Heavy Soul
Heavy Soul brings Joanne Shaw Taylor's stronger guitar sound into close contact with the soul and pop side of her writing. The ten-song set is clear and focused, with enough room for her smoky voice and expressive lead playing. The result feels settled without being too comfortable. The best arrangements give the familiar blues-rock foundation a useful change of rhythm or colour.
Sweet 'Lil Lies opens with a firm riff and a lively vocal. Backing singers help lift the arrangement, giving its heavier playing a warmer setting. Black Magic has a looser swing, with slide guitar and answering voices adding movement. The guitar solo makes a strong impression, although the fade leaves the sense that it could have developed a little further.
Drowning In A Sea Of Love is a particularly good fit for Taylor. Its Motown-style rhythm gives the song an immediate pull, while the guitar brings a rougher edge to the soul arrangement. The music allows her singing and playing to work together rather than compete for the most noticeable part.
A Good Goodbye is more measured. Its catchy riff supports a bittersweet vocal, with the guitar solo following that mood instead of forcing a larger climax. The title track applies more pressure, using a steady drive and a sharper lead performance to bring the blues-rock side back into focus.
The covers add variety, though they are not equally distinctive. Someone Like You makes good use of Taylor's voice in a slower setting. All The Way From America is less of a change to the original song, making it a smaller highlight beside the more forceful material. Devil In Me supplies a convincing late burst of anger before Change Of Heart brings a more hopeful finish.
The album stays close to established sounds, and listeners looking for a dramatic reinvention will find refinement instead. That suits the material. Heavy Soul has clear melodies, strong performances and enough shifts in weight to hold its shape from start to finish. Taylor sounds most convincing when the soulful arrangements give her guitar something specific to answer, and this record offers several good examples.
