Annalivia
Album: The Same Way Down
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.annaliviamusic.com

I first came across the music of Liz Simmons via the duo she shares with Hannah Sanders and their EP "World Begun". I was really impressed and offered them a slot on one of the Fatea Showcase Sessions, which I'm pleased to say they accepted and whilst Annalivia is different in its delivery it is none the less impressive.

In addition to Liz's guitar and vocal, the quartet have the twin fiddle attack and vocal harmonies of Emerald Rae and Mariel Vandersteel and the guitar, mandolin and shruti box of Flynn Cohen, who also takes the occasional slot in lead vocal capacity.

Now just looking at those names, you might be thinking to yourself, "I bet that they bring a real range of musical influences to the band," and you'd be right. Across both the songs and instrumentals of "The Same Way Down" you can pick up the likes of bluegrass, from the west, through a Celtic centre and Norwegian influences from the east, all fused together to greater and lesser extents.

Similarly there's a healthy mix of traditional songs and originals spread across the album, with the eclectic mix of influences allowing for some arranging opportunities to breathe a different life into more familiar songs, such as the opening track, "False Sir John".

Aoife O'Donovan guests on "Restless For Awhile", one of the songs penned from within the band, a song that is, slightly mellower and less percussive in nature than much of the album. There's a lot of picking and plucking across the album, with much of the twin fiddle attack being a blend bowing and plucking and it sounds divine.

Annalivia have insured that there is always something happening to hold your attention, be it the sweet harmonies, the playing off of the strings, the tight arrangements and consequently "The Same Way Down" has got a lot going for it, as you'll, no doubt, discover.

Neil King