Eternal Flame is an EP of songs from the 20th anniversary re-arrangement of Joan As Police Woman's Real Life album, an album I remember not loving when I reviewed it 20 years ago, I could find the review copy of the album, but not the review, which is probably for the best. It has been a few years since I've been asked to review anything by Joan As Policewoman and have listened to the original versions as well as the new arrangements. For me the original recordings stand up far better than these re-recordings, it's been 20 years since I last played Real Life. Joan As Policewoman are Joan Wasser, Will Graefe, Jeremy Gustin and Thomas Bartlett it was recorded at The Owl Music Parlour In Brooklyn.
The Ep of remastered versions of her Real Life album opens with the hushed reverence of Eternal Flame that has brushed drums and ethereal vocals for the love she sought, 20 years on sadly this still doesn't connect with me too much, it is far too cafe jazz, all the yearning and hoping don't make it any better, stripping out the angelic backing vocals of the original, Joan's more mature vocals have lost some of the innocence of the original.
Flushed Chest is a very laid back almost supine song for someone whose selling up and moving on having failed to make it. It misses the blues piano of the original version, if you love the original version you may feel somethings missing from this re-arrangement, especially the original forlorn violin part.
The Ride has some very classical style strings for this hushed tale trying to convince you to jump The Ride, the late-night feel of the ways she has to make you follow her everywhere. She needs your love and worship now. The strings on this take it into different territory to the original, not as down at heart, and slightly more hopeful feeling than the original version.
Find out more at https://revealrecords.lnk.to/EternalFlame https://joanaspolicewoman.bandcamp.com/album/real-life-evolution-album-2026 https://revealrecords.lnk.to/reallifeevolution https://www.facebook.com/joanaspolicewoman
