by Dan Goldin (@paintingwithdan)
It’s hard to believe it, but it has been nine long years since New York City’s Anna Altman released their debut album Freightliner. For everyone awaiting their next record, the good news is, we don’t have to wait much longer as Annatomic is set for release on March 13th via Substitute Scene (gobbinjr, Wetsuit, Snakeskin). What’s even better is that we can report it was worth the wait, a record that expands on the band’s brilliant 90’s inspired “college rock,” pushing and pulling in new directions while retaining the lived-in magic that rests at the core of their music. Lucia Arias (guitar/vocals) and Christian Billard (drums) have fine tuned their strengths - the warmth of their chord progressions, the shuffling of the drums, the splendor of their hooks, and the subtly knotted structures - building upon those blocks with lush strings, layered detail, and a textural sense for dynamics. Recorded together with Raphael Carleton (who has since joined the band, together with Nika De Carlo), Anna Altman has opted for a less hypnotic approach, instead digging deeper into resonant nuance both expansive and impactful. The pop is poppier, the detours are triumphant, and they’ve never sounded better.
Following the release of early singles “Balloon” and “Baby Harmini,” Anna Altman are back with “Figure 8,” a song that’s long been a staple of their live sets. Built on an incredible drum pattern from Billard that feels detached and played ever so slightly behind the beat in the best of ways, the song unfurls from a gorgeous arpeggiated progression into full blown art pop metamorphosis. Arias’ vocals, which have earned comparisons to both Kim Deal and Mary Timony, sit at the heart of “Figure 8,” with a presence that’s gentle but expressive, drawn out at times but always locked in. It’s seemingly a song about discovering and taking the steps needed for a better personal future, a place where all ends up okay for everyone down the line. As the song’s layers build toward a sweeping finale, the melodies only get tighter, everything in its right place.