Joan Wasser just released Lemons, Limes and Orchids, her seventh album as Joan as Police Woman. It features contributions from a lot of big-name musicians, including Meshell Ndegeocello on bass, but the real star is Joan’s powerful, versatile voice. You can listen below.
Lemons, Limes and Orchids focuses on matters of the heart and with that in mind, Joan made us a playlist titled “Nocturne of Love and Loss” featuring 10 songs that fall somewhere within that spectrum, including tracks by D’Angelo, Blur, The Flamingos, Ann Peebles, Little Dragon and more. She also offers up commentary on each. Read that and listen to the playlist below.
Joan as Police Woman – Nocturne of Love and Loss Playlist
1. Cold – Nick Hakim
Left.
With gorgeous accompaniment Nick just takes me there. The desperation of being left has never been so sensually communicated. His voice holds all the emotions at once
2. Twice – Little Dragon
Lost.
The keys bass line that plays throughout is the thick thread. Kukimi’s melody is absoutely transfixing. Strings send this song to heaven.
3. One Mo’gin – D’Angelo
More Please.
A classic. Warmest accompaniment. I dare anyone to turn down this invite from D’Angelo to get together again. It’s just one of the hottest songs of all time.
4. I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos
Smitten.
Doo-wop, the great American a cappella genre. It wasn’t often that the voices would be sent though such deep plate reverb.
5. Who Are We Kidding? – Bridget Kearney
Flirting.
Bridget hit it so perfectly with this song. I well up every single time I hear it. I imagine most of us know this scenario where two people are hanging out late to wait for everyone to leave.
6. Sweet Song – Blur
The End.
The bittersweet admission of a relationship over. Damon’s voice is a conduit for feelings. He a master at it.
7. I Can’t Stand The Rain – Ann Peebles
Longing Memory.
One of the first examples of analog sampling in the first sounds of the song. But what’s also intoxicating is Ann’s vocal delivery and the crack band. The entrance of the rhythm section and then the organ guitar at 0:18 is one of the best moments in music. The simplicity of the lyrics and the movement of the song makes it one of my all-time favorites There’s mothing like rain to remind you of lost love.
8. The Makings Of You – Curtis Mayfield
Blissful Love.
Harp and full orchestra begin this song that shift meters and send the listen into a garden to frame Curtis’ entrance about the simple pleasure and joy of human connection. Such a sweet loving song.
9. Arrow Through Me – Wings
Burned.
The smoothest funk Mac got into. I am all over it. Getting burned never sounded so good. On top of a killer verse and chorus he gets an amazing horn hook going.
10. My Friend the Forest – Nils Frahm
Divine Nature.
Liberally taking from Ethio-jazz, Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou and the french impressionists, Nils composes one of the most gorgeous instrumental tunes of recent times. The title says it all.
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Joan has a busy tour schedule with her travelling around the world through May, including an NYC show at National Sawdust on December 13. All dates are below.
Joan as Police Woman – 2024/2025 Tour Dates
Oct 3 Thu – Whelan’s @ 7:30pm – Dublin, Ireland
Oct 4 Fri – Whelan’s @ 7:30pm – Dublin, Ireland
Oct 5 Sat – Saint Luke’s @ 7:30pm – Glasgow, United Kingdom
Oct 6 Sun – Belgrave Music Hall @ 7:30pm – Leeds, United Kingdom
Oct 7 Mon – Band on the Wall @ 7:30pm – Manchester, United Kingdom
Oct 9 Wed – Union Chapel @ 7:30pm – London, United Kingdom
Oct 10 Thu – St George’s Church @ 7:30pm – Brighton, United Kingdom
Oct 11 Fri – Llais Festival 2024 @ 8:00pm – Islet – Cardiff, United Kingdom
Oct 13 Sun – Konzertvenue bee-flat im PROGR @ 7:30pm – Bern, Switzerland
Oct 14 Mon – Kaufleuten @ 8:00pm – Zurich, Switzerland
Oct 17 Thu – Santeria Toscana 31 @ 8:00pm – Milano, Italy
Oct 19 Sat – Kino Ebensee @ 7:30pm – Ebensee, Austria
Oct 20 Sun – MeetFactory @ 7:30pm – Prague, Czech Republic
Oct 21 Mon – Heimathafen Neukölln @ 8:00pm – Berlin, Germany
Oct 22 Tue – Mojo Club @ 8:00pm – Hamburg, Germany
Oct 25 Fri – Muziekgieterij @ 7:30pm – Maastricht, Netherlands
Oct 27 Sun – Doornroosje @ 7:30pm – Nijmegen, Netherlands
Oct 28 Mon – Botanique @ 7:30pm – Bruxelles, Belgium
Oct 29 Tue – Café de la Danse @ 7:30pm – Paris, France
Oct 30 Wed – De Duif @ 7:30pm – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nov 1 Fri – DR Koncerthuset Studie 2 @ 9:00pm – København, Denmark
Nov 3 Sun – Parkteatret Scene @ 7:00pm – Parkteatret Scene – Oslo, Norway
Nov 5 Tue – Festival Mil·lenni 2024 @ 9:00pm – Barcelona, Spain
Nov 6 Wed – Lula Club @ 8:00pm – Madrid, Spain
Dec 13 Fri – National Sawdust @ 7:30pm – Brooklyn, NY, United States
Mar 30 Sun – Big Ears Festival 2025 @ 7:00pm – Knoxville, TN, United States
Apr 4 Fri – Angelo Mai @ 9:30pm – Roma, Italy
Apr 8 Tue – Limelight @ 7:30pm – Belfast, United Kingdom
Apr 10 Thu – Roisin Dubh @ 7:30pm – Galway, Ireland
Apr 11 Fri – Cork Opera House @ 7:30pm – Cork, Ireland
Apr 12 Sat – Quarterhouse @ 7:00pm – Folkestone, United Kingdom
Apr 13 Sun – Exeter Phoenix @ 7:30pm – Exeter, United Kingdom
Apr 15 Tue – Papillon @ 7:30pm – Southampton, United Kingdom
Apr 16 Wed – St George’s Bristol @ 7:30pm – Bristol, United Kingdom
Apr 17 Thu – Warwick Arts Centre @ 7:30pm – Coventry, United Kingdom
Apr 18 Fri – Trades Club @ 8:00pm – Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom
Apr 19 Sat – The Tung Auditorium @ 7:30pm – Liverpool, United Kingdom
Apr 21 Mon – Norwich Arts Centre @ 7:00pm – Norwich, United Kingdom
Apr 23 Wed – The Glasshouse @ 8:00pm – Gateshead, United Kingdom
Apr 24 Thu – The Caves @ 7:00pm – Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Apr 25 Fri – Kulturhaus Karlstorbahnhof @ 8:00pm – Heidelberg, Germany
Apr 26 Sat – Club Manufaktur @ 7:30pm – Schorndorf, Germany
May 16 Fri – Raye Freedman Arts Centre @ 7:00pm – Auckland, New Zealand
May 17 Sat – Old St Paul’s @ 7:00pm – Wellington, New Zealand
May 18 Sun – The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts @ 7:00pm – Christchurch, New Zealand
May 22 Thu – The Princess Theatre @ 7:00pm – Woolloongabba, Australia
May 23 Fri – City Recital Hall @ 7:00pm – Sydney, Australia
May 24 Sat – Melbourne Recital Centre @ 7:00pm – Melbourne, Australia
May 25 Sun – The Sound Doctor @ 7:00pm – Anglesea, Australia
May 29 Thu – Odeon Theatre @ 7:00pm – Hobart, Australia
May 31 Sat – State Theatre Centre Of WA @ 7:00pm – Perth, Australia