At first glance it would be easy to assume that Anna Lena & The Orchids are just another band trying to wring the final few drops of life from this whole acoustic/folk nonsense that seems to have dying embers that won't quite go out. But there's way more going on here than that. Yes, 'See It In Black' is sweet vocals over a slow backing, but the array of sounds that lie underneath those vocals are warm, sparkling and rich. We're into dreampop land here and hidden depths are found with each listen. We've already written a gushing review of the utterly gorgeous single 'View Of My Sanity', a song that proves that trip-hop can be done in a lighter way without just turning to mush like Morcheeba. It's a big highlight.
The Norwegian and her band aren't resting on their laurels though, and two good songs don't make an EP. 'Miss Audrey' does use the dreaded acoustic guitar and is as close to folk as we get, but it's still far removed from the dull acts that term now conjures up. Mind you, Anna's vocals are enough to make most songs sound vastly improved, but this kind of haunting, atmospheric alt-pop is experimental in its production, even if the song follows an often used structure. "Is this a dream?" are the final words of the song, and it's possible to become so absorbed that you may not be able to give her a definitive answer. Lastly the slightly forlorn 'Six Wheels' tells a tale of escaping for a brighter future, something that Anna Lena & The Orchids surely have ahead of them.
Anna Lena & The Orchids' website
Stream the EP in full
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