''Strange Weather'' is an EP by singer-songwriter
Anna Calvi
Anna Margaret Michelle Calvi (born 24 September 1980) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her accolades include three Mercury Prize nominations, one Brit Award nomination, and a European Border Breakers Award. She has been noted by ...
, consisting entirely of covers. The EP was released on 15 July 2014.
The album was recorded in New York with producer
Thomas Bartlett and mastered at
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music c ...
by Miles Showell.
David Byrne
David Byrne (; born 14 May 1952) is a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, writer, music theorist, visual artist and filmmaker. He was a founding member and the principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of ...
issued a press release describing his involvement with the record:
"I’m a big fan of Anna's two records... and I caught her tour after her first record at Bowery Ballroom here in NY. ‘Epic’ I think is the word that is often used. So when Thomas Bartlett said he was going to be in the studio producing an EP of Anna doing covers I immediately agreed to join in. I was invited to suggest songs and I loved the last Keren Ann record and I thought Strange Weather had a haunting quality that might suit Anna.... so we did that, and Anna then suggested I join in on the
Connan Mockasin
Connan Tant Hosford, better known by the stage name Connan Mockasin and sometimes credited as Connan Hosford, is a New Zealand musician, composer and record producer. Critically acclaimed and described as "a psych-funk oddball...a contrarian", ...
track she'd done too."
A music video for the title track, "Strange Weather", was released on 27 May 2014. It was directed in New York City by Alan Del Rio Ortiz and stars Kate Lyn Sheil. The single "Strange Weather" appeared on the French singles chart peaking at #123.
Critical reception
Gigwise
''Gigwise'' is a British online music news site that features music news, photos, album reviews, music festivals, concert tickets and video content. Founded in June 2001, the site is based in London, England.
History
Gigwise was launched in 2001 ...
described the leading track, "Papi Pacify", as having a "Morricone-esque, cinematic Western sense of melodrama, whilst retaining the shudder-inducing intimacy of the original. It's gorgeous - not least for the vulnerability displayed in Calvi's soaring vocal."
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
awarded the EP a 7/10, saying: "Potential cover performers take note: this is how you do it."
The Skinny rated it four stars out of five: "Diverging from the fiery nature of some of Calvi’s original material, Strange Weather stands testament to a confident stylistic distinctiveness that spreads well over many textures."
Track listing
Personnel
*
Anna Calvi
Anna Margaret Michelle Calvi (born 24 September 1980) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her accolades include three Mercury Prize nominations, one Brit Award nomination, and a European Border Breakers Award. She has been noted by ...
– vocals (lead), guitar
*
David Byrne
David Byrne (; born 14 May 1952) is a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, writer, music theorist, visual artist and filmmaker. He was a founding member and the principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of ...
- vocals
*
Matt Johnson – drums
*
Nico Muhly
Nico Asher Muhly (; born August 26, 1981) is an American contemporary classical music composer and arranger who has worked and recorded with both classical and pop musicians. A prolific composer, he has composed for many notable symphony orchestras ...
- string arrangements
*
Thomas Bartlett - Producer
* Miles Showell - Mastering
References
{{Authority control
2014 EPs
Anna Calvi albums
Covers EPs
Domino Recording Company EPs