Description
CD Review by Graham Seal
Anna Glynn is a contemporary artist who develops multi-media projects and does them very well, judging by the dizzying array of exhibitions, residencies and awards on her website.
On this CD, Anna presents the results of a Parks Victoria Artist in Residence program on a large Yarra riverfront property.
By coincidence, it turned out that the property overlooked the farm where she grew up.
This synchronicity inspired this project, rendering her impressions of the place through her memories of childhood, using paintings, art, writing, music and performance.
Most of this ended up in a book titled Strange Memories and this is the musical performance aspect of the project.
The final piece, ‘Forever Again’, gives the tone and style of many of the lyrics on the CD:
I know this place
I’ve been here before
I know this place
I am here again
Together again
Forever again
Together again
I’m here
I know this place
I am here again
Forever again
Together again
Forever again
It’s near
Together again
Forever again
Together again
I’m here
Place, time and emotion are often evoked through word fragments and the texture of the accompaniments, rather than through narrative as in folk ballads.
Throughout the recording, Anna’s appropriately minimalist words are beautifully accompanied by keyboards, violin, cello and voices to evoke a time and place, as envisioned by Anna ‘I played the keyboard with eyes closed and was at that place – walking by the river, smelling the eucalyptus, a warm breeze on my back – gone back in time.’
Arrangements range from the jazz blues, ‘Pony Girl’, sung beautifully by Jane MacIntosh, through to melodies that are often folkish, ethereal and beautifully played.
All fitting accompaniments to Anna Glynn’s book, ‘Strange Memories’, available through Trad&Now TN029-B – $30.
