annabella’s return this season brings a full length album of beautifully expressive, entrancing songs that further the experience in a wonderful way called Yellow.
Picky is an early highlight from the project, the singer’s voice meanders in a captivating manner, meanwhile poetic observations and personal reflection intertwine in a piece of writing that is refreshingly honest. The characteristics in Annabella’s voice and indeed in many of the lines throughout this song have a certain authenticity about them – you don’t question the heart or the perspective, you just take it as truth, and in being that they still manage to stand tall as fascinating and easy to connect with; a rare combination of traits that make this a stunning piece of art. Musically too, the song offers an organic pop-rock warmth and a series of vocal harmonies that help light up the outer edges and emphasise certain ideas within.
What Just Went Down is another immediately likeable song from the new album. A simple acoustic riff backs up a gentle vocal outpouring that’s again undeniably honest, open, and incredibly valuable in among a mainstream music world of somewhat regurgitated popular ideas and vague references.
Annabella offers a carefree approach to creativity, but not so much so that the music doesn’t work – far from it. Her writing is effective because it comes from a meeting between loving music and needing to make it, needing to say certain things in this way. This song builds up in a magnificent manner, the quiet grows to be intense and multi-layered, the simplicity evolves into multiple colours of complexity, and all the while the rising energy sweeps you away with it.
Adding further relatable truth to the collection is a song called To My Mirrored Soul. This one showcases the singer at perhaps her most vulnerable of all. The lyrics don’t explicitly deal with the self, they direct the ideas at a significant other, or ‘you’. Even so, the title calls upon the listener to appreciate this as self-assessment, the sort that breaks you down and subsequently builds you up a little stronger.
The delicate ambiance here gives off a folk aura that suits the singer’s gentle, original leading voice in a simple and calming way. As always, despite the truthfulness, the accessibility, Annabella phrases her thoughts in a manner that seems totally new. It’s as if she says the things you had been thinking or feeling, but you hadn’t known before quite how to say them – as is the role of the genuine artist. This album is absolutely one worth taking home this winter. Be sure to look for the release on 12.14.18 on all major streaming and music platforms.
Rebecca Cullen
Founder & Editor
Musician & writer with an MA in Songwriting.