Don’t be mistaken by the design, this new 7” from Anna Savage is not in the usual Altered States wheelhouse of murky electronics and post-punk weirdness. Best known around here as the artist whose painting graced the cover of Green Child’s Shimmering Beast LP, Savage offers up two tracks of pared back and gentle folk featuring just her voice and an acoustic guitar recorded straight to a phone voice messaging app.
There’s a kind of casualness to the playing and recording that feels like listening in on a friend writing a song In the vein of Sibylle Baier or Maxine Funke but with a few more Nick Drake-esque turns of melody or reminds me of Karina Gill’s writing for Cindy. Although musically or aesthetically different from the broader Altered States catalogue, the 7” still engages with an amateur/non-professionalised past and present of underground music that underpins their releases.
-Mitch (Repressed Records)
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Altered States is proud to present the first two songs offered publicly by Fremantle-based visual artist and songwriter Anna Savage. Both tunes are delicate folk downpours and I’m honoured Anna has allowed me to invite you briefly into her world to glimpse them. I don’t personally know Anna myself, initially having heard her songs and making contact through a mutual close friend. Regardless, both Queens Rd. and Saturn Again possess an overwhelming generosity in how much they share, capturing a scarce and golden sense of intimacy in the listening experience. Playfully naive, but also presenting as familiar as an old-friend, her songs possess a timeless magic rarely found. Nothing more need be said about them, just lend Anna your ear and heart, you won’t be disappointed.
The 7” art is a collaboration between Anna, James Vinci and myself. - Cooper Bowman, Altered States Tapes