Title: Terrorarium
Artist: Anna Leong
Genre: Pop / Indie / Acoustic
Release Date: 17th October 2008
Label: White Weekend
Album Review
ANNA LEONG is an Indie band from North Sweden formed in 2003 and released their first 7" single ‘Fever’ in 2005 on Chalksounds Records. Their debut album ‘After the Forest Fire’ was released on 31st January 2007 on their own label ‘White Weekend’ on which they released their second album ‘Terrorarium’ which had its release here juts a few days ago.
If you first look at the cover, showing an alligator about to eat a rabbit you’ll might be little confused if you put the CD in your player to hear some easy listening indie pop which doesn’t appear to spectacular in the first place, but there’s still some music out there, needing time to grow and unfold and the second ANNA LEONG album is one of those cases opening with the saddening notes of an acoustic guitar solo and a xylophone before the first verse appears and the vocals reminding me of Chris Martin from COLDPLAY occasionally. Amongst this there’s always a psychedelic organ solo spreading anything but happiness. No, this isn’t easy listening by all means and I begin to understand why the band chose that cover.
But it gets clear all of a sudden with the following ‘Frightened Eyes’ painting a contrasting image with an almost happy piano intro, but when the drums are starting and we hear the lyrics about child abuse, this melody appears like a bad joke. The ‘Happiness’ of the next song just seems to be an illusion and all the more it leaves a fairly bitter taste in the mouth to use the term ‘Happy’ on this song at all looking at the lyrics. “On this side of town, the sun still shines, we are so happy now” Yeah, ignorance sometimes can be a blessing “Sleep tight, they just make barricades” and while other people just don’t know here to get their next meal we sit down for Sunday’s Dinner. What a happy world. Oh and in case I forgot to mention, the song is drenched in psychedelic sounds and piano glimpses to give you the feeling of a sunny Sunday evening. Enjoy!
‘Sixteen white Country Boys’ seems like an escape to me, an escape from a place filled with dark memories. Sad sounds overshadow a big part of this song, apparently originating from a harmonica or a synth, other times it doesn’t sound sad at all and amidst all the emotional voice is placed to lend it an extra of bereavement. The xylophone returns on ‘Pulling Down the Blinds’ and has it’s parade appearance on it, constantly thumping in the background, while the soft drums, the gently pushing chords of the guitar and the partly extremely high chant sometimes give you the feeling of listening to one of these lazy meaningless indie rock tunes while the lyrics provide the sharp contrast and the darkness always find its way back into it. With ‘Hercules’ one already sees the end of ‘Terrorarium’ arising - a payoff with all those living a dogmatic lifestyle, neglecting everybody who’s second-guessing their rules and regulations and their often limited world view.
The strength of ANNE LEONG undoubtedly is to combine socially critical and serious lyrics with a chilling indie rock attitude and even if the arrangements have been reduced to a handful of instruments they’re still revealing something new with every new listen. A contrast program for everyone who likes to take a trip to the dark side of the moon or the other side of the medal with a somewhat sunny undercurrent. I’m sure they’ll considerably expand the audience with this all
Tracklist
01. Guillotine – 3:06
02. Frightened eyes – 2:51
03. Happiness – 2:29
04. Sixteen white country boys – 4:53
05. Let's fall in love – 2:33
06. Pagan's dance – 3:46
07. Battered, bruised and cold – 2:36
08. Poverty grove – 2:44
09. Something you knew – 3:22
10. Pulling down the blinds – 3:05
11. Hercules – 4:23
Line-up
Jonas Bergsten
Erik Hörnsten
Daniel Nylén
Filip Sundberg
Website
http://annaleongmusic.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/annaleong
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8
{jos_sb_discuss:19}
Comments powered by CComment