25th
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Ecology: Anni Rossi (2008)
This particular recording comes from Anni Rossi’s debut EP Afton (2008). She’s rerecorded this song, as well as most of the songs on Afton, for her debut LP Rockwell (2009). Her performance here is totally bonkers, which, of course, completely endears her to me. She yelps, and screams, and growls, and even rhythmically puts her hands over her mouth the way babies do. What fun!
The newer versions sound great (recorded by Steve Albini), but they’re decidedly tamer in performance. Boo! Why, Anni? Too many Bjork comparisons? (Screw ‘em!) That aside, I generally like the newer versions for their more thoughtful arrangements and better fidelity. The exception is this song. This (older) version kills me over and over. I mean, c’mon, it features a bass clarinet!
My love affair with the bass clarinet began when I heard a children’s record about shapes that featured a deep-voiced, amorphous character appropriately named “Bob the Blob.” (If anyone has this record, please email me. I’m determined to hear Bob the Blob’s somewhat klezmer-sounding minor-keyed theme song again before I die.) Anyway, Anni, you had me at the bass clarinet. You had me at the bass clarinet!
And what’s this? Lyrics about caterpillars and bears? Ecology? Can I learn something from this song? My, it is just like Bob the Blob!
