Keren Ann

Not Going Anywhere

2004-11-26

How's this for an unusual upringing? Keren Ann Zeidel was born in Israel to a Russian/Israeli father and a Dutch/Javanese mother. The family moved from Israel to Holland, then settled in Paris.

Keren's music is well-known in France. She's released two albums there (in 2000 and 2002), has worked on projects of other popular French musicians, and has been nominated for several awards in the French music industry, including Best Female Artist.

Not Going Anywhere is Keren Ann's English language debut. What's immediately striking is her gentle, ethereal voice. It's entirely captivating. The opening track implies an album of acoustic folk songs. However, this album is anything but predictable or conventional. The moods of the songs, enhanced always by that voice, range from delightful to mysterious to dark and disturbing. Some songs feature a children's choir, others an unexpected chorus of horns, an electric guitar blues accompaniment, or lots of strings. Often, you have the sense you're listening to a children's album, but then it shifts to a film noir sound track. Not Going Anywhere keeps you off balance, which is what keeps this album so intriguing throughout the entire set of songs.

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 08/2006

    Hem
    Funnel Cloud

  • reviewed 04/2007

    Lou Rhodes
    Beloved One

  • reviewed 08/2007

    DUTCH HENRY
    All That Space

  • reviewed 11/2015

    Colin Linden
    Rich In Love

  • reviewed 11/2013

    The Melodic
    Effra Parade

  • reviewed 03/2011

    RON SEXSMITH
    Long Player Late Bloomer

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.