JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN
‘THE CLASSIC’
The New Album – Released March 10th 2014 (Play It Again Sam – CD/LP/Digital PIAS685)
“I’m in the best place I’ve ever been in my life,” declares Joan Wasser, and she’s just recorded the album that proves it. “The Classic”, the fourth album of originals by the uniquely charismatic artist known as Joan As Police Woman, builds on the creative impetus and success of its 2011 predecessor “The Deep Field”. As ever, Joan strives to create music rooted in an intimate, elemental and uplifting brand of soul, combined with her own unique, serene, torch-singing temperament. Whereas melancholy was a principle feature of Joan’s earlier work, there’s now a more liberated feel than ever before.
Famously a key member of Antony Hegarty Johnson and Rufus Wainwright’s band until she began making her own records, Joan was inspired by their combined piano balladry, while infusing it with her own stripped-down-soul and torch-song approach. Her 2006 album debut “Real Life” was followed by “To Survive” (2008), written in the aftermath of her mother’s death; The following year, she released an interim covers album simply called “Cover”, before “The Deep Field” confirmed Joan had started a full recovery and was determined to beat the blues…. Which brings us to “The Classic”, where Joan reaches even further toward the light.
The title track is the first song to be released from the new album and it includes a street-corner doo-wop bass vocal from fellow singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur and a human beat-box backing from none other than US comedian extraordinaire Reggie Watts. Watch/Share/Embed the video HERE
Joan As Police Woman has achieved her best album yet: musically, spiritually and emotionally, “The Classic” is a tour de force, and like the best soul music, has an uplifting emotional and satisfying pay-off – to know we’re alive, facing the future, and working it out.
A UK tour has been confirmed for April, plus two low-key shows in March. The Lexington show, announced to fans via Joan’s Facebook page, sold out in a matter of minutes. Tickets for all the other shows on sale now:
JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN – UK Tour Dates
March 2014
13th LONDON The Lexington – SOLD OUT
15th NORWICH Arts Centre
April 2014
15th LONDON Village Underground
17th BRIGHTON Komedia
19th LEEDS The Belgrave
20th HEBDEN BRIDGE The Trades Club
21st MANCHESTER Gorilla
23rd NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
24th BRISTOL Thekla
25th EXETER Phoenix
27th GATESHEAD Sage 2
28th GLASGOW Oran Mor
Praise for Joan As Police Woman:
The Guardian -‘a voice so wondrous and moving that it makes everyone else’s seem ordinary and mundane’ // Uncut – ‘This is breathtakingly good music’ // Mojo – ‘full of meditative beauty…ravishing and lovelorn’ // Sunday Times – Pop CD of the Week – ‘Sensational.’
