Project 5.4: Who Is Ann?
Self-Released, 2019
8/10
Listen to Project 5.4: Who Is Ann?
Terri Hendrix has had a busy year, with several releases that, although stylistically different, all share the common thread of her atypical and high creative song craft.
This installment, the Who Is Ann EP, sits closest to electronica, where loops, samples and talking are all part of the artistic and adventurous template.
“Drive” starts the listen vocally strong with warm harmonies as the music resides close to Americana with timeless folk storytelling as Hendrix injects spoken word, and “Happy” then steers right into electronica and poetry from Hendrix in the feel good tune that isn’t short on grooves.
The last 3 tunes are just as interesting, and include the playful percussion and sweet strumming of “Move”, which will certainly get your body moving, as well as the culturally strong and beat driven “Woman”, where hushed vocals run alongside the frisky tempo. “Grieve” ends the EP with emotive singing and soft, agile musicianship in the orchestral and piano heavy exit.
Although it may seem odd to use pedal steel and mandolin alongside ‘80s indebted keys, Hendrix and company do a fine job here while addressing weighty issues, both personal and political. An extremely prolific songwriter as of lately, Hendrix continues to produce all substance and no flash with her timeless, relevant art.
Travels well with: Lori McKenna- The Tree; Mary Gauthier- The Foundling