Tracey Thorn - Plain Sailing Goodbye Joe

Review by Denzel Spencer Ngwenya

Tracey Thorn's album Plain Sailing Goodbye Joe is a masterpiece of melancholic beauty. With her signature honeyed voice, Thorn delivers a collection of songs that are at once intimate and universal, exploring themes of loss, love, and the passage of time.

The album opens with the haunting title track, a slow-burning ballad that sets the tone for the rest of the record. Thorn's lyrics are poetic and evocative, painting vivid pictures of heartbreak and longing. The instrumentation is sparse but effective, with delicate acoustic guitar and piano providing a perfect backdrop for Thorn's vocals.

Throughout the album, Thorn showcases her versatility as a songwriter and performer. From the upbeat pop of "It's All True" to the haunting folk of "Falling Off a Log," she demonstrates a mastery of different genres and styles. The standout track, however, is the achingly beautiful "By Piccadilly Station I Sat Down and Wept," a heartbreaking ode to lost love that is both devastating and uplifting.

Summary by Denzel Spencer Ngwenya

Plain Sailing Goodbye Joe is a stunning album that showcases Tracey Thorn's talents as a songwriter, singer, and storyteller. It is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates thoughtful, introspective music that speaks to the human experience.