I remember reviewing Anna Calvi's self-titled debut album in 2011, it was cold. It's
Britain in the winter, do you expect any different? Calvi's art rock piece
earned a Mercury Prize nomination, deservedly. It sounds like the typical
soundtrack to an Anglo-Français film set in a coffee house. "Desire"
offered up the single quality, which bribgs to mind the work of PJ Harvey's
90s material, with the vocal aesthetics and sincerity of Siouxie Sioux. "Suzanne And I" worked perfectly
as an experimental pop song, with focus on Calvi's deep and sensitive vocal.
Calvi tends to put emphasis on character names, which is why her new single stands
out as an improvement, but at the same time holds back ideas and potential to
what her sophomore album could contain.
"Eliza" is the pre-release single from One Breath,
featuring a change of producer: John Congleton. He's worked with Joanna Newsom,
Bill Callahan, Modest Mouse, and David Byrne - a blend of artists Calvi would happily
be placed alongside. "Eliza" is a turn away from the quiet, self-confessing
songs of Anna Calvi. There's a change of pace, something Calvi needed in
her developing sound. The track title acts as the refrain, simple but sweet.
There's thumping percussion and an uplifting guitar progression from Calvi's
ever present rhythm guitar. It sounds just as poignant and fresh as it did with
"Rider To The Sea" two years ago. If this is the developed sound of
an up and coming British singer-songwriter, then I can't wait to hear her
sophomore album in full, ready for the winter.
~Eddie
