Little Annie "Diamonds Made of Glass" Streamline 1021 2001 (18:53)
Diamonds
Made of Glass (5:18)
Lullaby
(3:44)
Diamonds
Made of Glass (remix by Christoph Heemann) (9:51)
Little Annie, aka Annie Anxiety Bandez, is best known to me for her neurotic stream of conscious performance on "Thing's Happen" from Coil's 1991 masterpiece "Love's Secret Domain". But, her extended discography stretches back to the mid '80s with several solo singles and albums including collaborations with Penny Rimbaud of Crass, On-U Sound, The Wolfgang Press, Current 93 and COH. She also paints (see cover) and participates in poetry readings in the NYC area. This 3 track disc pairs her words and voice with Joseph Budenholzer of Backworld and one Larry 'Super Model' T. The title track comes in two flavors: smoky original and spacious remix by Christoph Heemann (Mirror, Mimir). Slow and slinky piano, brushed snare and bass guitar set the jazzy groove for Annie's seductive vocal. She wryly complains "liaisons of leisure / that once gave me pleasure / don't give me no pleasure no more" and, later, lovingly purrs "I want to run my hand / against the grain / to watch the sparks that fly / like ladyfingers / filet mignon / above the nighttime sky". Clever and sexy. "Lullaby" is just that as Annie comforts a lover back from an unspecified war, assisted by pretty vibe keys, synth strings, intertwined guitars and the gentlest possible rhythm. Heemann's nearly 10 minute remix does what he does best by framing the song in an expansive haze. For five minutes the original track is barely audible, submerged in a soft ambient texture. Then the song begins again, still hazy and broadened, but with the vocals distinctly clear. The effect is staggering, simply by making the song more ethereal. "Diamonds.." is fantastic - single of the year so far, tied with Antony and the Johnsons "I Fell in Love With a Dead Boy". Annie's autobiography "Life's a Cabaret Then You Die" will be released this year and a new album is forthcoming on David Tibet's Durtro label ...
Little Annie
Streamline
catalog at Drag City
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via CD Universe.