Anna Calvi

Anna Calvi’s debut is one of the best

Anna Calvi’s name has recently begun to appear in press and in Internet, but she has already become an idol of many an individual interested in most varied genres. Due to her expressive manner of performance critics have compared her to Nick Cave and PJ Harvey, besides she is on BBC’s list Sound of 2011 but this is only a beginning. This singer, songwriter and musician masterfully playing electro guitar possess an amazing powerful voice with which she creates the atmosphere and imagery of her songs. Her Italian father has learned her to love music since childhood, which makes her one of those who choose their future profession very early. Such education has resulted into Calvi’s widest range of stylistic interests, from flamenco to Gothic. Getting a degree in Music the girl was trying to overcome her shyness to sing with all her power, and it is really great that she has finally managed to that. After quite a scrupulous work in studio in France collaborating with producer Rob Ellis the singer is releasing her debut album Anna Calvi, the first pretender to be called the best debut of the current year.

Really beautiful and rich accompaniments and impressive vocals on Anna Calvi

There have appeared a lot of talented singers in Great Britain of late but hardly anyone of them can boast faultlessly playing guitar. Anna Calvi has already been dubbed one of the world’s best female guitarists, and she never parts with her favorite instrument at her concerts. Two other musicians form the trio Anna Calvi with her and create really beautiful and rich accompaniments which one can thoroughly enjoy on Anna Calvi. They are Molly Harpaz playing harmonium and drummer Daniel Maiden-Wood. The album opens with the dreamy-fantastic melody Rider To The Sea, in which vocals are practically absent but it is enough to take the listener into Anna Calvi’s unique world. The song No More Words gains momentum gradually starting in a quiet and cautious way and reaching its climax ends likewise, contrasting with the more persistent Desire. One of the record’s highlights is the track Suzanne & I – Anna’s vocal technique on it can only be compared to the excellent guitar solo at the beginning, and you are very likely to listen to the composition more than once. The singer’s love of flamenco, classic music and glam rock is embodied on the luxurious song The Devil, and another dynamic number I'll Be Your Man once again conquers with monumental vocals and the instruments’ harmonious sounding. The album closes with Anna Calvi’s own favorite Love Won't Be Leaving: voice passing from whisper to strong high notes, the mesmerizing guitar, muffled drums and the noise of rattle in Mally’s hands are all united into this magnificent complicated composition lasting beautiful five and a half minutes.

Mysteriousness, seductiveness, softness and aggressiveness

Besides music Anna Calvi has also passion for cinema, which is reflected in her approach to writing and performing her songs. The singer says: ‘I see my songs as mini films’, – and so it really is. She has been influenced by such film directors as David Lynch, Gus Van Sant and Wong Kar Wai; it is probably from them that she has learned mysteriousness, seductiveness, softness and aggressiveness as all these qualities are mixed in her scenic image. Anna writes really interesting lyrics in which she depicts a whole story with little strokes – she had been attending an art school until she was seventeen. That is why every track on Anna Calvi is original and remarkable for its own atmosphere. Besides, each song is structured in such a way that listeners never get used to the monotonous verse-chorus repetition. All the records’ merits have once been Anna Calvi’s ideas, and its forty minutes are enough to understand how talented this singer is. Brian Eno has decided to become her mentor after seeing only one her performance, and it is worth while paying attention to his opinion. In any case once you start listening to the album Anna Calvi, you will listen until the end because there are no failures on it, and the singer’s voice hypnotizes, indeed.