Having had a taste of what’s to come in her performance at the RNCM in Manchester back in February, we now find the fruits of Joanne Shaw Taylor’s labours most satisfying.

Release Date:  7th June 2024

Label: Journeyman Records

Format:   CD /vinyl, streaming

It’s always exciting when astounding British talent fulfills their potential. Joanne Shaw Taylor is now one of our most respected blues rock artists, equaling any exponent of the blues from these shores or indeed the USA.  Supporting the likes of Joe Bonamassa several years ago did much to raise her profile  here and abroad  and she has now  catapulted herself to the top echelon of blues artists.

Heavy Soul may be Joanne Shaw Taylor’s most commercially sounding albums to date but her versatility of guitar playing and songwriting shines through without compromising  her close affiliation to her blues rock roots.

Sweet Lil Lies  kicks off the album with a  no- holds barred rocker. Her licks don’t have to be fancy  just pure solid rock to set the pulse racing. All The Way From America has a more acoustic feel with twangy guitar fills with a modern country touch. Her proficiency with slide guitar on the foot-tapper Black Magic  with gospelly backing singers accentuates her own natural singing style. For good measure, a honky tonk piano is thrown in to complete this joyful track.

The soulful  Drowning In The Sea Of Love  further  emphasises her American influence  but the crystal-clear nimble fingered guitar solo is the real highlight . Slowing the pace,  A Good Goodbye  once again showcases Joanne’s versatility of guitar playing styles and here we are halfway through the album and there has been little repetition, each track being a little surprise. The title track Heavy Soul  is another cleverly crafted song with her stunning wailing guitar solo with which the pudding is never over- egged!! We are given a taste of it in the middle of the track and rewarded with an extended version as it ends.

A simple riff flows through Wild Love which is full of warm rhythms and jauntiness. A bit more poppy than the other tracks but nonetheless highly listenable yet very soulful and smoochy to dance  under low lights  to. Make the most of this moment for soon we are back to the rip-roaring  Devil In Me. Every track is of high quality and ends in the same vane with a hand clapping finale Change Of Heart .  For those already accustomed to Joanne’s amazing talent there’ll be no change of heart here in fact just the opposite as many will regard this album as one of her most accomplished pieces of work.

With production credits including Kevin Shirley, Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart it is clear to see their influence but all in all this is Joanne Shaw Taylor at her very best.

Here’s Wild Love:

Joanne Shaw Taylor online: Website / Facebook / X – formerly Twitter / Instagram / Youtube

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