Annika Fehling
Album: Rust & Gold (EP)
Label: Roots
Tracks: 7
Website: http://www.annikafehling.com

This EP is a swift follow-on from (as opposed to strict followup to) the Swedish singer-songwriter’s Fireflies album, which I reviewed here only a few months back. It presents more of the assured, stylish indie-with-a-hint-of-Americana that I liked about that full-lengther, with as keen a sense of overall quality control. Except: the most curious thing about this EP is that no fewer than three of its tracks are lifted straight from earlier albums – I Know Better (a duet with Markus Rill) appeared on a release entitled Light And Dark (which, confusingly, doesn’t appear on Annika’s website discography), while the poppy With Me and Lonely Love are two of the weakest songs on Fireflies.

Since there was no supporting press release, and Annika’s website yields no clues, I can’t explain, let alone justify, this irrational sales gambit for Rust And Gold; but three of the four new songs are certainly up there with Annika’s best thus far. The plaintive Making It Back complements the sensitive, sweetly intimate Blue, while the more unsettling opening cut Kristallen Den Fina (sung in Annika’s native tongue) is undeniably impressive, if inscrutable.

David Kidman