Anna Calvi – Hunted (Domino): Album Review

Anna Calvi has released a reworking of her last studio album, Hunter, bringing some friends on board, including Julia Holter, Courtney Barnett and Idles’ Joe Talbot. Here’s Marty Duda’s review.

This seven-track new release from Anna Calvi is an interesting animal. All seven songs here were originally recorded and released on Calvi’s previous studio album, Hunter, released in 2018. Calvi has gone back to her original demos and reworked these songs, sometimes with the help of friends such as Julia Holter, Courtney Barnett and Idles’ Joe Talbot. More often than not the results are both striking and revealing.

Take opening track Swimming Pool. Julia Holter adds her ethereal voice to the tune giving it a magical sound and her and Calvi’s voices intertwine. It’s not drastically different than the original version, but it is more alluring.

Track two is a revised version of the song Hunter. This one is more stripped down than the original, losing the synths and emphasizing the twangy guitar. As I am more of a fan of twangy guitar than synths, this sounds good to me.

Then we have another collaboration as Charlotte Gainsourg adds her breathy vocals to Eden. The result is sensuous and sexy with that twang still making an appearance…although I must say that the original version is also very good.

Away sounds like an updated demo. Sparse with lone guitar and voice this is an intimate reading that is haunting and meditative…similar to the original.

Up next, possibly the most interesting track. Don’t Beat the Girl Out Of My Boy, features Courtney Barnett on guitar and vocals. Her presence injects an energy that is infective. It’s got a harder edge than the original version and a great vocal from both women.

Wish features Joe Talbot from Idles on vocals and it’s a noisy, loud punk rock workout with plenty of guitar shredding as he hollers “Please Don’t Stop Me”

Finally, we have Indies Or Paradise, another heavy guitar track keeping the energy level up.

While I admit that I would love to have an album of new material from Anna… she’s been making excellent music since her debut a decade ago, I did enjoy what she’s done to these songs. Anna Calvi is a talented singer, guitarist and producer and she has some very talented friends. Together they have made a fascinating record.

~Marty Duda

Listen to Wish from Hunter.