Anniemal [Import]

Imagine a very strange pop cocktail: start with a large shot of new millennium Kylie, add a dose of Rachel Stevens at her best and finally fill up the glass with that fizzy quirkiness that, more than often than one might expect, has made the Scandinavian countries legendary for producing more good music than their small populations might suggest reasonable. If you can you might just have some idea of what to expect from `Anniemal'.
Annie is from Norway and this is her debut effort but you would never guess. Neither conservative nor self consciously weird in style or content - it is very listenable from the start and only gets better with repeated listening. That it is a more than competent debut is a fact; what slowly dawns is that it is a stunningly confident one. It combines a mixture of electronica with pure pop, touches of R `n' B and rock, plus a noticeable dance sensibility in a way that is somehow quite lacking in self-consciousness, let alone any pretension. It is one of those rare albums that give the impression of being created rather than planned perhaps helped by the fact that she co-wrote and produce the majority of the tracks

It starts with `Intro', which has Annie talking over a variety of bleeps and electronic anniemal noises. This is followed by the Richard X produced `Chewing Gum' along with the quite different sounding `Me Plus One'. As he produced Rachel Steven's `Some Girls' the connection is certainly there.
Another outstanding track is `Heartbeat' again co-written and produced by Annie. Many a well-established artist would kill for a track like this, while on the other hand the rather happy dance influenced `Greatest Hit' (As someone suggested to me this is slightly reminiscent of Faithless tracks featuring Dido, but on Prozac!) samples `Everybody' by Madonna, who is undoubtedly a big influence on Annie's music.
The title track `Anniemal' seems to me to be a very subtle parody of Abba. The opening lines, " She's a locked up girl, in a RICH MAN'S WORLD" - `Money, Money, Money' (!) and it goes on, but it is far too clever to ever be crass.

It is very hard to find a filler track on this album, or indeed even a predictable one. It really is that good. If you like pop with a difference then this is worth a listen. Why only 4 stars then? - Well someone this talented has potential to do even better and the scale runs out at five...

Richard (Frome, Somerset, UK)

Leave it to Scandinavia to come up with the most innovative music on earth. First and foremost, no one can deny the impact of Bjork, who hails from Iceland. Then you get Sigur Ros, with their unique blast of a sound. Then you get the breezy sounds of Royksopp, who have worked on a couple of tracks with Norwegian prodigy-child Annie.

With a distinct ear for dance music, an expertise in electronica and the uncanny attempt at experimentalism, Annie unleashes Anniemal to receive a reaction from an industry that is unlikely to praise any music that makes the feet move.

On the other hand Annie did receive dance floor acclaim with her first single which has been on circulated in vinyl since 1999. "Greatest Hit" is a brisk dance track that samples a loop from Madonna's first ill-fated single "Everybody."

Other than that the other tracks have only been available recently, like "Chewing Gum," which is so intentionally cheesy it becomes a work of kitsch.

Other sounds are incorporated into the fusion of this album and give an electro-lush feel. "Always Too Late" caters to R&B fans and "Come Together" is an eight minute long pure disco ditty.

Shakatak tribute "No Easy Love" is both a chill and groove-by track. Then there are the straight-up loud lounge songs like "Me Plus One" and the gorgeous "Anniemal." But the highlight of the album is the haunting backdrop, yet dance-ridden "My Heartbeat," which is definitely a hit waiting to happen.

Other pieces blend dance music from across the pop culture plane. The Telepopmusik cross with 90's drums, "Happy Without You," explains the fusion of this album, while "Helpless Fool For Love" sounds like a mashup between Fashion TV compilations and Donna Summer's monumental "Love To Love You Baby."

Annie is definitely on her way in the music world, ff not for global success, then a club favorite. Anniemal is a giddy ride into the fusion of all dance music from disco to electronica to break-beat.

At first glance and listen, Annie is one of those artists that indie lovers may pass over. That should not be the case. I first heard Annie on KEXP, which is one of the most progressive modern music stations in the US. Annie's sound reminds me of the Tom Tom Club and Human League, Abba, Madonna, and some of the 80's girl groups. What keeps me listening besides the great voice and vocal delivery is the production. The electronic dance beat layering done by the producers is great. This CD will make some great jams whether you are listening alone, at the backyard BBQ, or in the club. Annie should have wide appeal from both the indie crowd and the mainstream pop set. That's a tight-walk that is not easy to maneuver, but Annie pulls it off.

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