ANOHNI - Paradise EP

ANOHNI, aka Antony Hegarty, lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons, last year started making some big waves with the release of her solo album "HOPELESSNESS".  This was an electronic album that you had to sit with, study, and seriously analyze to get the full effect of.  While I wasn't head over heels for this album, I feel like it was certainly a culturally relevant album that seriously hit you pretty hard. It was artsy, it was political, it was actually pretty striking.  ANOHNI is back with an EP meant to accompany "HOPELESSNESS", called "Paradise".  The first single off of this EP, "Paradise" honestly is GIGANTIC, let's chat about the rest of the EP.

This EP starts off with “In My Dreams”, which certainly still has the same, very cinematic, very epic atmosphere.  The rumblings in the background give off the feel of explosions and bombs being dropped, but if you’re familiar with ANOHNI they that probably won’t shock you too much at all.  The atmosphere here though is so strong, listening to this I feel like I’m looking out at some completely barren wasteland.  What’s pretty cool about “In My Dreams” is, when it comes to EP’s a lot of times an artist sounds a little rushed.  That's not the case here, just the opposite, ANOHNI is taking her time and making an atmosphere, and it’s wonderful.  The way the synths here work their way in behind ANOHNI’s haunting voice makes this just so powerful and fascinating.  This may not be the instantaneous gut punch that “HOPELESSNESS” was, but it’s just as affective, trust me.  On the other hand, “Paradise” is so explosive right off the bat that it sounds ready for an album all on it’s own.  The production here by Hudson Mohawke and the incredible Oneohtrix Point Never is fantastic, and the contrast between the skittish beginning to the massive sound when the synths come in is ridiculous.  As far as ANOHNI’s performance here goes, it’s just as emotionally charged as you would expect from her.  Now, if you’re not used to her vocals by this point, or maybe you’ve never heard them, they take a little getting used to.  But once you can appreciate her performances, everything just comes off so incredibly human.  This is just as fantastic, chaotic, and bombastic of an electronic track that showed up on “HOPELESSNESS”.  Lyrically this continues to be as politically and emotionally charged, as ANOHNI states "Staring at myself, I feel giant and trapped.  Seemingly without escape”.  With incredible tracks like “Paradise” ANOHNI continues to push the limits of Electronic music masterfully, it’s brilliant.  Up next is “Jesus Will Kill You”, which starts with a lot of the same vibes carrying over, especially world music which seems to be a big factor here.  This track is pretty intense, with some gigantic drums and all.  But ANOHNI’s performance here doesn’t strike me as much as it did on the last one.  It’s a solid track, don’t get me wrong, but “Paradise” was just such a HUGE sound.  “Jesus Will Kill You” is much more subdued, lyrically however it’s certainly just as impassioned and gigantic.  ANOHNI’s mission statement remains the same though, bringing real world problems in unsuspecting tunes. This EP though is what it’s meant to be so far, and that’s a companion piece to the “HOPELESSNESS” album.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncCmDhMYBWg

“You Are My Enemy”  continues with the very ghastly and grim feel that haunts this entire EP.  But it continues to work so well with ANOHNI.  So much of the material here really needs to be taken into consideration as you’re listening to “HOPELESSNESS”.  Lyrically, ANOHNI hasn’t stopped even for a second.  Between the chilling organs, the backing vocals, and the huge blasts of synths this is all absolutely huge.  And that’s all before those intense drums come booming in.  This honestly though just get’s me really excited for the future of this project.  We really need more chilling and visceral electronic music like this, especially when those drums come in that sound like machine gun blasts (which I’m sure might have been intentional).  Not to mention, that last 20 seconds is some of the most chilling material I’ve heard all year.  “Ricochet” is up next, and while the last few tracks have been on the more subtle side this is explosive right off the bat with these gigantic drums and more up front vocals  ANOHNI herself continues to blast through everything in her path with gripping performances.  There really isn't THAT much to be said about a lot of these tracks, they’re great, but they become much more powerful alongside “HOPELESSNESS”.  This EP ends off with “She Doesn’t Mourn Her Loss”, and clearly ANOHNI isn’t going too hard on this intro, this is easily the most subtle thing we’ve heard since the intro.  But her performance though is pretty incredible.  What I love about this track, is that i’s all about her.  Her vocals are so bare here and emotionally she seems so drawn into this.  I honestly wish there was maybe a little more going on here, which I do eventually get my wish when those keys and acoustic guitars come in.  “She Doesn’t Mourn Her Loss” isn’t as explosive as other tracks here, but it sticks with you.  This EP is powerful, but alongside the tracks from “HOPELESSNESS”, they become massive.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Give A Listen To: "In My Dreams", "Paradise", "You Are My Enemy", "Ricochet

Overall Thoughts:  This is a sold EP that follows up a lot of the themes from ANOHNI's last album.  If you were a fan of "HOPELESSNESS" this is a must listen.  The lyrical themes and emotionally charged lyrics are all there, and the blasting beats are just as explosive.  On it's own, it's alright, but use this as a companion piece to "HOPELESSNESS", you won't regret it.