Anna Savage - Queens Rd. / Saturn Again

With Troth in town last week, i was able to acquire a handful of copies of this Anna Savage debut 7" recently issued through their affiliated Altered States imprint. And what a pearl it is, two hushed folk confessionals that embrace trad formalism but are elevated by Savage's beautifully unguarded performance. There is little affectation here, much like with Maxine Funke, the songs seemingly floating in through windows as opposed to having been written, so effortless is Savage's presentation. The A side Queens Rd seems to end just before it should, and yet Saturn Again seems to continue from where it left, a flow as natural as water, and a suggestion that while these are rudimentary songs, Anna Savage is a uniquely intuitive writer/performer. People have been making music such as this for longer than there's been recorded sound, and yet there's still new paths of meaning and connection to be found in the form. It's the singer not the song, or so they say. Let's hope for more singing and songs from her very soon.