Anna Calvi (self-titled)
LABEL: Domino

Anna Calvi is an English singer-songwriter who gained an unbelievable amount of attention in 2010. Her band was featured as a nominee on BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll — a poll designed to bring attention to up-and-coming artists. Anna Calvi’s nomination is well deserved, and with the release of her band’s debut, Anna Calvi, she is in position to become an absolute force in the music world.

“The smooth, glossy feel of Calvi’s chords often turn into robust, relentless tones that sound like they’re ready to burst through your headphones.”

The hardest thing I think I’ve ever had to do as writer came while working on this review. I feverishly asked myself, “How do I describe Anna Calvi’s voice?” It’s not that I have a difficult time thinking of words or expressions to describe it, but there are just so many adjectives at my disposal: beautiful, powerful, breathtaking, stunning, phenomenal—the list goes on. Anna Calvi’s voice is simply tremendous; it’ll make listeners swoon. Calvi hits impossibly difficult notes with such preciseness; I was nearly blown off my chair whilst listening to tracks like “The Devil” and “Suzanne And I.” She bellows tender lyrics, providing a beautiful contradiction of sound and content. Calvi is able to reach into the depths of her body and mind to produce vocals I never thought were humanly possible. From the valley lows to the mountain highs, Calvi’s vocal range unique in its diversity and brilliance.

Lyrically, Anna Calvi provides the sort of evocativeness reserved for three-hour long, Oscar-nominated dramas. She writes from the soul, and opens her ribcage to expose a passionate, beating muscle. She bears herself for all to witness, even going as far as admitting losing control of her own mind, “A feeling coming from nowhere, taking over me (“First We Kiss”).” Her choice of words goes unparalleled; she provides exceptional lyrical imagery that’s earnest and expressive, as she whimpers into the void, “My heart beats against the water.” For Calvi, it’s not about being poetic, it’s about being true to herself and reality, and it’s about trying to describe the emotions that are the hardest to reveal.

Anna Calvi and her band are also prolific when it comes to creating stellar instrumentation. Take for instance the standout track, “No More Words”, where Calvi’s guitar play is unmatched as she creates melodies that drip into listener’s ears. In the album opener, “Rider To The Sea”, Calvi displays her incredible masterdom of the six-stringed beast: she juxtaposes breezy blues with the dissonance of abstract jazz, and then ends the piece in a frantic arpeggio-like solo that destroys any notion of normalcy. The smooth, glossy feel of Calvi’s chords often turn into robust, relentless tones that sound like they’re ready to burst through your headphones.

Anna Calvi is a persistent album that doesn’t try to beat listeners over the head; instead, the album subtly dominates its way into appreciation. The fine details that make this album so fundamentally great are the same details that make this album unforgettable. Anna Calvi and her band’s debut left me nearly breathless. Anna Calvi is an alluring piece that tears down the walls of conventionalism and instead builds a grandiose, luxurious house for all to reside in.


REVIEWED BY ADRIAN ROJAS
ADRIAN’S FAVES: “Rider To The Sea” • “No More Words” • “First We Kiss”
Read more from Adrian on his blog, On the Importance of Being Rash


FREE MP3: “Blackout” (right-click & save)