By Liam Hofmeister, news correspondent
Anjimile, a Northeastern-based indie-acoustic band, released its appropriately titled EP “Snow Day” this December. The playlist represents the varying emotions associated with the transition into colder months.
The title track starts the album with a cry from inner youth. A joyful shout of “snow day!” is the conspicuous component of the song, supported with harmonies by the “Snowflakes,” a group of Northeastern vocalists brought together for the album by Anjimile Chithambo. Disjointed cheers illustrate the ubiquitous glee of first snow, poignantly inspiring childhood nostalgia.
Reminiscent of Norah Jones, Chithambo’s lead vocals captivate the listeners with their raspy quality that makes every lyric a personal whisper. The acoustic production is simple, and includes only guitar and percussion some tracks, supporting Anjimile’s studio session vibe. One will hear fingers gliding across steel strings of the neck, a minute detail which veritably completes the aesthetic of this acoustic playlist.
According to its Bandcamp page, Anjimile wants its EP to “warm you, chill you and then warm you back up again,” yet some tracks of “Snow Day” seem confused within themselves, raising questions about the band’s writing prowess.
“Christmas in Bed” is another track that feels like a warm whisper in the listeners’ ear, musically and lyrically perfect for a winter time cuddling session. However, Anjimile’s Bandcamp page claims the song to be an example of winter time denial, but as the lyrics “If I can’t have this Christmas with you, I’d rather go it alone” show, it seems to be more about longing.
A spoken interlude wishing happy holidays and Christmas cheer appears in the middle of the song. However, the interlude seems rather unrelated to the greater theme of wanting that cuddle buddy in bed, leading to incongruities of theme.
“A Place on Earth,” one of the more dramatic tracks, transports one into the rhythms of urban urgency with intricate guitar and percussion parts. With a lyric like “heaven will [you] let me in” and a guitar lead that sounds like someone begging for mercy, the listener can feel a theme of death coming from this track.
The album is redeemed with the last two tracks, “Winter’s Splinters” and “Snow Night.”
In “Winter Splinters,” Anjimile, with the help of trumpeter Ralph Peterson, shifts to 6/8 meter to discuss the chilled bite of winter’s physical and emotional wear. There is a slight dissonance throughout the piece, and a trudging trumpet part exemplifies how winter can drag one down. The repetition of “hallelujah” throughout the song acts as a beacon of hope that one day this stinging winter will end.
Fittingly, “Snow Night” closes the EP. The meter is similar to “Winter’s Splinters,” but much more relaxed and content. Replete with trumpet harmony and a tactfully-placed dissonance to exemplify the enduring pains of cold, “Snow Night” completes the EP, available at anjimile.bandcamp.com.
Anjimile’s next show is at T.T. the Bears in Cambridge on Feb. 22. Tickets will be $9 at the door.
Photo courtesy Anjinime Chithambo
