Ever dream of taking off to one of those tiny islands where only the jet-set chic and beautiful people migrate to spend a weekends relaxing on luxurious beaches and partying all night to sound of pulsing rhythms? “Last boarding call for all passengers departing on Flight VIP”; grab your tickets and passport ‘cause this is a trip you’ll not want to pass up.
“Anané Selections” is the first full length solo outing for the sexy and sultry singer. Born on the exotic Cape Verdean island of Santiago, early on she absorbed the multi-cultural mix of musical influences ranging from Portuguese and African to Medeteranian and Latin. Amazingly, Anané seems able to draw upon all of these traditions with equal parts ease and authenticity. On “Selections” she plays hostess to a fabulous party on her own private enchanted island. But like any great hostess, Anané realizes that its the mix of people; beautiful, interesting and talented that makes a party a success. This beauty travels with an impressive entourage and it’s not difficult to picture the paparazzi in hot pursuit.
Our journey begins with Anané inviting us into her world. “Elle E Un Mudger” beckons us like an echo from the distance then morphs into driving African rhythms calling down the spirits. Open your eyes and you find yourself standing under the mirrored ball in the center of a crowded dance floor. This club is not for the novice as Anané gives us a fresh reworking of Bunny Mack’s “Let Me Love You”. Not simply a cover version, Anané blows the dust off this 30 year old disco classic with some help from her fellow party people. Produced by house music giants Masters at Work and with the collaboration of Vega Records House/ Hip Hop artist Mr. V brings this track up to date while Elements of Life guitarist Mike Ciro lays down a thumping guitar line and Luisito Quintero pulsates on percussions.
“Shake Dat Booty” keeps things moving with a tongue-in-cheek take on old-school girl rap. Working with Groove Doctors, Anané may tempt us with her playful sensuality but this girl certainly knows who is in control and she’s not giving away anything. This is HER song, not some male hip-hop video fantasy where “the bitches” are there to serve (or service) the boyz. Anané’s got it and while she may not be afraid to use it, she mos-def knows how and when to use it to serve her agenda. Female liberation never sounded so sexy!
“Stand In Line” is the second dance cover offered here. What is interesting is her choice of material. While the chosen cover tracks may be well known to veteran revelers of late-night underground dance scenes, these songs were never typical top 40 fodder. Anané herself must have still been in diapers when the original vinyl first hit turntables… but she’s been around long enough to absorb the lessons passed down to a new generation. Here she pays homage to the groundbreaking all-female Garage band ESG. Anané’s cover remains true to the original but is backed by slamming instrumentals courtesy of the Elements of Life ensemble band.
As the night progresses, so does the seduction. Produced by Grammy Award winner Louie Vega while Anané and Duane Harden get together once again to write this very sexy number. Anané whispers in your ear on “My Sexy Ways” but these are not just sweet nothings. She may tell you, “You make me loose control” but don’t believe it for a moment. On “Make It Happen” (written with Mood To Swing’s Lem Springsteen) she tells us that she is, “All grown up and I know what I want”. No doubt… but this proposition is taking place on the dance floor, not in the bedroom. She plans on keeping you dancing well into the next morning. “A New Born Day ” brings to mind one of those pretty laid-back dance tracks that the DJ throws on at 10:00AM. The opening bars are reminiscent of Dr. Buzzard & The Original Savannah Band, yet another act Anané could only know by reputation.
With the sun climbing higher in the sky and the waves gently breaking on the golden sands of her private beach, it’s time to relax on the veranda and enjoy the intimate company of friends. Anané slips into something more comfortable and treats her guests to a selection of melodic tracks to enjoy while the sun sets over the distant horizon. “Tocam Bracam” is rendered in the traditional percussive sexuality known as "Funana" a typical style of music from her native Cape Verde. “Amazing Love” by legendary house music producers Blaze is a beautiful loungey upbeat ballad, melding jazz and Latin rhythms. “Nos Vida” and “Mon Amour” are reworkings of tracks she first recorded with Louie Vega’s Elements of Life band. Together these four tracks show that this girl is not our typical dance floor diva. Subtle phrasing and finely crafted styling are coupled with an incredible range of musical influences from Latin nightclubs to French cafes.
So, on a night a perfect as this who needs to sleep? The beautiful people party all night long and you find yourself swept back onto the dance floor. “Move Bounce Shake” another production by heavy-weight duo Masters at Work, brings Anané together again with Mr. V; his male bravado kept in-check by her playful sexuality. “Let me lick you like a lollypop” she tempts over synth-pop beats laid down by Louie Vega. For an encore Anané digs deep into the crates again, this time pulling out one of the most visionary dance tracks ever recorded. Working with veteran New York DJ Louie “Lou” Gorebea, Yoko Ono’s iconic “Walking On This Ice” is punctuated with a Japanese kabuki-style base line. When Anané begins, “I met a girl…” she may well be singing about herself. But this girl is not frigid and its a wonder that the ice doesn’t melt under the heat produced by this track.
Anané’s power to attract a stellar collection of new, as well as veteran and established, performers and producers to her maiden voyage is impressive and serves as a testament to her own multi-faceted talent. So hop aboard, press “Play” and ride away on a fantasy musical journey.
www.ananesworld.com
www.ananeselections.com
