Pennellate di verde acqua, azzurro mare e bianco come la sabbia. Non è che li abbia mai particolarmente amati i colori pastello e le loro sfumature di grigio e bianco ma Joan Wasser, in arte Joan As Police Woman, lo dipinge e lo canta così bene questo suo esordio da farti venire voglia di immergerci le mani e di colorartici il viso, le braccia e il corpo delle sue tonalità più luminose. Prova a farti 'sporcare' con il suo 'Real Life' giocando a trasformare ogni melodia in una bolla di sapone. Lucida, scintillante e languida. Si immerge in esso con autentica sincerità e ti trovi a non poter far a meno si scioglierti anche tu in questo 'bagno' di emozioni.
Quella di Joan è una storia fatta di piccoli passi. Innamorata della musica sin da giovanissima compie studi classici specializzandosi in pianoforte e violino. Continuando parallelamente a coltivare le sue passioni adolescenziali per il punk, il rock e il soul si troverà a militare in varie indie-rock band durante tutti i primi anni 90 seguendo da vicino l'uomo che all'epoca era il suo fidanzato: mister Jeff Buckley. Il lutto per la morte dell'artista americano segnerà profondamente il suo evolversi come donna. Di lui ancora profumano tante sfumature di questo 'Real Life'. C'è anche lui qui dentro. Nella sua voce. Nei suoi pensieri. Il primissimo album in studio della sedicente poliziotta giunge solo nel 2006 dopo innumerevoli collaborazioni con i più svariati artisti del panorama internazionale: Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons), Rufus Wainwright, Scissor Sister, Dave Gahan, Sheryl Crow, Nick Cave. E quando arriva lascia il segno.
Autentico, onesto, delicato. Quasi sussurrato nel suo soul più intimo e profondo si snoda in 10 languide canzoni morbide e toccanti.
Si inizia con la title-track 'Real Life' tutta Joan e pianoforte, quasi una preghiera per l'intimità con la quale è cantata, per proseguire con la meravigliosa 'Eternal Flame' che ammalia cuore e testa con la sua raggiante lucentezza. A seguire 'I Defy' nella quale Joan duetta con l'androgino Antony Hegarty in un pezzo dalle melodie dolci e seducenti e 'Flushed Chest' incredibilmente orecchiabile e accattivante. Gli arrangiamenti si presentano essenziali e mai banali pur tendendo ad un pop sì ma di quelli sofisticatamente emozionali. Violino, fiati, archi e pianoforte a farla da padroni per una voce che non ha bisogno di gridarle le sue sensazioni perchè le sa cantare sottovoce, sottopelle come nelle bellissime 'Save Me' e 'Anyone'. 'Real Life' e la sua poliziotta sembrano provenire dal nulla o come dice lei stessa "Dal vento che agita gli alberi nella foresta". Forze naturali e placide.
Intimistico ed elegante è un disco fiducioso sull'amore e sulla perdita e che parla con una sincerità ancora arrabbiata. E' un disco sul crescere e sul diventare adulti, sull'essere reali e riscoprirsi concreti di fronte alle delusioni e alle difficoltà della vita. E' un album nel quale possiamo ritrovare molto a livello compositivo e contributivo dei suoi 'maestri'; Antony e Joseph Arthur, dei suoi idoli femminili; Nina Simone e Joni Mitchell ma anche dei suoi più cari affetti; Eliott Smith cui è dedicata 'We Don't Own It' sognante song che chiude l'album, senza mai scadere nel ripetitivo e nel banale. Una voce a parte merita l'intrigante 'Christobel' unico pezzo dai ritmi più scanditi e sostenuti dove marcatamente riusciamo a distinguere meglio chitarra e batteria che si divertono a lanciare richiami lontani verso trascorsi musicali decisamente più rock.
Bella, imbronciata e seducente con una voce e un timbro tutti particolari. Ci metterà un niente a catturarvi con il suo semplice modo di essere. Prestategli il cuore potrebbe accellerare i battiti per un amore mai del tutto sopito.
Elenco tracce testi e video
02 Eternal Flame (03:39)
i wanna have it
yes yes
i wanna have you now
but i can't be the lighter
i can't be the lighter
i wanna go there
yes yes
i wanna show you how
but i can't be the lighter
i can't be the lighter
just in case you never knew
i can't be the lighter
of your eternal flame
oh! oceans, rivers, lakes
that we could swim as two
but i already own my
own body of water
you'll follow me and
yes, yes
i'll follow you,
it's true
but i'm already certain
i've got good directions
just in case you never knew
i won't be becoming
i am the beginning
and i'm already
done
these yes days,
they've come and gone
not always going to make
the same mistakes
it's too simple, i saw the truth
and truth is the terror of the one
who feels their lace can be stained
but i cannot stain your white lace, baby
even you cannot stain your white lace baby
no
i'll never go there
no no
i'll never take that route
'cause i won't be the fighter
i won' t be the fighter
don't ever push me
no, no, don't ever make me shoot
'cause i won't be the fighter
i won't be the fighter
just in case you never knew
i won't be the fighter
for your eternal flame
just in case you never knew
i won't be becoming
i am the beginning
and i'm already
done
just in case you never knew
i can't be the lighter
of your eternal flame
04 The Ride (03:09)
Starting now the wait is over
As long as you jump the ride
‘Cause I won't highway-walk forever
As long as you jump the ride
As long as you follow me
This is what I do, like I do
I've been on the ride before
It never stops at all
It never stops at all
You'll start your engines like a virgin
As long as you jump the ride
We'll cut the whip and lose the anchor
As long as you jump the ride
As long as you follow me
This is what I do, like I do
I've been on the ride before
It never stops at all
It never stops at all
As long as you follow me
This is what I do, like I do
I've been on the ride before
It never stops at all
It never stops at all
Don't you feel for us
That we're on the round and round?
Don't you hear
The endless motor sound?
As long as you follow me
This is what I do, like I do
I've been on the ride before
It never stops at all
It never stops at all
It never stops at all
05 I Defy (03:32)
I defy I love your way
How could it be different
I defy I love your way
(well) how could it be different
Now I'm kissing the real you
Now I'm kissing the real you
Will I get through my dark day
Can you hear me
Can you hear me
Ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh
How could it be different
I see the stars around your face
They never seem to hurt at all
The stars around your face
They never seem to hurt at all
Now I'm missing the real you
Now I'm missing the real you
Well, I got through my dark day
Did you fear me
Did you fear for me
Ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh
How could it be different
I don't want to see my baby fall
It's the dawn I feel becoming ever after
This is my matter, dear
I defy I love your way
How could it be different
I defy, I love your way
How could it be different
Well I got to know you today
And I adore you
I adore you
Oh now I'm loving you
Oh now I'm loving you
How could it be different
Oh now I'm loving you
Oh now I'm loving you
How could it be different
06 Flushed Chest (03:55)
I saw you tonight
Through the dim twilight
It was deep deep summer
With that yellow moon
And you were sleeping
I saw you tonight
You were in your ghost
Singing white Christmas
How you know
It's before me
It's your song
So divine
Dying time
Is a part
Of your laughter
I saw you today
Selling all your clothes
You were done with Hollywood
The waterfall was rushing
Through you
I saw you today
Run away finally
Coastal envy got you
And we got you
Blazing
It's your song
So divine
It was time
For the spread
Of your laughter
Greet me with flushed chest again
Morning bird I’ll wait for you
How could I not
How could I not
Greet me with flushed chest again
Morning bird I’ll wait for you
How could I not
How could I not
I saw you the morning
The early green
Took the back seat
And cream the dream is you
Has begun
I saw you so early
In the whisky dark
Your eyes were brightest black
You were not going back
It was your living
It's your song
From the past
It was back
For the start
Of your laughter
Greet me with flushed chest again
Morning bird I’ll wait for you
How could I not
How could I not
Greet me with flushed chest again
Morning bird I’ll wait for you
How could I not
How could I not
07 Christobel (03:06)
When the moment arrives
You know I will be waiting
Kicking into survival
The seas of life divide
It might seem to appear
That I am dead already
I left it all on the ground
At your feet
Yes
Christobel (gone away)
Christobel (gone away)
Why won''t you just fall in love
With me?
Christobel (gone away)
Let the temperature rise
The birds of prey are mating
And with you by my side
The instinct is alive
It might seem to appear
That I am dead already
I left all at your feet
On the ground
Before I died
Yes
Christobel (gone away)
Christobel (gone away)
Why won''t you just fall in love
With me?
Christobel (gone away)
Yes
Christobel (gone away)
Christobel (gone away)
Why won''t you just fall in love
With me
Christobel (gone away)
09 Anyone (04:50)
I won't cry
Anyone would rather
Shift their eyes
Than open up their leather
But you, you seem to be the one
So try me please
I'm a better dancer
Than it seems
The lightest floating feather
Is how I feel when I’m with you
So now that I know you
I'm ready to show you
How good I feel
'Cause anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
Blaring car horns howl
Through feedback from this city
But I don't hear it now,
The chaos that surrounds me
No, you, you hold my mind's desire
You give me shelter
From all that's done un-pretty
My sold-out, felt-up
Retreated little secrets
Are tucked inside the warmth of you
So now that I know you
I'm ready to show you
How good I feel
'Cause anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
It's been a long time a long time
I've walked alone, I’ve warmed to it
But now I slip right in
I'm ready to start to be ready
So hold me now
You who came in pieces
'Cause I like whole pies
Underdone a little
But I feel how you burn inside
So now that I know you
I'm so ready to show you
How good I feel
'Cause anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
Anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
Anyone can see through me
But you're not anyone
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