London multi-instrumentalist AA Williams mixes post-rock with classical elements on her debut album Forever Blue. This sometimes manifests itself as an icy listening experience. The screeching stringed instruments crawl deep under the skin and in elongated compositions Williams keeps the tension arcs taut. Her voice is a bit like Anna Calvi and with that she manages to put a form of theatricality
… in her music within her stately compositions. It's even a shock when someone in Fearless promptly starts grunting. Not only vocally, but also instrumentally, the album has several such explosions. It offers beautiful contrasts within the sometimes serene compositions in which suddenly a screeching riff or pounding percussion is incorporated. You would hardly say that this album was largely recorded in Williams's own bedroom, with her partner taking care of the bass guitar. (JvQ)more
