officially split up), Small's audience are as grey as the prime minister (though they don't look nearly as distressed) and Small is still selling unlikely dreams. "I'm on my way . . . and you can do the same," she insists. Labour planners will be encouraged that such guff still produces cheering. If only Blair had the visual impact of Ms Small.
She is unrecognisable as the diva whose peculiarly low octaves soundtracked the 1990s. Hair no longer piled high enough to contain a weapon of mass destruction, she wears high heels with a jumpsuit. Tony might not approve, but this is part of the difficult process of establishing herself as a solo artist. Small virtually ignores 2000's Proud album in favour of covers. Perhaps she's after the floating vote.
Small's chief co-conspirator (and former M People musical director) is saxophonist Snake Davis, who, like Alistair Campbell, exerts an unhealthy amount of power. He appears as the support act and smothers everything with saxophone. His chief role is to build up Small. "Heather does this beautifully. It's a Bacharach classic," he simpers and closes his eyes as she sings.
If the set of mostly standards is designed to give Small the aura of a classic vocalist, it backfires badly. Small can easily conjure up the feelgood factor that made M People an advertiser's dream, but struggles with anything more demanding. She sings Lou Reed's Perfect Day, purportedly about heroin, as if describing a trip to B&Q. The soul stompers fare better, but the set has the aura of a club turn, and a camped-up, penny whistle-led rendition of Abba's Fernando has even the band struggling to keep straight faces. Movin' on Up gets the party restarted, but Small needs a new manifesto, quick.
· Heather Small plays the Corn Exchange, Cambridge (01223 357851), tonight, then tours.
