People We Become Sings Inspirational Jo Harman
The People We Become is the long-awaited follow-up to the acclaimed 2013 album Dirt On My Tongue. Worth the wait, YES in one simple word. Is it the same, a variation on Dirt On My Tongue NO. Jo Harman has deepened her musical framework the album is considered artistry of sound, tone and lyrical textures.
The album opens with a crackle and the distant voice of Jo as singing from the past. Quiet then thirty seconds in the tempo hardens with drum and bass we are in the now as Jo’s vocals come forward and take control. No One Left To Blame, opens the album with spine-tingling emotional power and if you don’t listen on you only have yourself to blame.
As the album unfolds, this is Jo Harman being herself full of poignancy and personal. As ever the vocals are smoky, smooth and/or pure depending on the tone and shaping the lyrics around her tongue adding joy or bitter-sweetness. This is the seductive power of Jo Harman’s voice, once heard never forgotten. Jo has been described as a blues singer; that is just a part of the full musical equation of Jo Harman as she weaves in gospel, soulful Motown, and the angst of a singer-songwriter exploring personal hurts. Jo is a singer who understands the power of using her exceptional voice as the focal instrument throughout the album.
The percussive forces on tracks reflect the intensity of Jo’s voice. Then as in a perfectly balanced black and white photograph, the shadows and greys say more. Lend Me Your Love the piano and vocals give the track a simplicity so the soaring lyrics sung capture your attention. The percussion gives the track tonal texture and the underlying hurt and anger. Energy is added with Reformation and its tribal, urgent percussive intro, harking back but not copying a holler. The clapping adds a sting as we stomp to the number influenced by her work with Amnesty International.
Recorded in Nashville, at Sound Emporium and other noted studios, with acclaimed producer Fred Mollin (including Billy Joel, , Carly Simon, Joe Cocker and Johnny Mathis more) the album features Michael McDonald on the first single ‘When We Were Young’. With its up-tempo fun beat lightening the album blending in a song that will definitely be getting radio play with its easy listening dance rhythm and smooth backing singer it is a hit.
The ten track, superbly crafted album closes out with piano and voice as Lonely Like Me with deep melody and a song that is timeless as we feel the hurt of loneliness and understand the begging for forgiveness as it is part of our own life’s journey. It is why we are the People We Become.
Bluesdoodles believes this is an album that will delight her phalanx of fans and bringing many more into the Jo Harman camp, they will relate to the album for its timeless majesty and it fearless uncompromising delivery of songs. Songs that Jo wanted to write and sing not because they are a particular musical style.
TEN 
doodle paws out of TEN ….
Track Listing
- No One Left To Blame
- Silhouettes Of You
- Lend Me Your Love
- Unchanged and Alone
- Reformation
- Changing of The Guard
- Person of Interest
- When We Were Young
- The Final Page
- Lonely Like Me
Long Awaited Jo Harman Album People We Become
