Following up from her critically acclaimed 2021 album ‘The Art of Losing’, Welsh multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer The Anchoress (Catherine Ann Davies) brings forward a bold new art-rock project with As We Once Were.
With a new catchy, ethereal sound, this album is an ambitious but rewarding experience that explores identity, motherhood and family.
There is a distinct change in atmosphere between her previous projects and this one, with As We Once Were feeling warmer both in tone and production than its predecessors.
The shift from haunting, intimate piano pieces to a more colourful analogue synth-led production adds to a sense of grander scale on the album, switching from an introspective feel to a wider, more collective exploration of identity.
As demonstrated in the record’s leading single ‘Throw Over Your Man’, a duet with Manic Street Preachers vocalist James Dean Bradfield, the album wears its literary influences on its sleeve. Exploring the rich heritage of queer-female artistry, it feels as though Davies is paying homage to a long-standing feminist tradition in which her music is very clearly rooted in, both artistically and emotionally.
Instrumentally, the album represents a stylistic shift from The Anchoress.
There is a sense of emotional volatility within its sound. A sense of immense joy and grief occurring simultaneously.
This complex feeling is articulated through a nostalgic synth production which generates a semi-orchestral feel to the record, aided by the extensive use of vocal layering throughout the record.
This not only adds a degree of sonic depth but also helps to convey the theme of collective experience, which is prevalent throughout the project.
For me, the standout track on As We Once Were is ‘I Had A Baby Not A Lobotomy’. A witty and thoughtful track in which the socially charged lyricism harmoniously combines with the tracks’ warm synths to create a truly wonderful art-rock odyssey.
The song perfectly balances an embittered anger towards the quiet misogyny of society’s perceptions of motherhood, expressed lyrically in the playful reworking of the many ignorant statements directed towards a mother working in the music industry.
With a dreamlike instrumental buttressed by Gwenno’s hypnotic backing vocals, this track perfectly encapsulates all of the strongest elements of the album.
As We Once Were is an album that is confident in its stylistic choices. Creating an engaging and emotive narrative throughout the record, Davies’ intelligent lyricism and production combine to develop a rich, ambitious project.
This project is just another highlight in a career that has already seen The Anchoress be nominated twice for the Welsh Music Prize, and given the strength of this album, a third shouldn’t be too far away
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