Joan Armatrading -- Lover Speaks

Incredibly it is now over 26 years since Joan Armatrading's first hit, Love and Affection, and it is a full 20 years since the classic Drop the Pilot.

With Tracy Chapman taking over where Armatrading left off and with it a large chunk of her fan base in recent years, Joan returns with her first new recording in five years. With the exception of the drums and horns she does everything on this "return to form" album. Fifteen very strong tracks of which the title track, Tender Trap, and Blessed are of the same high standard as Drop the Pilot. Musically she hasn't moved on very far in the last 25 years but when you're not too far off perfect why change?

Graham Scaife