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B i o g r a p h y
(by Label)
Elizabeth
Anka Vajagic is a singer and guitarist writing raw, uncompromising gothic
folk/blues music with modern dissonances and timeless catharses. Vajagic was
born in Montreal and has been unleashing her devastating voice in chillingly
controlled doses in her hometown for some years now. With this debut recording
she sets her vocals against a backdrop led by ragged guitars. She moves from
harrowing, dry-as-a-bone intimacy on tracks such as With Hopes Lost and Iceland,
to reverb-soaked torch-song balladry on Around Here and Sleep With Dried Up
Tears, incurring the odd explosive noise freakout along the way. Vajagic's voice
and lyrics are uniquely powerful, with points of comparison ranging from early
PJ Harvey, Diamanda Galas, and Siouxsie Sioux, to Hope Sandoval and Lisa
Germano. Through much cross-pollination within the local noise/improv scene,
Elizabeth has assembled a fine cast of players to add focused textures and
arrangements to the seven tracks on this debut record, making for an intense
cycle of songs peppered with skittering drums, contrebasse, cello, harmonium,
piano, bowed cymbals, and oud. Guest players include Chris Burns and Simon
Fazakerley (Crackpot, Steak 72) on 2nd guitars, Beckie Foon (Silver Mt. Zion,
Esmerine) on cello, Michel Langevin (Voivod) on drums, Fluffy Erskine (Molasses,
Hrsta) on percussion, Sam Shalabi on oud and Efrim (gy!be), Silver Mt. Zion) on
piano and harmonium. The album was recorded at the Hotel2Tango in Montreal by
Howard Bilerman. |