Anna Calvi - Hunter

Anna Calvi’s music has never shied away from big ideas. On new album ‘Hunter’, she tackles sexuality and gender in a bold and theatrical way that’s harsh in some places yet beautiful in others, a stomping rock opera of ten tracks all held together by a common theme.

An album of empowerment, references to breaking out of the boundaries set by gender conformity are littered throughout. “Let us be us…” she whispers on the defiant ‘Don’t Beat The Boy Out Of My Girl’ while on album opener ‘As A Man’ she’s pondering what it would be like to have the assumed power that comes with being born male. On the dramatic swooping chorus of ‘Chain’ she repeats the line “I’ll be the boy, you be the girl” and on ‘Alpha’, she’s celebrating power and strength; being alpha as a non gender-specific trait.

With its high concepts and bold instrumentals the album feels a little heavy at times, but you really can’t fault its ambition.