I hadn’t seen Puressence for a couple of years but they were one of my favourite bands (live and recorded) from 1996, and their debut self-titled album was one of the most amazing (and underrated) albums of the 90’s. Now they were back with their follow-up, called “Only Forever”, and were back on the road again.

Only Forever saw some chart success for the band - although I still think their debut is far superior – with singles This Feeling reaching #33 and All I Want sneaking into the Top 40 at #39. The album hit the Top 40 too, managing to peak at #36.

Support band Agnes were very good. Much better than a lot of support bands I’d seen recently and would have made the gig worthwhile in their own right. But Puressence took the stage and claimed the night as their own.

I’d forgotten just how amazing Puressence were live. They’d blown me away back in 1996 and, two years later, continued where they had left off. Vocally James Mudriczki was stunning, and with the atmoshperic musical soundtrack, it weaves itself into something almost hypnotic.

Given that I’d seen Therapy? a week before, who provided one of the best live gigs of 1998, Puressence provided a hot contender to join them at the top of my live music chart for the year. May was turning out to be a fantastic month for live music.