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Elly Roberts reviews
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 Whats Inside. Shes been nominatedfor a Brit and Grammy, though she finally won a gong with an Ivor Novello awardin 1996.
Now comes a Blues-inspired release, though purists will probably dismiss this one,as its new territory for the West Indian born songwriter-singer, as it doeshave a broader sheet than normally used in the genre. Nevertheless, she makesa real fist at it on her 19th album.
Armatrading said of her new CD, “Into The Blues is the CD Ive beenpromising myself to write for a long time. Recording it has given me so muchpleasure and playing blues guitar . I adore it!”
Apart from drums / percussion (Miles Bould), Armatrading plays all otherinstruments which is some feat. Shes also written, arranged, produced andrecorded the entire album. Dropping her penchant folkie approach and famousacoustic guitar, Armatrading shows us a totally new side to her skills asshe tackles an electric guitar, (Fender Stratocaster possibly?) which, itmust be said is something of a revelation.
Her meticulous guitar technique is evident from the start as she displayssome deft finger work on the smooth stylings of a poppy, catchy and mellowditty that, if released, would make Radio 2 playlistings, and Play The Bluesin which she declares, “Id take off all my clothes for you / Baby whenyou sing the Blues” though she doesnt mention who the you is.
The title track is more rootsier in styling, a much broodier affair, withdelicious picks and chord breaks with added backing vox by Joan herself. Shedrops in enough hints for her inspiration, “Are you a mannish boy, justlike the might mud.”
Liza is a massive nod to BBKing/Hooker with a standard Hooker heavyriff textured by wiry picks. Secular Songs returns to her more traditionaltemplate of acoustic leanings as she has a pop at the type of songs sung insome church, “Its all Schubert and Beethoven / Oh and lots of Frenchlove songs.” But further on she reveals, “Yea well pray / Pray/ Pray/ Pray/Our souls will rise upon that day.”
Crunching chords open My Babys Gone with again a catchy hook and chorus,with odd picks littered here and there, bottleneck, and organ floating inthe shadows. Mandolin-drenched Baby Blue Eyes once again shows herinstrumentation 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 without and out rocker There Aint A Girl getting an almost Rockabilly nod.
More brooding Blues engulfs Empty Highway, with some stylish picks onceagain. On closer Somethings Gotta Blow she proves she can givemaestro 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.
Weblinks:joanarmatrading.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. A Woman In Love
2. Play The Blues
3. Into The Blues
4. Liza
5. Secular Songs
6. My babys Gone
7. D.N.A.
8. Baby Blue Eyes
9. Deep Down
10. There Aint A Girl Alive
11. Empty Highway
12. Mama Papa
13. Somethings Gotta Blow
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.