ANEMO

Anemo is one part goth (think Evanescence), one part rock, and a dash of, dare I say it, dance, even! But don't think Donna Summer disco, that's not what I mean. It's the drums that makes me imagine some of these songs in a dance club. But really it is mostly dark rock…and very well done dark rock.

Lead singer Hazelle Woodhurst has a gorgeous voice that growls as well as it soars over the driving drumbeats and interesting melodies.
But don't be distracted by the flashy music, the lyrics are really well written. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate on the lyrics because there's a lot of other stuff going on, but try. It's worth it. Luckily the band has included the lyrics in the liner notes.

I like how Anemo is able to cover the whole range of emotion in the songs. They go from quiet almost ballad-like to screaming, driving hard rocking power.

This is a great CD for fans of the darker side of rock.

Stand out songs: "Johnny 5" and "Made of Fiction"

Posted on December 20, 2005
http://collectedsounds.com/cdreviews/slowburn.html
- Amy Lotsberg, Producer of Collected Sounds

Swirlin' around like a tornado tossed three-way between Eurythmics, Pretenders and Portishead, this is perky postmodern music made the right way: with a sexy 'n' sassy Hyndeful of heartfelt female attitude. Even better, these guys and their sweet-singin' gal pal are versatile enough to shift gears from providing punchy power pop dollops about the perils of anonymous encounters ("Johnny 5") to plaintive paeans about sunken submariners ("Kursk").

http://creemmagazine.com/RockARama/RockARama25.html#Anemo - Jeffrey Morgan, Creem Magazine

UK artists Anemo blend power pop and alternative rock to excellent effect on their debut disc Slowburn. This female-fronted group are a veritable powerhouse of sleek mixing, spotless production, dynamic vocals and clever, catchy songwriting. Using a voice that would be well suited to mainstream pop, talented vocalist Hazelle Woodhurst pushes those boundaries to create aching ballads about loneliness and confusion and more expressive, demanding, upbeat indictments of modern society and relationships. There’s a definite auditory resemblance here, particularly on “Same Day Chore,” to the most recent rash of young American alt-pop female radio darlings, but Anemo do it with more talent. There’s a lyrical maturity too, which allows them to bring a certain darkness to their songwriting and add an interesting dynamic and effect to the arrangements themselves which are almost always much more upbeat sounding then the lyrical content they house. Upon the first couple listens, some of Woodhurst’s vocal gymnastics may prove grating, as may the tendency to layer multiple tracks of vocals in the mix (which tends to obscure and distract from the great lyrics); rest assured, however, because this disc will grow on you, and grow and grow and grow. Quickly turning this small but debatable flaw into something that feels much more like a musical idiosyncrasy, instead, to the point where it actually becomes somewhat endearing and catchy. If you like your alt-rock on the poppier side, this may just be your album pick of the year. - Monica S. Kuebler, Exclaim

Slowburn, the new CD by U.K. band Anemo, is quite good. Frontwoman Hazelle Woodhurst has a distinct vocal style that fits perfectly over a great mix of keyboard melodies and strong drumbeats. Musically, Anemo will appeal to fans of Garbage and Curve. Though the band seems to have been influenced by synth sounds of the early ’80s, they sound anything but dated. Songs such as “Johnny 5” and “Fallout Renegade” are great examples of the band’s unique style: interesting keyboards, strong melodies, and an appealing voice. Woodhurst sounds confident and strong throughout the whole CD, especially on moody numbers like the title track, which really test her abilities as a vocalist. |

http://www.playbackstl.com/Current/PBP/quickhits032.htm - John Kujawski @ Playback:STL

It’s a little bit rock, a little bit goth, but a whole lotta good. It’s not the most immediate of albums, with a lot of moody, thoughtful songs, but it’s certainly worth taking the time to get to know the songs.

http://www.metal4life.co.uk/ - Metal 4 Life

Allow me to state right off the bat that I am extremely picky with regards to female vocalists. As a female musician, I have seen entirely too many, near a majority, of people who also fit in that category whose careers are based on image and physical attractiveness over old-fashioned hard work, and it makes me both furious at the state of things and wary of anything new that comes along. However, rarely has an album won me over so immediately as Anemo’s debut, Slowburn (City Canyon Records). Yes, vocalist Hazelle Woodhurst is a beautiful blonde. No, I didn’t know that until after I’d been completely floored by the CD.

On the band’s website, Woodhurst comments on having been in a number of bands starting in her teens, saying that “finding people who are committed to what you are really trying to achieve is tough. I think you get to an age where you think I don’t want to compromise anymore, and that’s when if you’re lucky, things start to go right because you are being true to yourself.” In this statement from her biography, Woodhurst reveals herself as a true musician: someone steeped in the culture of rock & roll from a young age, who came about her success through a series of failures.

Anything but the typical blonde diva, she is both feminine and tough-girl at once. Her voice is neither unpleasant nor slickly overproduced, and her ability to both belt a strong chorus and carry a sweet melody without sounding out-of-place in either is rare among pop vocalists. Many female pop vocalists sound surprised or confused by well-written lyrics.

Another thing that sets Woodhurst apart from her peers is her ability to comfortably express the intelligent, articulate writing that takes place on Slowburn, sounding neither forced nor uncomfortable.

From lush string arrangements to nearly-metal guitar riffs, Anemo stays true to the roots of their name on this album, and proves themselves as far more than just a backup band to their vocalist. Extremely competent musicians in their own right, Kingsley Sage, Matt Palmer and a host of other guest backup musicians and vocalists also get to shine on this album. “Diversity” is the stylistic keyword for many first albums- the idea is to strut one’s stuff on the first album and then pick a more focused approach for the second. Slowburn is no exception in that right.

Between the funky riffs of “Stronger Stuff,” soaring melodies of “Who Will You Really Become,” and goosebump-inducing ballad that is the title track, listeners are left wondering, “What can’t this band do?”
My only concern, as ever, is that the complicated instrumental arrangements and Woodhurst’s multiple vocal tracks might have an affect on the band’s live show, because a lot of it would be physically impossible onstage.

However, with the aid of backing vocalist Erika Woodhurst, the voices alone might make it more than worthwhile; hearing these women truly belt out these songs outside of a studio environment, a setting that often restrains vocalists, could be particularly amazing.

For more info about Anemo, go to http://www.anemo.co.uk

Julie Sager is the Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor at The Retriever Weekly. She can be reached for comment at julie@trw.umbc.edu.

- Retriver newspaper, University of Maryland

The United Kingdom’s Anemo are bursting across the ocean to launch stateside with their unique brand of rock. Diva singer Hazelle Woodhurst unleashes her soaring melodic vocals amid a crunchy guitar rock backdrop. Lyrically it’s a great read and good listen as they branch through a myriad of topical themes. A promising band, Anemo simply must be heard to be believed.

http://www.smother.net/reviews/modernrock.php3?ID=1212 - J-Sin at www.smother.net

The preview tracks on this cd are awesome! Can't wait to the full CD is out! (released 6 September 2005)

http://www.myspace.com/anemomusic - Black Dog Promotions

"Dark Pop Rock" from ANEMO joins Faith Hill album and others as top twelve of legendary critic Chuck Eddy's picks for September 2 "Eddytor's Dozen" column.


http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0536,eddy,67492,22.html - The Village Voice (NYC)