It
is always interesting to read what an artist has to say about
themselves – and not just about their influences, their favourite
colour and their childhood ambitions. Buried in amongst the tsunami
of words, publicity releases and reviews of her quite spectacular
latest album 'People We Become', are some words from several of her
pre-launch interviews...”I have only ever tried to be me – and
that's what (this album) is. It's me.”
There, I suspect, lies one of the keys to this extraordinary singer's success.
There, I suspect, lies one of the keys to this extraordinary singer's success.
Uncomplicated
and uncompromising and focussed. I first saw her live nearly four
years ago, headlining a festival and her voice made an indelible
impression. A couple of years later when reviewing 'Found a Place', I
wrote “her voice is an extraordinary, unique,
powerful and emotional blessing.” It still is, but in Jo's own
words, her voice 'has matured in the same way as her songs and
song-writing have matured' - she is still moving forward, learning,
developing, exploring and still imbuing her songs with that rare and
total vocal emotional commitment and yes, 'being me' is an excellent place
for her to be.
'People
We Become' is an absolute tour de force. It gathers together in one
place, that huge tapestry of range, depth, style and emotion that we
have come to expect from this artist. The tracks move from the
anthemic to desperately sad and tender soul and almost pop-based
finger-clicking and upbeat Motown. Her song-writing is incredibly
personal and you know you are in the company of someone who has
travelled down that road. For this writer at least, this is where she
touches your heart best and tracks like 'Person of Interest',
'Silhouettes of You' and 'Changing of the Guard' bring it all up
close and personal. There is a lot of pain, hurt and sorrow here.
Her
song-writing, employing phrases like 'I will carry you', 'I don't
want you to be like me', 'I've tried and tried' and 'walk away'
provides her with the perfect emotional platform from which to float her voice.
This is someone who can pick a note from the floor and then touch the
sky with it. There are also tracks on here, like the amazing 7minute
piano driven 'Lend Me Your Love' that lead you along quietly ('it's
so easy') and build up to a gut-wrenching climax only to finally let
you down.
Everything
about this production shouts class. Jo went to Nashville and
collaborated with Fred Mollin to produce the album and it shows. She
is surrounded by the finest musicians (buy the album to find out who they are!) and in
consequence, every little bridge, fill, intro and outro, or
whispering backline is beautifully constructed, the pauses and
silences beautifully nuanced and every time - whether it be the
atmospheric guitar work, the sometimes delicate and sometimes rocking
piano interventions or the careful swell and feel of the backing
singers – they get it just right.
I've only touched on a few tracks here, rather than list them all - they are all good, powerful, poignant and moving. If you have an ear you will enjoy the listen - again and again. It is a wonderfully crafted piece of work and deserves all the plaudits that are coming its way. Every track on here is totally accessible and will carry you with it - and it will still be played many years from now.
I've only touched on a few tracks here, rather than list them all - they are all good, powerful, poignant and moving. If you have an ear you will enjoy the listen - again and again. It is a wonderfully crafted piece of work and deserves all the plaudits that are coming its way. Every track on here is totally accessible and will carry you with it - and it will still be played many years from now.
If 'learning, maturing and
being me', as Jo puts it, can produce an album of this quality, then
let's hope Jo keeps on being Jo...
