Anna Corcoran
Album: Anything Better EP
Label: EmuBands
Tracks: 3
Website: http://www.annacorcoran.com/

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Liverpool singer-songwriter Anna Corcoran's debut EP "Anything Better"at Grateful Fred's in Formby. My review of Anna's performance can be found in the "Live" reviews section of this magazine. I was delighted to be asked to also review the EP itself, so here goes.

Anna put on a superb live performance and I'm pleased to say that her EP is up to the same high standard. In fact, it has been on repeat play on my iPod for the past two weeks.

Consisting of three songs, "Anything Better", "Fallen Easy" and " The Show", this is a work of real class. Anna is a magnificent singer and accomplished piano player. The EP she is accompanied by some of Liverpool's most talented players, namely highly -rated singer songwriter Robert Vincent on acoustic guitar, Michael Gay on resonator [he also recorded and mixed the EP], Etienne Girard [double bass], Tom Cowley [no relation] on drums, Stephanie Kearley on cello and Mike Smith [keyboard]. The three songs are universally excellent, starting with the title track "Anything Better", a song which recalls the magical moments in a relationship, which puts me in mind of Joni Mitchell's marvellous "Blue" album [ especially the tracks "Carey" and "A Case Of You" ]. Indeed, Anna has cited Joni as one her greatest influences.

The second track "Fallen Easy" is a beautiful ballad, featuring some gorgeous vocals from Anna and some lovely cello from Stephanie. This is an uplifting song about helping someone in distress ["If you've fallen down by the wayside, I'll carry you, bring you home"].

Apparently, the most popular track on the EP [in terms of downloads] is the third and final track "The Show" and it's not hard to see why as it is a magnificent song in waltz time, which sounds, for all the world, like a number from a classic film or musical [which, presumably, is Anna's intention]. The song features Anna's accomplished piano and more fine cello from Stephanie. The lyrics [ to me, at least] appear to be somewhat ambiguous, as it is not clear whether the subject of the song is "buying a pretty dress" and "painting her lips bright red" for her lover or for the audience. Intriguing stuff. Whatever the precise meaning, it is a stunning track and deserves to be widely heard [ I believe that it has received some airplay on BBC Radio 6].

This EP clearly shows that Anna is a significant talent and I look forward to hearing more of her work as three tracks just isn't enough!

Peter Cowley