Heavy Soul
Journeyman, 2024
9/10
The British blues-rock guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor brings her inimitable playing and sultry vocals to 10 new tracks that embrace fusion ideas and welcome Anton Fig, Alison Presswood and Rob McNelley.
“Sweet ‘Lil Lies” starts the listen with Shaw’s animated guitar and expressive pipes that are complemented by thumping drums, and “All The Way From America” follows with strummed acoustic guitar that builds into a more rugged and powerful climate.
Halfway through, “A Good Goodbye” finds more intimate areas to reside in, where bright storytelling is met with soulful backing vocals, while the title track is a dense album highlight via the sturdy singing, bouncy rhythm section and fluid guitar playing.
Further still, the rowdy and rockin’ mood of “Devil In Me” is full of swift melody and “Change Of Heart” exits with a rhythmic and gospel friendly finish.
A display of top notch, modern blues songwriting with soulful pop nods, Taylor is now 9 albums deep after being discovered at age 16 by Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame), and her craft is easily in a category with Vaughn and Bonamassa.
Travels well with: Joanne Shaw Taylor- The Blues Album; Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour- Friendlytown