English blues-rock superstar JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR is recognised across the globe for her guitar capabilities and captivating voice.
Taylor’s latest album, Heavy Soul, is available now and released by Journeyman Records.
Her incredible skills bring boldness, vulnerability, and love to an expressive & convincing collection of songs.
Taylor worked with renowned songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman (Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood) to compose the words for the song “Change of Heart,” which is about meeting someone who makes you want to take a chance on your feelings once more.
an evocatively sculpted weave of vocal expressiveness and deft fingerstyle…
Raw Ramp
This song celebrates the goldenness that life can bring, even when one least expects it. It features a wonderfully upbeat chorus that breaks through the aural landscape with unrestrained expressiveness… and a smiling, southern blues-inspired solo. The piece is an evocatively sculpted weave of vocal expressiveness and deft fingerstyle.
Devil In Me, produced by the widely recognised Kevin Shirley, addresses the darkness brought on by interpersonal issues and emotional struggles. Therefore, it blends raw emotion and direct words within a contemporary soundscape that also incorporates traditional blues elements.
The album also features an incredible performance of “Someone Like You,” a classic song by Van Morrison. Taylor’s rendition of the original composition demonstrates her capacity to delve into the depths of soulful blues while also providing a contemporary yet timeless take on a classic.
Across the album, Taylor embarks on a journey of self-discovery, exploring themes of love, longing, and the haphazard search for a lifelong companion, and uses language and sounds that will foster empathy and deeper understanding.
For example, her soulful interpretation of “Drowning In A Sea Of Love” (video shared below) is influenced by Eva Cassidy’s rendition of the 1971 R&B smash by soul star Joe Simon, and was presented as an idea, by producer Kevin Shirley.
gurglesome guitar notes & fragrant vocals are set against a countershaded background…
Raw Ramp
The song features a canopied ambiance, heavy-lidded rhythms, gurglesome guitar notes, and fragrant vocals set against a countershaded background. This track soon becomes a classic thanks to its driving chorus, Seventies-inspired expressionism, and Stevie Ray Vaughan-like emotional quality.
The songs on this album blend classic blues traditions with contemporary soul-pop in a masterful way. These tracks not only feature one of the greatest guitarits on today’s world stage, but also spotlight the distinctive abilities of a number of outstanding musicians, including Rob McNelley, Alison Presswood, and Anton Fig.
Highly recommended!
Words: © Neil Mach
Main photo: © Adam Kennedy
RAW RAMP 