No difficult third album syndrome for Joan Wasser, building on the sublime and slinky soulful rock which made parts of ‘To Survive’ such a delight to hear and pushed her name further past the confines of ambiguous folk. A deceptively textured musical backdrop is, nevertheless, left to play second fiddle to consistently remarkable vocals. She’s certainly foregrounding her greatest asset before our merry ears. Album stand-out ‘Human Condition’, all hand claps and whirling bass, is destined for discerning Sunday morning soundtracks. It’s a solid and honourable return for a singer who has rarely disappointed.
7/10
Words by Gareth James
