Music for grownups. Now there’s a term that I don’t often get to use. There is, of course, plenty of music being made by people of mature years yet, more often than not, their musical intent becomes more a recollection of potential past glories than words and music reflecting the lessons that we will all learn on our journey to grey hair and bus passes. The Anchoress might not have grey hair but she clearly has the ability to infuse the essence of real life experience into her album “As We Once Were”.
Her words are grounded in the reality of her place in our time yet, where once the intent would have been protest, this is now replaced by the sound of hymns of inequality. That said, the art is still strong here and, while only a couple of songs on this album could be classed as potential three minute radio fast food, the underlying theatricality – it would not be a stretch of the collective imagination to see this album transferred to the stage – will nonetheless proves rather appealing to discerning ears. Serious subjects are dealt with, as are more personal ones, but everything is carefully considered for its position in this musical work that reflects on things lost and never recovered and how such things become subjective with the passing of time. The mix of the organic and the synthetic is also worthy of note with the effect of the loops and samples being to provide a time and space stylistic counterpoint to the more spiritual elements that only be truly delivered by the artistic efforts of man (or should that be woman?).
It is fair to say that, for greatest enjoyment, “As We Once Were” is an album to be listened as one, as a whole and in its entirety. I don’t suppose for a moment that I am the intended market for the music of The Anchoress but anyone who has the ability to spiritually enhance these dark days must be worthy of applause even if said applause is likely to be virtual. This is music for grownups indeed.