VISIONARY, genius , dreamer and recluse; all words readily used to describe Karl Wallinger during his tenure producing music for 25 years under the World Party banner.

After a hiatus from the live scene for over a decade - a great deal of this time enforced due to ill health - it is with great affection, enthusiasm and warmth that he was welcomed onto the Oxford stage on Monday (October 29).

Engaging, with a modest, self deprecating persona throughout , Wallinger and the band treat the audience to a 90 minute performance carefully selected from a back catalogue that most other contemporaries ought to view with envy.

Supplemnted by seven other musicians, including current Beady Eye and erthswhile drummer from the band's formative years, Chris Sharrock, the set draws heavily (perhaps a bit too much in places) from the second and third albums Goodbye Jumbo and Bang respectively, with only the still lyrically relevant Ship Of Fools included from the 1987 debut long player Private Revolution.

However, this is only a minor criticism as the quality of Wallingers writing and crafting of songs lending on a variety of musical influences still stands the test of time, confirmed by the mutual respect and genuine appreciation by his fellow band members that he is actually on stage again , but this time around with a more relaxed aura than perhaps in the past.

After so long away from the live scene to select any particular highlights would appear trite in view of the fact many people doubted whether these songs would be aired again.

A three song piano interlude mid set including “Shes The One” his best known song for the unitiated. Barnstorming live versions of “ Vanity Fair” and “Who Are You” or the tried and trusted “Is It Like Today” and “Put the Message In the Box”, impossible to single out any.

As one of only three dates so far, Wallinger encouragingly dangled the carrot of more live shows perhaps within twelve months rather than twelve years. Maybe this World Party hasn’t finished yet.