ANNIE, the Norwegian singer-songwriter and DJ who soo should’ve had the whole world supplicant on the back of the brilliant “Chewing Gum” back in the day, is all set to release a new album, Dark Hearts, on October 16th – her first album for a decade.
Today, she’s dropped the darkly romantic swoon of “Corridors Of Time” on the world; take a listen below. She yearns in spoken word for a lost one: “Standing here alone … the sleepless nights … and you disappeared into somewhere else,” over a noir soundscape of reverb, synths, and twangy guitar, before the song flowers and she takes flight. It’s caressing and sad and melodious and great. Think Twin Peaks with Nordic opulence and feeling and charm. It’s great to have her back.
The song focuses on being trapped in the middle of time: looking back, and looking ahead; it’s the story of a dancefloor in a theatre, empty except for an older couple dancing together and a young girl dancing alone. Oh; so sad.
Dark Hearts, the album out next week, plays in the same landscape, seeking (and finding) catharsis in the lives we’ve led which are gone; our lives as we live them, the beds we’ve made for ourselves; but always looking forward.
Annie conceived of the album as “the soundtrack to a film that doesn’t exist,” taking its haunting lead from The Wicker Man, the aforementioned Twin Peaks, David Cronenberg’s Crash, and more.
Dark Hearts was partly recorded in a country house reportedly haunted by a sprinting nun; while Annie was putting the finishing touches to it she marked two decades of her career. One thing’s for sure; she’s been much missed.
Annie’s Dark Hearts will be released on digital, CD, cassette and vinyl formats next Friday, October 16th; you can order yours direct from her store, where various merch bundles are also available.
Follow Annie on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Spotify.
