ALBUM REVIEW
Artist: Jo Bywater
Album: Cycle Grace Pulse Break
Website: jobywater.com
Jo Bywater isn’t your run-of-the-mill singer-songwriter and doesn’t fit neatly into the standard ‘guy strumming guitar’ mould. Instead she has forged her own path over the years developing an individual style that makes her stand out from the crowd. If it’s ordinary and bland you’re looking for then you won’t find it here.
This first solo acoustic album is a work of art – quite literally, since Jo, a talented artist, created the album art and cd sleeve design. Cycle Grace Pulse Break contains seven songs performed in Jo’s inimitable style, from the bluesy Fast Ant, via the laid back Scratch The Surface and Wave, to the catchy Disclaimer and Let Go. All of the tracks are just Jo and her guitar, and they all pack a fair punch, being stripped-back and raw – the essense of acoustic music.
When listening to Jo Bywater’s music there are occasional echoes of Joni Mitchell, although she’s much closer in style to Hackney-based singer-songwriter Ruth Theodore who, like Jo, creates interesting, challenging songs played on the guitar in an uncompromising, ‘take no prisoners’ style.
So if you’re looking for new music to break the monotony of the dross that’s so prevalent today then why not give Cycle Grace Pulse Break a listen? It certainly worked for me!
The album is available to buy as a download from Amazon MP3 and CD Baby, and as a physical copy by emailing Jo through her website or by calling into News From Nowhere on Bold Street.
Jo’s latest art exhibition is taking place at the Unity Theatre from Tuesday 25th January to Saturday 26th February, and she’s celebrating with an evening of music on the opening night. Full details can be found on her facebook event page here.
© 2011 Graham Holland – graham[at]liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
Liverpool Acoustic – liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
2011-01-09