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CD Review
ANNA PHOEBE
“Gypsy”
Anna Phoebe is the latest addition to the line of young, seductively
gorgeous Jethro Tull guest violinists started by Eddie Jobson back
in 1980. Anna is due to join the Tull boys for the UK tour
commencing in March, and will play around a hundred dates with them
throughout the year. The publicity photos on her website suggest a
treat in store – but can she cut the mustard musically?
Open and shut case, m’lud, on the evidence of her debut albumette.
Of the range of influences on show here, classical is conspicuous by
its absence. What we get is a mainly self-penned/co-written melting
pot of rock and asian/middle-eastern/arabic folk, with as many
tablas as drums, and the full gamut of powerful, wild, romping,
swaying, moody, haunting, ethereal and downright uplifting electric
fiddling from Ms Phoebe. Several numbers (Gypsy, 99 Lives and
my current fave From Bombay To Beirut) would effortlessly
segue into Jethro Tull songs such as Rare And Precious Chain
and El Nino. But there’s plenty of contrast too. Parts of
Revenge would not sound out of place on a Mogwai album, while
the breakneck Western rock of Phoenix Hotel smacks you
straight between the eyes with a riff nicked from Free’s Wishing
Well and some frenetic bow-scraping that would make Joe
Satriani’s eyes water. The all-too-short CD winds things up on an
agreeably anti-climactic note with the traditional Irish lament
Aghadoe complete with atmospheric waterfront sound effects. If I
had an overall criticism it’s that the production could have been
sharper; but in terms of the music itself I can’t wait to see Anna
playing some of these songs with JT in accompaniment.
This is not my top album of the last 12 months (Beirut’s Gulag
Orkestar, actually) but it’s a definite contender for the
play-offs. Check out the samples at
www.annaphoebe.com and then order for a bargain price
from
www.annaphoebe.com/GypsyOrder.htm
(ships worldwide) or pick up a copy from the merch stand at an
upcoming Tull gig.
Martin Webb
'A New Day' magazine
www.anewdayrecords.co.uk
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