Private
Annavox : All Day Breathing (2001)***
"This is the debut CD from Annavox who were formed in the autumn of 2000 and a very pleasing one it is too. Consisting of David Gerritsen, acoustic guitars and vocals, Anna Fritz, cello and vocals. They have combined their strengths and talents to give us a collection of songs that are distinctive, melodic and appealingly intense. The fact that they sound like an ensemble playing with no deceptive recording studio trickery, makes far an organic and well crafted CD. The instrumentation used, with no rhythm section lends itself to material that is passionately played and sung. The songs themselves show a diverse and intelligent view of life and loves complexities, very much like the best singer songwriters (solid subjects, personal and further flung considerations, politics, the humanities, etc.) to have come from folk and poetic traditions. Check out the lyrics on "Xmas", "Biafra" ("How many screams does it take to get to the centre of your soul"), "Skin" and "Not me" to name a few. The arrangements are perfectly suited to the songs with the cello lines providing many spine tingling moments. Being classically trained is not necessarily a guarantee of good arrangements in rock/folk/pop music but in this instance there is an over abundance of wonderful arrangements between the instruments. Production plaudits go to Nathen Lester.
From the opening track 'Radius' with the cello in pizzicato mode until 335, when the cello opens up gloriously you will realise that you are listening to something that is quite special. There is a remarkable consistency overall for which this trio deserves high praise. This CD is an independent release that according to the notes would not exist but for the financial support of some 50 people. All the more reason to give this excellent music your attention. I wish them every success and look forward to hearing more from them." Lawrence Woolfe
