Another week, another artist who has taken a more obviously rhythmic turn. Last week it was the newfound dancefloor stylings of St. Vincent, but this week it’s the soulful side of Joan As Police Woman coming to the fore. Joan has an illustrious musical background, connections with Jeff Buckley (romantic and musical), Rufus Wainwright and Antony & The Johnsons already leading to a fiercely original individual style. ‘The Classic’ is her fourth album, and adds soul and even a bit of gospel to the mix in the hip-swinging ‘Holy City’, a wonderfully uplifting song with beat box backing supplied by Reggie Watts. Complementing this is the punchy ‘Witness’, and the wall of sound that grows through ‘Good Together’, but the album’s true crowning glory is the remarkable ‘New Year’s Day’, an epic that brings out a towering vocal performance. Definitely an album worth getting to know.
5 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
