Anna Tivel - “Desperation”
From Portland, Oregon, Anna Tivel has recently released the incredibly beautiful indie folk track, “Desperation.”
One of the striking layers in “Desperation” is the muted, arpeggiating tones of an unusual instrument, which I cannot establish whether it is a guitar or a synth. This original layer lends a pleasing sense of intrigue, as well as a feeling of anticipation. Driving the track are various percussive layers, from rustic drumstick taps, swaggering tambourine, to the steady, slow groove of the drums as we reach the choruses. The bass pulses warmly underneath, enhancing the melodic groove beautifully.
Further broadening the sonic palette are the mellow textures of acoustic guitar and an airy mellotron-like pad. Together, all of these elements give the track a nostalgic and timeless experimental vibe, as if the music is lifted directly from the White Album. The vocal of Anna Tivel has a tender tone that, at times, reminds me of Dolly Parton. It holds the same sincerity and authenticity as it conveys the well-written, storytelling lyrics.
Of the track, Tivel offers, “Future vision is forever married to imagination. This is a song about being born into a harsh reality, about struggling to imagine something better than you’ve seen. Poverty, inequality, disenfranchisement – all these dark systems that devalue human capacity, crush human spirit and soul. To be born in that darkness, to see it mirrored all around you in the lives of everyone you love, is to read an unjust story about yourself that takes herculean strength to change.”
“Desperation” is the third single from Anna Tivel’s forthcoming album, Living Thing, which is due out May 31st via Fluff & Gravy Records.