The Beat Surrender

Having played second fiddle to an number of artists she’s helped out over the years, Joan As Police Woman stepped out of the shadows and into the limelight with her brilliant 2006 debut album Real Life, a number of singles from it were reviewed on these very pages.

Following that album up though was never going to be easy, in fairness to her To Survive is a pretty good stab at it, it’s emotive, beautifully crafted and equally well sung, she really does have a soulful feel to her voice. The slight problem I have with it, is that it doesn’t feel as accessible to me, its almost too private, too personal to her, meaning you don’t take the songs to your heart as you did the debut.

Don’t get me wrong the trademark piano and husky blues voice of Honour Wishes and the big sound of To Be Loved are fantastic, it’s just not as enjoyable to listen to.