Not Going Anywhere sees Keren Ann Zeidel operating in the same hushed tones as her previous albums and once again collaborating with Benjamin Biolay. While Zeidel has been compared to Dido and Portishead in the past, few would make similar comparisons this time around as trip-hop vibes really appear only on the playful "Sailor & Widow." Otherwise, the pace is held steady around 20 BPM and more frequently there are no beats at all. Instead, Zeidel frolics in a whispery, moody genre that might be appropriately labeled neo-folk, late-night lullaby. On the somewhat unsettling songs "End of May" and "Right Now & Right Here," Zeidel's voice is a dead-ringer for Lisa Germano, and since the music mostly consists of quietly strummed acoustic guitars, pianos, and violins, the music seems equally Germano-esque. On these
songs, one can't help but note similarities to Mary Timony's dark lullabies as well. But where Germano and Timony traverse in adult themes, Zeidel and Biolay's songs would be a perfect fit for a toddler's nursery rhyme album. A very hip toddler's nursery rhyme album, that is. Elsewhere, a number of other influences are apparent, from the Belle & Sebastian-flavored title track to a series of tunes near the album's close that seem touched by the hands of Van Dyke Parks or Rufus Wainwright. Lush, minimal, and always gentle, Not Going Anywhere reaffirms Zeidel's gorgeous voice and should be a soundtrack for the hippest coffeehouses around the globe. ~ Tim DiGravina
Directors: Laurent Mangenas; Laurent Manganas.
Photographer: Karen Collins.
Personnel: Keren Ann (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, programming); Keren Ann; Benjamin Biolay (guitar, trumpet, piano, keyboards, programming); Isabelle Matthyssens (harp); Bernard Viguie (ukulele); Estelle Villotte, Christophe Briquet, Floriane Bonani, Eric Lacrouts, Cyrille Lacrouts, Fabien Boudot, Christophe Morin (strings); Nicolas Giraud (trumpet); Laurent Vernerey (piano, bass guitar); Yannick Fonderie (keyboards, programming); Yannic Fonderie (keyboards); David Maurin (drums); Johan Moeyersons, An Vervliet, Geert Baeckelandt, Wim VanVolsen, Bart Jonkers, Alex Van Aken, Peter Verhoyen, Majolijn Van Mechelen, Elisabeth Schollacrt, Johan VanNeste (wind); Bardi Jóhannsson (guitar, harmonica, percussion, programming, background vocals); Eric Sauviat (guitar); Karen Brunon (violin, strings, background vocals); Denis Benarrosch (drums); Jean Lamoot (programming).
Audio Mixer: Erwin Autrique.
Entertainment Weekly (p.164) - "Laced with gorgeous string arrangements, it's truly an album to be savored by the light of a pink moon." - Grade: B+
Dirty Linen (p.59) - "Keren Ann's music is quiet and soulful and demands you pay attention to it."
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