Joan Armatrading ‘How Did This Happen And What Does It Mean Now’ Album Review
Joan Armatrading has been heralded by many as one of Britain’s greatest songwriters having been crafting her art for twenty+ albums now. That being said, you would have expected by now, with the release of her twenty-first album, ‘How Did This Happen And What Does It Mean Now’, Joan would be easing her foot off the gas.
However, that very much is not the case as the album finds Joan not only performing writing duties but also taking over producing, programming and engineering duties for this twelve-track album which forms the latest addition to a career which reaches right back over four decades.
Given her hands-on approach to all aspects of this album, Joan Armatrading fans will find the album to be a comfortable, familiar experience. Blending elements of rock, pop, and gospel, ‘How Did This Happen And What Does It Mean Now’ sees Joan paint over these powerful songs with heart and emotion.
Lyrically, “I’m Not Moving” is as determined as the situation which inspired the song and while the rest of the album isn’t always as confrontational as this particular track, the observational approach is something that runs throughout the album.
Elsewhere Joan showcases her immense talent as a guitarist on the instrumental “Back and Forth” a track which sits at the midway point of the album. Following it up, “Come Back To Me (If Only In My Dreams)” kicks off the second half of the album with a more chilled vibe while Joan takes a lighter rockier approach on “Here’s What I Know”.
Back to an instrumental where Armatrading lets loose on “Now What” before wrapping her twenty-first album up with the emotional “I Gave You My Keys”.
If her approach to this album was to show that the only person who truly knows an artist is the artist themselves then listening to the determination and emotion in the lyrics and the quality musicianship wrapped up in a crisp, organic production only goes to confirm that she made the right decision.
To pick up the album and to keep up with all of Joan’s news, head over to her Official Website.
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