Josienne Clarke – In All Weather
Rough Trade Records – 8 November 2019
Stripped back and raw, be warned: there is a powerful emotional punch to this album. As an account of a life laid bare, there are also some remarkably tender moments – and some joyous ones too. In All Weather is undoubtedly an artistic triumph, and certainly Josienne’s most assured work to date.
It would be tempting not to make reference to Josienne’s time – for which she is best known – in a duo with Ben Walker. That’s because this solo album shows her determination (and success) at presenting her music, her way. The publicity material mentions the ‘melancholic chamber-folk’ of her former collaboration but plants it squarely in the past.
Instead, the ‘grandiose arrangements’ have been abandoned in favour of ’emotionally raw, immediate and unvarnished’ settings, ‘in the manner they’ve always been written…’ So this is Josienne’s decision to put the record straight and – dare I reference it? – take back control…
In interviews leading up to this release, Josienne has revealed a series of seismic events that have shaken her life over the past year. And Josienne makes plain in the brutally-honest sleeve notes that these personal circumstances forged and forced out the 13 new self-penned songs on the album.
She writes, ‘I exiled myself, moved to an island, literally and metaphorically, broke up with everything but songwriting. To re-make myself, to learn to let it all go in peace.’ Personal and professional relationships cast aside – along with a physical relocation away from London to be isolated on the Isle of Bute – provides a powerful backdrop to the songs. And reveals that the themes of separation, independence, determination, dissolution and reawakening are not solely metaphorical…
While this is a personal collection, I think it is better (and safer) not to speculate who these songs are about. No doubt some of those closest to Josienne will find it a painful listen. But for us distant observers, the album has a remarkably cathartic effect, given its raw emotional content.
Josienne provides vocals and sparse acoustic and electric guitar throughout the album, joined by Elliott Galvin on piano, jazz drummer Dave Hamblett and renowned Scottish harpist Mary Ann Kennedy. Additional guitar and bass is provided by Sonny Johns, who also co-produced the album with Josienne.
‘Cruel and random love/Life is cruel’ is a bold opening couplet from (Learning To Sail) In All Weather, where this journey begins. With Josienne’s delicate but determined vocals to the fore over a minimal, muted electronica/acoustic backing, it’s clear we are in new territory. But the setting beautifully fits the song and – despite the melancholy – it sounds like an artist coming home rather than running away.
While the following 12 songs vary in arrangements, there is an ebb and flow, and the album coheres as a whole with Josienne’s heartbreaking vocals, coupled with her lyricism providing the anchor. There is a sparseness as well as the abundance of riches, with most tracks clocking in under three minutes. Each of the songs would be hailed as highlights on lesser singer songwriter’s albums, and the sheer quality makes it hard to pick standouts. You also get the feeling that overlooked gems will rise to the surface on repeated listenings.
If I Didn’t Mind has enough of a hook that it deserves a bit of indie airplay, while Slender, Sad and Sentimental has a burst of poppy appeal that could result in a crossover hit (with a knowing wink because that was the intention). Meanwhile Drawing of the Line could be a Sandy Denny outtake from around Like an Old Fashioned Waltz…
Much as I have enjoyed Josienne’s previous work, In All Weather feels like a high watermark (so far) with the promise of great, and greater things to come. It’s still undoubtedly folk but occupying the same landscape (or seascape?) as Nick Drake, John Martyn and the aforementioned Sandy Denny – music that seeps through the cracks to reach fans that would dismiss ‘folk’ in other circumstances. A remarkable, impeccable collection.
‘In All Weather’ is released via Rough Trade Records On Nov 8th
Order In All Weather via Amazon