Album Feature Friday: Annabel Lee “Prey” EP

I find it very hard to describe the music of Annabel Lee while remaining “appropriate”. I find it hard to keep from cursing to show my enthusiasm for the music. She has a way of evoking an emotion, an intense, maybe make you feel all hot and bothered, but profound emotion with her music that I rare in music today. The girl just has a way of absolutely igniting a stage, or a record, or your headphones. No matter what the conduit is for tapping into her art, it is always intense, and sexy, and powerful. The latest short EP of 3 songs titled “Prey” may be a slightly evolving sound for the songwriter, but it still encompasses that passion and fire that has defined the music that she creates.

The first track “Melting” is my immediate favorite of the songs here. There is some sort of mystery to the words she is spitting in the beginning of the song. There are depths creating in the sampling and arrangement choices that just feels cavernous and dark, but tantalizing and inviting you to venture further into its depths. That voice of Annabel is put on full display here. She is an absolute f*cking force of nature. This track builds and falls, creating a journey of sorts, lead through a labyrinth of textures, but the singers voice leading you more and more along the winding path.

The follow on track, ‘Prey’, keeps with a similar vibe and feel both in intensity and musicianship. The final tune takes on a stripped feel with Annabel Lee playing the piano and singing…but even in its stripped down arrangement it is equally as powerful as the preceeding songs. She still manages that rise and fall with just a voice and an instrument. If anything, it may be a bit more intense and adds a brilliant contrast to the more produced aspects of ‘Melting’ and ‘Prey’. I am sold on everything that this gal is creating.

I am not really sure what to call this new venture by this gal. It is a slight departure from the artist’s previous works that had a definite more rock focus, sometimes even getting a bit folky and of course bluesy in its stylings. This collection of tunes keeps with the sonic aesthetic she has created over the years, with the power of her voice driving the songs, a focus on creative hooks in its songwriting, and piano, but adds with the electronic instruments here. It feels, dare I say, epic.