Arc of a Diver

iTunes Review

Steve Winwood had made his name as a young musical wunderkind, fronting the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith (with Eric Clapton) and recording with Jimi Hendrix on his Electric Ladyland album. His fusion of jazz, blues, pop and psychedelia combined with a soulful voice that drew comparisons to Ray Charles gave him a prestige beyond his twenty-something years. By the time of his second solo album, 1981’s Arc of a Diver, Winwood was nearly an old-hand. Over 30 and like many of his generation facing an unsure musical future, Winwood turned out this eminently catchy collection of tunes that modernized his sound without sacrificing his heartfelt soul. “Slowdown Sundown” recalls the dramatic ends of Traffic. The album’s hit single “While You See A Chance” is positively infectious, while the title track, “Second-Hand Woman,“ and “Night Train“ sport bright, energetic grooves that only slightly overdrive into the ‘80s. (The synthesizers are tastefully applied.) Winwood would continue to reinvent his sound and reputation for the rest of the decade.