Joanne Shaw Taylor – Reckless Heart

Joanne Shaw Taylor

Reckless Heart

(Silvertone Records/Sony Music)

So our guitar toting star returns..she’s carrying less and delivering more on this outing, as her producer has assembled a band of seasoned Detroit jazz alumni and what a glorious set of sound vistas they present on these recordings. Not since her fine second album has Taylor sounded so focussed yet there are some stunning tender moments. Joanne and I have discussed this record so a chat will follow but for now, let’s press play and…

In The Mood is not the John Lee Hooker gem, but an original – brisk and fiery, with bursts of axe and a declamatory lyric and vocal. Sure sounds like a set opener to yours truly, but we’ll see…All My Love is not the Major Lazer tune but another original, choppy tempo and some cool higher-register bass plus an unmistakable Nikka Costa soul vibe on a rhythm that almost swims and surges. The tough guitar blends with lively piano and the track has the insistence of vintage Dusty Springfield.

The Best Thing rides a scratchy beat, reverbed just so. The warm Hammond imparts an Ann Peebles touch, the guitar mining a soul groove and the tones more juiced as the number builds. The group handles this loud&proud mood with muscular skill.

Bad Love and its emphatic intro seems almost Bernie Marsden in quality – we both know and respect the Whitesnake man – and explores the theme of frustration on circumstances. Creepin’ goes for a more metal mode and already has the sniff of a festival favourite, these songs are just made to be played live!

I’ve Been Loving You Too Long has an impassioned vocal performance and makes great use of the ace chords. What a great duet with, say, Daryl Hall this would make…title cut Reckless Heart has a steady gallop and Joanne sounds really cheesed off on the lyric. For all that this tune has a certain commercial sound to it and the string patches lend a Bobby Bland stroke. Break My Heart Anyway departs the overall album sound to bring us a gorgeous acoustic Buffalo Springfield/Steve Stills setting. As the words impart, sometimes leaving or staying are both going to hurt. New 89 bursts out of the speakers like Crazy Horse, a determined and bustling Vibe that the ensemble handles well. Jake’s Boogie is acoustic-led and nimble.

I’m Only Lonely ends the programme, its gentle sway sticking in the conscience and outside of the standard Taylor oeuvre by some distance. But that’s the point – Joanne is using her freedom to be brave and to develop..make sure you get to hear this release…

Pete Sargeant