Emma Donovan & The Putbacks - Dawn (2014)

The album starts off on a funky note with “Black Woman,” which definitely draws from 1970s era soul and funk, with the prominent wah-wah electric guitar. This is also the case in Dawn’s first single, “Daddy,” whose funk vibe is paired with percussion that sounds Latin in many of its rhythms. The electric guitar weaves in and out, bringing with it a burst of passion that goes hand and hand with Donovan’s passionate lyrics. Her vocals are full of emotion and soul, sounding both rebellious and mysterious as she sings “Ain’t no use tryin’ to set me free, I can see what you’re hiding from me.”
That honesty is reflected in Emma Donovan & the PutBacks’ debut album, Dawn, in which Donovan sings about her personal life, including “domestic and emotional violence, hardship and depression.” This rawness is reflected in the live aspect of Dawn, which was recorded in one room on eight channels of analog tape. This doesn’t detract from the quality of the album, though, which has a very full sound. It draws from multiple different genres, such as country, funk, and rock, but at the heart of Dawn is Donovan’s warm, deep voice, which is full of soul.

TRACKLIST

1. Black Woman
2. My Goodness
3. Dawn
4. Mother
5. Daddy
6. Keep Me in Your Reach
7. Come Back to Me
8. Voodoo
9. Over Under Away