Joan Armatrading: Steppin' Out (A&M)

THE AUTHOR of the song is individualised out of all proportion in rock culture. The singer/songwriter subject is built up in such a way that it is not questioned at all by the flux of the song, the production, the interview. The straightforward subjective approach fits like a warm glove over favourite forms of narration and confession (sic), which set the listener in a position of silent vigil, eternal observation, synthesising within hidden meanings (which require interpretation) and the assumption of implicit signs, silent and obscure purposes...