Ana Popovic: Power Review

Power is Ana Popovic’s 14^th album since Hometown in 1998 and is scheduled to be released on May 5, 2023. Popovic is Serbian and was born in Belgrade when it was still the capitol of Yugoslavia. She began playing guitar at the age of 15 through the Bosnian Civil War. In 2001 she toured with Bernard Allison and by her second album she recorded Hush for Ruf Records. This led to her becoming the only continental European artist to ever be nominated for the W.C. Handy Award “as “Best New Artist” in 2003. Over the past two decades she’s shared the stage with top blues artists from B. B. King and Buddy Guy to Jeff Beck and Joe Bonamassa and appeared on the covers of multiple magazines.

At the beginning of the pandemic she was diagnosed with breast cancer. During that same time period the Blues Foundation nominated Popovic for the seventh time as the “Blues Rock Artist of the Year.” She conceived and recorded Power while flying from L.A. to Amsterdam 14 times to receive her chemotherapy treatments. Ana collaborated on Zoom with her bass player and co-producer Buthel to work on the songs that became the new album. A total of 18 musicians participated to some degree in the recording of the album. A core power trio consisting of Popovic on vocals & a variety of guitars that included everything from a nylon stringed classical and Paul, D’Angelico jazz guitar to Fender Strats and a Gibson Les Paul along with Chris Coleman on drums & vocals and bass guitar and vocals by Buthel.

The opening cut is “Rise Up” a biblical reference spoken by Jesus in the 14^th chapter of the gospel of John. Lazarus was dead for three days when Jesus commanded him to rise up and come forth from the grave. It’s a fitting title to give a song that reflects Popovic’s own resurrection story when she sings “Lazarus’s got nothing on you.” The song’s lyrics were penned by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Tia Sillers and Mark Selby and sung in tight harmony. “Power Over Me” was co-written by Popovic as were the rest of the songs on the album. Ana’s vocals are sexy sounding and the guitar playing is superb as the rest of the band consisting of Michele Papadia and Jeremy Thomas on keys, Claudio Giovagnoli on saxophone, Davide Ghidoni on trumpet, Mark Mullins on trombone, Brad Walker on tenor sax and Bob Campo on trumpet with Jerry Kelley adding vocals to round it out.

“Doing This” opens with a Latin sounding beat and the guitar opening is reminiscent of Santana. It features Coleman’s relentless drumming and Brandon ‘Showtime’ Bland playing the Hammond organ. Harmony singing is perfect at a breakneck tempo with Jerry Kelly, Noel Burns and Tasha Parker.

“To be doin’ this I get powered up from doin’ this

My mind is stronger when I’m doin’ this”

“Luv’n Touch” is a ballad that according to Popovic “affirms that relationships can be work, but that one special person is all you need to survive this troubling and turbulent world.” It’s a mellow jazzy sounding composition where voice and guitar interplay. There are lush harmonies along with a stinging guitar accompaniment. “Queen of the Pack” as well as all the other compositions were co-written by Popovic and Burns Corey Ladell. The lyrics tell the story of Ana being the band leader and boss lady of this musical endeavor. The cut employs the horn section to play her guitar against while her voice soars. “Strong Taste” is a hard rocking drum driven cut with vocal and instrument interplay as Popovic’s guitar and Bland’s Hammond organ drive the song along with powerful harmonies.

“Baby you know I got a

Strong taste for the get down”

“Recipe Is Romance” is a light jazzy composition that employs every member of the band including Joe Foster on rhythm guitar. It’s a positive proclamation “to all women that you can still feel attractive,” even after experiencing a medical trauma. “Deep Down” is a R&B style number that employs the vocal harmony of the band to delve “deep down in your soul.” “Ride It” opens jazzy with horns and segues into vocals with Michele Papadia’s Hammond organ keys pumping out until the guitar takes it to the conclusion as the rest of the band joins in. “Flicker ‘N Flame” is a stripped down power trio comprised of Popovic on guitars & vocals, Buthel on bass & vocals and Chris Coleman on drums. It’s a get down rocking out number that was co-written by Popovic, Burns Corey Ladell, Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis.

“You’re a bullet

I’m a hunter baby

We’re a Flicker and a Flame”

“Turn My Luck” is a gospel sounding cut that opens to strings and segues into steady rhythmic hand clapping accompanied by a stripped down power trio. As the song progresses the lyrics are spat out with nearly a rapping rhythm.

Power is a powerful statement, produced by an equally powerful performer whose nearly superhuman efforts while experiencing a serious and life threatening medical episode produced an album that is a musical diary or journal. At the same time that it is a personal statement it’s relevant to a wider audience because it also was a reflection of the same experience that the pandemic produced for everyone. The cover image of the album sums up the period with a black and white arm intertwined representing a desire for racial unity.

The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Power Over Me
– Doin’ This
– Strong Taste
– Ride It
– Flicker ‘N Flame

The Big Hit

– Flicker ‘N Flame

Buy the album: Amazon