In a bid to fulfill her restless creative needs, Haunted Stereo’s First Lady Anja McCloskey has decided to release her debut solo EP. Born out of the realisation that she was simply overflowing with ideas that would perhaps not fit with Haunted Stereo, “Turn Turn Turn” is the sound of Anja letting her ideas flow with no real consideration for any boundaries. Her own style and personality are stamped all over the five tracks on offer here.
The arrangements are stark and minimalist with no drums or bass appearing anywhere on the record. This helps to bring the appealing vulnerability of Anja’s vocals to the fore and gives the whole EP a tastefully intimate feel. The sound is also more folkier - in a traditional sense – and more laid back than we have come to expect from Haunted Stereo.
“Decision” is the only instrumental here but it sums up the spirit of the EP. Purely made up from layer upon layer of subtle accordion playing, it’s a wonderfully heartwarming piece and is the sound of a creatively free spirit letting their imagination flow. “Ivory” benefits from the light piano which adds colouring whilst the understated melody weaves its web and the melody on and overall feel to “Stephanie – Part II” is simply haunting.
“Turn Turn Turn” triumphs in that it takes a traditional arrangement and turns it into something timeless. Indeed Anja McCloskey continues to create a wonderfully understated and fluid sound that is uniquely her own.
(Hear tracks from and my review on “Turn Turn Turn” on Nick Tann’s “Is This Thing On?” podcast here.)
Paul Lane.
