Creative and distinctive, poised, poetic and mysterious … LEV is Anna Westin’s new and fascinating indie folk record.
The music seems to aspire to the almost sacred bubble of Iris DeMent, or the atmospheric, multi-layered arthouse soundscapes of Portishead, mixing guitar, bass, piano and percussion with woodwind and strings, the electronic and the ethereal, atmospheric keys and experimental production, the spoken word and multi-layered choral vocals nodding to Gregorian traditions.
Bright Burning Mess welcomes us in, paints a picture and sets the tone. It Is Good You Are Here sounds like part of a film soundtrack, not the only Westin song with a story to tell, propelling events forward. You Found: Luminous opens with a building wave of synths, the bassline throbbing with life, promising much but perhaps unfulfilled in the end. Incense Ascending is a stand-out, intense and arresting. Fire In The Desert and This Is A Movement are more easily accessible and melodic.
There is a certain timelessness to the sound, despite the modern experimentalism. If there’s a sameness to the songs, Westin’s haunting, evocative vocals hold the attention. “Sameness” may be harsh – let’s just say there is a consistency to the modus operandi that suggests a concept album’s recurring themes, ideas and motifs. The arrangements, complex production and carefully integrated sound samples are evidence of meticulous care and attention.
The title, LEV, is the Hebrew word for “heart” and singer-songwriter Westin, based between the east coast of Canada and London, grew up with Irish and Swedish folk songs. Chamber and ambient influences are also there in the eclectic mix on an album that is well worth a listen if you’re into Cassandra Jenkins, Liz Harris, Chelsea Wolfe.
LEV, by Anna Westin, will be released independently on March 25