Joan As Police Woman
Real Life
PIAS Recordings



Prior to picking up this really gorgeous album I had been intrigued by Joan, as I will call her. I knew she was mate of both Rufus Wainright and Antony (she has played with both), but I was more impressed by her stint programming Rage earlier this year. The name is enigmatic bordering on daft but Joan As Police Woman is the moniker of the three piece fronted by Joan Wasser and their album 'Real Life' rivals anyone for the best debut this year, or any other for that matter.

Joan was active through the nineties in such fab obscurities as Those Bastard Souls and one hit wonders The Dambuilders. The multi-instrumentalist (she was the rock violinist in the Dambuilders, and now I know where those music box piano breaks in Those Bastard Souls came from) offers a beautiful collection of tender and complex songs. The considered, spacious arrangements add to the basic rock band format by smoothly integrating horns, strings and keys. The album has an easy listening jazz feel evident in the closing track We Don't Own It but none of the boring pomp and white woman soul without the histrionics on I Defy on which Antony guests, his milky vocal spilling into a sultry chorus laden with horns. There are nods to musical theatre but Joan's feet are firmly planted in indie rock, as Eternal Flame and Christobel testify. Hints of Ricky Lee Jones in The Ride are perhaps more of feeling than a memory I have from growing up with AM radio; it is simply an infectious, magnificent tune - softly arresting with the warm Wurlitzer organ imploring one to sing along as it's descending chorus floats about in the head, as it has in mine, for days. The confident stride of Save Me belies it's calculated desire and Anyone is a beautiful love song that evokes Roberta Flack and is as paced as the tentative early days of true love's restrained longing: each chorus is a glorious, relenting lunge further in as she sings "anyone can see through me, but you're not anyone".

Her well trained timbre has many moods, and it pulls together the range of songs and styles on 'Real Life,' making it a very special album. Joan is no longer an enigma, but a quality songwriter and arranger, indulging her ability to play keys and strings as well as her magnificent vocal chords. As late night listening it won't be bettered, but anytime is the right time for Joan As Police Woman.

Narelle Walker