I Am Harlequin is musical alter ego of East German born, London based musician Anne Freier, and we here at the Von Pip Musical Express are convinced that in any reasonably sane world Anne would be a massive star admired for her talent and style where as Cheryl Cole would be..? Well let’s just say -rather less so. We’ve previously described her music as “a dash of Kate Bush – Bjork without the “bollocks du jour” and an” unusual and emotionally stirring hybrid of a kind of classical, choral electronic indie.”
Her forthcoming EP showcases her musical virtuosity and her ability to weave in and out of genres whilst taking the listener on a journey to unexpected and mysterious places. It’s a musical and emotional tour de force in which IAH produces a compelling synthesis of Baroque chamber pop, choral harmonies, Gothic theatrical flourishes all sprinkled with a light dusting of minimalist electronica.
Lead track Craze is a slow burning torch song, full of raw emotional honesty and epic drama. The coolly seductive tease of Something Else sashays imperiously across the dance floor, demonstrating that electronic music can be far sexier and stylish than the seemingly endless parade of carefully choreographed, dry humping, bottom grinding, sexless drones who appear on shows such as the lamentable “4 Music Show.” Because He Loves Them Both which sounds rather like the moral conundrum faced by many a surly, brooding Jane Austen suitor, sees I Am Harlequin running Kate Bush very close in terms of being able to produce a song that manages to coalesce dark menacing melodrama with commercial appeal.
Don’t Break The Silence again demonstrates IAH’s remarkable versatility, combing thundering tribal beats, electro pop and an insistent chorus to produce a gloriously hypnotic musical collage. The EP concludes with the bonus track, Wild One, a previous VPME “Track Of The Day” and which is of course utterly beautiful. Check out the live video below, which is as spine tingling as it gets. Also, you can listen to the entire EP below.
