in Reviews

The Darker Arts

by Petri Silas

"Talented, bold and versatile, Anni Elif Egecioglu is a welcome role model to all yearning to test the strength of their ideas and resolve."

With roots in Turkey and Sweden, Anni Elif Egecioglu embodies the proverbial multicultural artist Finland could use more of. Talented, bold and versatile, she is a welcome role model to all yearning to test the strength of their ideas and resolve.

Recognized best as the voice of artpop combo Elifantree, Egecioglu appears very focused on the inaugural release under her own name. Whereas all Elifantree albums are colourful rabbit holes, Edith comes across as darker and more intact in style.

When initial parallels to contemporaries like Thom Yorke and Björk fade, it becomes clear that the electro-acoustic soundscapes by Egecioglu, her spouse Pauli Lyytinen and longtime collaborators Joonas Kuusisto and Tuomas A. Turunen are totally idiosyncratic. The lyrics, however, flow from an external fountain. In the works of groundbreaking modernist poet Edith Södergran (1892–1923), the vocalist has located a fine source to ladle from. 

A definite climax is the brooding Landet som icke är (The Land That Is Not) where Egecioglu reaches emotional depths never before experienced in her recorded output. Another gem is the throbbing Smärtan (Agony). Its slinky and catchy dub will haunt you for days.

ANNI ELIF: Edith 

Anni Elif Egecioglu (vocals, synthesizer, vocoder, live effects, piano)
Joonas Kuusisto (Squire VI, live effects, acoustic bass guitar, monitor)
Pauli Lyytinen (saxophones, live effects, EWI, omnichord, recorder, drum machine, modular synth)
Tuomas A. Turunen (piano, synthesizers, harmonium)

Eclipse Music ECD-201747