Random record purchasing is therapeutic, especially for the reviewer. Listening habits too often get dictated by work schedules and, more often than not, it is the surfeit of unadventurous mediocrity that stuns my ears and leaves them incapable of simple enjoyment. Then there’s also the whole discovery thing – rummaging through the racks in a record shop and just rolling the dice.
From that simple act of adventure, a sonic saviour restored my faith. Her name was Anna Von Hausswolff. Taking “Track of Time” first, the song is intense yet minimalist reeking of discord with a piano balanced against the sound of a soul being wrenched apart. Ms Von Hausswolff’s voice? It burns with purpose like Joan Baez yet has the captivating sensibilities of Sofia Talvik. Then in a wildly dramatic vocal restyle, Ms Von Hausswolff brings a tortured sense of swirling drama to bear on “Pills” in a way that Joe Meek would have approved of.
“Something Is Missing” is darker and almost twisted out of moral shape – much as Lisa Germano would do - but with a touch of jazz to bring it back down into the basement. On “Gloomy Sunday”, her approach is one of sparseness – just like Julie London’s first album, in fact – and she becomes a chanteuse with the spotlight falling on her. There is no other light in the room and, entranced once more by her voice and scrupulous use of allegory, the dawn comes and she is gone.
This was on vinyl, of course and this set of two 7” singles in a handmade gatefold sleeve is a limited edition vinyl of 500. So and verily, the tactile pleasures of the packaging complemented the non corporeal incandesence of Anna Von Hausswolff’s voice. My ears are formally refreshed.