Anja McCloskey - An Estimation
Anja McCloskey's debut solo album released September 3rd is for lack of a better word, complex. Her first solo album. After having worked with the avant-garde street orchestra, the Irrepressibles and former member of Haunted Stereo. The German-American, Southampton based singer-songwriter has really developed. Working with the independent label, Sotone and having the videos for her singles directed by Gillian Sore, she's in good company.
The twelve track album opens with a quick and catchy instrumental titled Decision. Followed by the piano led Buddenbrooks, a much slower and sadder song but it gives McCloskey a chance to demonstrate her vocal range and power. The next song takes us back to the faster paced, cheerier theme of the opening track. With joyful lyrics and catchy strings this is the first stand-out song of the album; it's easy to listen to, infectious and nostalgic.
The Albums single, Instigate It follows on the same cheery sounding backing and simple but catchy string refrains, contrasted by the devastatingly depressing lyrics. McCloskey calls it her funeral song "it's upbeat but it's a farewell song, It has a lot of personal meaning to me". Which is nice but I can't shake the feeling it's going to make people tap their feet inappropriately at it. Tornado produces another twist in the album, with a haunting vocal chorus, deeper tones on the accordion backed by a minimalist playing of an acoustic guitar. The sixth track of the album Quite Low sounds similar in pace and style to Swedish duo Foreign Slippers. The rest of the album continues in much the same manner, a maddening mix of joyful and depressing, quick and slow paced. Almost traditional Romany Gypsy sounding music that makes you nostalgic for a place and time you've never really read about let alone lived in.
It's an album that's impossible to classify. It's varied in every direction and I would probably do it an injustice if I tried to give it a pigeonhole. So I'll let the lady of the hour try; Anja said "well, in HMV the categories have been reduced to dance/urban, Jazz, Classical, Rock & pop and other. So I would say other. Though if I had the choice I'd put myself in alternative, or maybe my dual-citizen ship qualifies me for world music...".
An Estimation is easily the best debut album of the year, powerful vocals and a mix of folk and classical instruments create a genuinely unique sounding record.