Elly Roberts reviews
Joan Armatrading: Into The Blues
Distributed by
Hypertension
- April 2007
- Rating: 8/10
Joan Armatrading MBE made her mark way back in late 1976 with top ten hit Love And Affection.
Singles-wise she charted up to 1992, her last being Wrapped Around Her.
Her last chart album was in 1995 – What’s Inside. She’s been nominated
for a Brit and Grammy, though she finally won a gong with an Ivor Novello award
in 1996.
Now comes a Blues-inspired release, though purists will probably dismiss this one,
as it’s new territory for the West Indian born songwriter-singer, as it does
have a broader sheet than normally used in the genre. Nevertheless, she makes
a real fist at it on her 19th album.
Armatrading said of her new CD, "Into The Blues is the CD I’ve been
promising myself to write for a long time. Recording it has given me so much
pleasure and playing blues guitar…. I adore it!"
Apart from drums / percussion (Miles Bould), Armatrading plays all other
instruments which is some feat. She’s also written, arranged, produced and
recorded the entire album. Dropping her penchant folkie approach and famous
acoustic guitar, Armatrading shows us a totally new side to her skills as
she tackles an electric guitar, (Fender Stratocaster possibly?) which, it
must be said is something of a revelation.
Her meticulous guitar technique is evident from the start as she displays
some deft finger work on the smooth stylings of a poppy, catchy and mellow
ditty that, if released, would make Radio 2 playlistings, and Play The Blues
in which she declares, "I’d take off all my clothes for you / Baby when
you sing the Blues" though she doesn’t mention who the ‘you’ is.
The title track is more rootsier in styling, a much broodier affair, with
delicious picks and chord breaks with added backing vox by Joan herself. She
drops in enough hints for her inspiration, "Are you a mannish boy, just
like the might mud."
Liza is a massive nod to BBKing/Hooker with a standard Hooker heavy
riff textured by wiry picks. Secular Songs returns to her more traditional
template of acoustic leanings as she has a pop at the type of songs sung in
some church, "It’s all Schubert and Beethoven / Oh and lots of French
love songs." But further on she reveals, "Yea we’ll pray / Pray/ Pray/ Pray/
Our souls will rise upon that day."
Crunching chords open My Baby’s Gone with again a catchy hook and chorus,
with odd picks littered here and there, bottleneck, and organ floating in
the shadows. Mandolin-drenched Baby Blue Eyes once again shows her
instrumentation versatility, as does her Blues-harp (harmonica) breaks.
Thumping Deep Down is a heavy as Armatrading is ever going to get,
an unintentional ‘tribute’ to the Blues masters of Rock - Led Zeppelin with
out and out rocker There Ain’t A Girl getting an almost Rockabilly nod.
More brooding Blues engulfs Empty Highway, with some stylish picks once
again. On closer Something’s Gotta Blow she proves she can give
maestro Gary Moore a run for his money on a slumbering and dust-fuelled gem.
Her keyboard skills are also highlighted here.
A very tasty album.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
