The hot potato style of Annabelle Chvostek leaps all over
her new album as she well and truly parks the acoustic folk slant to one side to
herald a dark and moody release. Fully creative and experimental in its
serving, BE THE MEDIA twists, turns and snakes around with the empowered
electric guitar driving the sound. This is far removed from the pure tones of
the Wailin’ Jennys where Annabelle raised her profile nearly a decade ago, but
perhaps more in tune with an explorative artist determined to plough the independent
route.
While being an album which warrants a few spins to grasp its
mettle, listeners will detect aspects of old Annabelle alongside the new especially
those in tune with her fiery passion for the protest song. Fans of her previous
Juno nominated album RISE will quickly align with the two numbers providing an
outlet for her anger. The title track ‘Be
the Media’ turns the heat up right from its prominent position of album
opener and proceeds to be the dominant piece on a record where Annabelle has
sought a particularly minimalist approach to making music. A heavier and
rockier sound to this passionate outpouring may need a touch of ear adjusting
but the message is stark and clear. A trait which endears Annabelle to many
likeminded admirers.
With an instantaneous floor to tape feel to the record,
Annabelle once again teams up with regular bassist Jeremie Jones and percussionist
Tony Spina, a trio which become the standard touring format. Unfortunately an
opportunity didn’t arise to catch the recent UK tour to promote the album’s
June 1 release, but there is little doubt she will be back and getting to grips
with the record is a near perfect substitute.
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| Photo by Ximena Griscti |
The other track with protest connotations is the challenge
to faith in ‘Jerusalem’ which soon
gives way to Annabelle seeping into more prophetic mode especially in the dark
and philosophical song ‘Black Hole’,
where the extra musical accompaniment of saw adds to the intrigue. This sound
edges into the follow on track ‘Carnal
Delights’ with a continued eerily feel taking you into the weirder corners
of your mind. For those seeking a little more light, the chorus from this last
track shows a slight glimpse into a brighter world which is then further
illuminated by the palatable beauty of ‘You
Can Come Now'.
The irresistible pull of a Canadian singer-songwriter
covering a Neil Young song is too much for Annabelle as she reaches for the
more conventional mandolin to pay respects to the ever popular ‘Like a Hurricane’. The high quality
take on this track makes it forgivable that Annabelle elected to insert a cover
in a nine song album, which still managed to edge into the optimum forty minute
playing time. The final two songs under consideration are headed by the more intrinsic
rock beat providing the underlay to ‘Inside
the Scream/Screen’, before the conventionally layered song structure
highlights what Annabelle does best in ‘Say
it Right’.
BE THE MEDIA is a record which tempts, lures and fascinates
in equal measure while demonstrating that Annabelle Chvostek can flit around
her folk roots core and enlist the listener on a pursuit of deeper drive. This
desire to experiment in alternative directions makes Annabelle an integral
member of the artistic scene which successfully fuses the traditional and the
progressive.
www.annabellemusic.com