Joss Stone - Water For Your Soul
- Written by Ben Macnair
When she first came to prominence, Joss Stone was a 17-year-old singer with a voice that was years ahead of her chronological age in terms of depth, soul and technique. In short order, she had released albums of soul covers, and played concerts all over the world, so it was something of a surprise to listen to this album, and realise that it was not what we have come to expect from this young talent.
Stone has had critical acclaim to match her record sales, playing with a myriad of musicians, and guesting on albums and on stage with Jeff Beck has managed to raise her profile, but Water For Your Soul, tellingly released on Stone’s own record label is not what you might expect. Her vocal styles are pared down and used to precise effect on a set of largely up-beat reggae tracks, with stylistic nods of the head to such stalwarts as The Police, and Van Morrison, particularly during ‘Sensimilla’ which has one of those swirling, whistle melodies that works so well as a counterpoint to the vocals. Throughout the album, love songs mix with pointed, political songs, whilst musically the grooves are all good and solid, with no fillers. The vocals fit with the musical style, so this album is clearly a labour of love, rather than a genre box ticking exercise.
Throughout the 14 songs on this album, moods range from the slow soul groove and keyboards of ‘Star’, with its hi-life guitar part, whilst on ‘Let Me Breathe’ classical guitar mixes well with a hip-hop beat, and brass. Keyboards and rap open ‘Wake Up’, with a wailing police siren, whilst ‘Way Oh’ and ‘Underworld’ are both classic slices of old school reggae and two tone. Stone is a young artist, who has delivered much already, and Water For Your Soul is another signpost along the way of a remarkable musical career.