Joan As Police Woman & Benjamin Lazar Davis – Let It Be You
A true collaboration from studio to stage, from two artists well known for their ability to effortlessly cross musical genres. A deeply soulful artist Joan has famously worked with Antony (Anohni), Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed and David Sylvian and Benjamin is talented multi-instrumentalist who currently performs with Okkervil River, Cuddle Magic and Bridget Kearney.
The album will be preceded by a single on September 30th – ‘Broke Me In Two’ -with a video featuring not only Joan and Benjamin but also Fred Armisen famous for his comedy roles in Saturday Night Live, Portlandia and Anchorman, The Legend of Ron Burgundy, amongst many others.
Joan and Ben met each other after separate trips to Africa . Ethiopia for Joan as part of Damon Albarn's Africa Express, and West Africa for Lazar to study traditional music. They initially bonded over Central African Republic Pygmy musical patterns and ended up writing this album together loosely inspired by this music. In Broke Me In Two you can hear this influence in the staccato bit-crushed guitar line that plays throughout. But ultimately it's a joyous, love-soaked pop song.
Praise for Joan As Police Woman's previous work has been universally enthusiastic and the new record promises even more:
“Soulful adventurism – a voice so wonderous and moving it makes everyone
else's seem ordinary and mundane” – The Guardian
“Ravishing and lovelorn” – MOJO
“The coolest woman in pop” – The Times
“Joyously cathartic as well as musically stunning” -Uncut