Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Delayed for a year by a label with whom she has fallen into dispute, Colour Me Free! represents a return to the retro-soul style of Joss Stone's debut following the ill-advised attempts to squeeze her into the R&B diva mould.
Fortunately for Joss, she's built a good working relationship with Conner Reeves, who co-writes many tracks and helps produce them: the single "Free Me" features her Miami funk sound, with itchy Little Beaver-style guitar licks and an electric sitar break, while the piano blues "4 and 20", with its organ shadings and shivering strings, recalls the Memphis funk of Willie Mitchell's classic Al Green hits. Jeff Beck reprises his "Superstition" wah-wah for "Parallel Lines", though he's equalled by the unnamed guitarist whose impeccably damped pizzicato chording and liquid lead fills dominate "Governmentalist", a complaint which Nas's guest rap suggests was aimed at a previous administration. Understated slap-bass carries Joss's emotive delivery of Candi Staton's hit "You Got The Love", and David Sanborn's waspish sax decorates her take on Ray Charles's "I Believe It To My Soul", but the most obvious indication of how comfortable she is with this regained blues-soul mode is the concluding "Mr Wankerman", a slow, brooding putdown which expands into a 14-minute jam.
Download this: Free Me; Parallel Lines; 4 and 20; Governmentalist; Mr Wankerman
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments