I did include this album in my top 25 of the year, but hadn’t got around to reviewing it at that point. Since then I have pretty much listened to the album on almost a daily basis. If I were to be doing my end of year blog now, I would have to say that Lazybody would be in my top five favourite albums of the year. Note to self, wait until it is actually the end of the year before revealing any lists…
I Don’t Mind…Until I Mind
There is a certain stunning unique quality to Annie’s vocal that always manages to hit that sweet spot somewhere between joyous, comforting and an air of melancholy.
The first single from the album, Cocoon is a case in point. Opening things in style, the blend of lush instrumentation is warm and envelops you entirely, while the vocal delivery bounces from giving you a verbal hug, to having an air of uncertainty as she delivers her heartfelt lyrics.
“Been a long week, I need to cut loose” sings Annie at the start of Soho. Paired with the duo of strings and piano, this is an incredible platform for her plaintive vocal, while Nowhere is musically more strident and forceful as she pores over her options “what the hell am I supposed to do”.
Beautiful Crescendo
The laidback steel guitar country feel of Ruby rises to a beautiful crescendo in the chorus before Annie repeats the gently urgent plea for more time. Given the extreme tenderness in the request, if it was in my power I’d give her all the time in the world The spoken word of Nightvan which follows affects you emotionally in its intense, almost chilling minimalistic arrangements used to great effect.
The second single from the album Tropic opens with gently strummed guitar and Annie painting vivid pictures with her gently delivered lyrics – “salt spray lights your feathered hair” – as the song builds it adds further mellow and utterly beautifully played instruments creating a sumptuous blend of Annie’s vocal atop an incredibly touching melody.
Blissed Out
Wave rolls over you carrying you back out to sea as the blissed out rhythm drifts through your senses and the steel guitar sings to you like a sweet lullaby. Then Collector hits you, softly at first but as the emotional intensity of the lyrics and the sweeping orchestration builds, the incredible power of this song really hits hard and leaves you raw and ragged with emotion.
Musically, Valley is the biggest sounding song on the album with a pulsating intent that builds to a crashing intensity before Embers brings the tempo back down again with its wistful closing statement “You have my heart” and an exhale of breath introduces the delicate beauty of Fallow Year closing the album and almost bringing this listener to tears such is the fragility of the delivery.
Laxybody is such a compelling and intensely beautiful listen, it seems in terms of creativity it has been anything but a fallow year for Annie and I’m gutted I missed the album launch gig in the Glad Cafe, I’m convinced hearing these songs in a live environment would just have in creased the power and emotion of this extraordinary collection of songs.