There’s always something that takes you by surprise and that’s one of the great joys of life in my less than humble opinion. So and verily, we have a protest album here created by the collaborative communism of the Annabelle Chvostek Ensemble featuring the distinctly delectable vocals of sometime Wailin’ Jenny, Annabelle Chvostek.
All that time doing sonorous harmonies has served Ms Chvostek well. On first acquaintance, “Rise” caresses you as it drifts by but there is more to be discovered after you have bought this album a coffee and a croissant. Like the eminently polite political commentary contained within “G20 Song”. Or the somewhat bitter cup of herbal tea that comes with the self righteous posturing of “Do You Think You’re Right”. This is protest, right enough, but cleverly disguised as innocuous Americana and you certainly won’t find this ensemble doing a drive by shooting on the Catholic Church like, say, Well Hung Heart would.
As something of a compensation for limiting themselves to using eloquence and elocution to get the political message across to deaf ears, the Annabelle Chvostek Ensemble also get the opportunity to go large and fly with the anthems with the title track of this album. Now this is a song to truly stir the blood.
In a time when people can’t cross the road without the help of an iPhone app, protest songs are somewhat incongruous. That said, it takes courage to even attempt the creation of such things. A tip of the hat is therefore due to the Annabelle Chvostek Ensemble.