Joan Armatrading - 1981 - Walk Under Ladders @320
Second album packaged for Joan’s transition into a pop rock star, this Steve Lillywhite’s production is a mixed bag that works fine for the purpose of lighten the mood and de-dramatize the nevertheless correct perception of Armatrading as a sophisticated cultured musician, who here delivers an accessible palette of melodies arranged for the mainstream, but again with the usual care and impeccable taste. The biggest leap is the synth conducted new wave opener, “I’m lucky”, with its robotic phrasing and not linear pattern. “When I get it right” shows another fractured structure, this time recalling Police’s white reggae. “Romancers” is the warmest tune so far and indulges in its carribean celebration setting launching a relaxed sing-along. Finally the solid rock riff of “I wanna hold you” makes its way and we enjoy the first of the three in a row memorable moments in this selection, the second is “The weakness in me”, a touching introspective reflection where Joan offers all her vocal tones, and the third is the perfect harmony of “No love” with which Armatrading builds another outstanding epic at the same level of the past “Love and affection”, “All the way from America” and “Willow”. The musicians cast lets go in the tense “At the hop”, a rare treatment by the author about exuberance. The rest of the album goes on flirting with musical structure experimentations paying tribute again to Andy Summers (“I can’t lie to myself”) or developing synth ideas (liquid and bizarre in “Eating the bear”; ambient wise in “Only one”). This album just grows stronger at every listen. (AllMusic)
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