Album Review: Anna Calvi - Hunter

Anna Calvi has such an interesting way with words and with music.

It's true of the songstress now more than ever with the release of Hunter, her third long player in a few short years. In working alongside Nick Cave and Grinderman producer Nick Launay, as well as the primal energy of her band that also includes Bad Seeds bassist Martyn P Casey, Calvi has injected an even darker edge to her sharp alt-pop and created an album that is thoughtful, immersive and a pleasure for the ears.

While Hunter packs a lot of instantly likeable moments into its 10 succinct tracks — Don't Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy is pure upbeat pop at its best and Alpha is riddled with catchy short, sharp beats —  there's just so much lyrically and texturally going on elsewhere to carry this album far beyond what merely sounds good. Tracks like Hunter and Indies Or Paradise weave an intriguing web of low guitars and angular melodies with Calvi's haunting, yearning vocals layered on top that transport one to a place that makes the feet tap, the heart thump and the brain tick.