Anja Garbarek
Briefly Shaking

THE REVIEW

Anja Garbarek is a chameleon.

I know a review would rarely start this way, but it's the truth: the Norwegian singer-songwriter (daughter of the famous saxophonist Jan) is someone who often changes the game, and she does it with innate mastery. If at first you feel transported by the jazz-like intro, very Billie-Holiday, of “Born That Way”, she manages to surprise you: just when you're relaxed, she sends you a rock fury called “Dizzy With Wonder”, which closely resembles the Pj Harvey of the '90s. Anja, of course, doesn't reach the anger of the English singer but she's close: her piece is simple, staying in mind precisely because it's contrasted with the relaxation of the first track. Then comes “The Last Trick”, a trip hop poem and the first single, in which the singer borrows a string section from Portishead, personalizing it with her unmistakable voice, certainly not capable of high pitches and incredible vocalizations, but certainly seductive and penetrating.

“Sleep” will put your speakers to the test: a volcano of bass and synths that open into a piece with soul undertones. There are no two songs alike on the album: it's a mix of genres that strongly recalls Björk's masterpiece “Post.” So, among the fan-spreading strings, disturbed by Aphex Twin-like noises of the beautiful “Can I Keep Him?” and the almost metal greatness (!), yes, I said metal: I was shocked too!, of “This Momentous Day”, unfolds a highly successful and very diverse album, balancing between ancient and hypermodern, a kaleidoscope of creativity and ideas that can (perhaps) resurrect the poor trip-hop.