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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 25. 3rd October 1973

Whatever's For Us:

Whatever's For Us:

A reviewer's nightmare. A brilliant album, and quite unique talent, completely obscure sidemen and no liner notes to speak of. So there's no comparisons, no analogies, no name dropping to inform, electrify or divert you with. So what to do. She's black, but there's no blues influence, straight pop in fact. She's West Indian; but there's not a single reggae track. A female singer/song writer who wipes the floor with Carol King, Carly Simon and that mob, despite lyrics that sound like a collaboration by you, me, and Cat Stevens. She's no folkie, the album rocks from start to finish.

That makes her sound like a screamer, the next Joplin, or Genya Ravan but no, wrong again though her voice is as powerful as anyone on the girl side of Odetta, its extremely subtle and flexible. All I can do is recommend Joan Armatrading to you, especially the second side, if you haven't already been converted by her single "Lonely Lady".

Not that any of this is necessary; not since I first clapped ears on Rod Stewart's debut LP back in '69 have I been so sure that here was an imminent event, a star, no less. The final perverse thing about the record is that in an era where the 10 track LP has become the norm. Joan has 14 full length tracks, stretching out to well over 50 minutes. Phew, I made it.