Joan As Police Woman @ Classic Grand, 10 Jun
On record, there’s a hark of genius about Wasser, but for all of her talent, tonight doesn’t burn quite as brightly as it should have
Joan Wasser’s celebratory air punching and good humour belie the sentiments of the opening offering of this evening's set, punctuating the tremulous lullabies which introduce the crowd to her new material from album To Survive. It’s a highly personal affair; much of the material was written around the time she lost her mother to cancer; and thus, at times, Wasser and her solo piano simply drift heavenward and over our heads. Beyond this, it’s an evening which sways from the sublime as The Ride’s love-drunk waltz glides effortlessly whilst Start of My Heart’s shimmering synth blisters under a lovelorn burn, to the downright disappointing as Eternal Flame is chewed up and spat out through snarling teeth. On record, there’s a hark of genius about Wasser, but, and chalk this down to over-expectation; for all of her talent, tonight doesn’t burn quite as brightly as it should have.