Anna von Hausswolff's debut EP "Track of Time" was released in February 2010 by Kning Disk, magnificent avant-garde pop with its crosshairs trained on the heart. The first album "Singing From the Grave" appeared in May. Everyone who hears Anna von Hausswolff sing, immediately stops, listens and gets touched by her magic. Her voice is that of total expression. Sometimes it caresses you, sometimes it roars up a storm.
On July 9, 2013 "Ceremony" was released in North America by Other Music Recording Co., and Anna von Hausswolff played her debut US show on July 10 at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn. The album received strong support from National Public Radio's Bob Boilen, who said "Von Hausswolff's voice possesses the power to soar with those mighty pipes and still hold tight to delicate, personal emotions. I hope to find one album like Ceremony every year — a rare, thoughtful, inspiring record for a night on the couch or a candlelit evening — and now I've got one for 2013." She was also featured on NPR Weekend Edition Saturday, PRI's The World, WNYC Soundcheck, the New York Times, Pitchfork and more.
Ceremony was followed up by "The Miraculous" late in 2015.
Large pipe organs first started to be built in European churches in the 14th century. While much of the music that people at the time heard and played would be dedicated to the glory of God, surely nothing could have prepared them for the sound that now filled their places of worship. As the solemn timbre of the metallic pipes echoed around the stony transept, the congregation must have trembled in their pews before this new instrument of the Almighty. More than ever, the organ turned the church into a place of "mystery, magic and terror".
These are the words that Anna von Hausswolff uses to describe the undisclosed location in rural Sweden that inspired The Miraculous, a place of great natural beauty that nevertheless remains haunted by the blood-stained spectres of a brutally suppressed peasant uprising. Using the 9,000 pipe Acusticum Pipe Organ, Hausswolff has conjured an entire world into being here, forging a unity between reality and imagination that's so immense in its conception that it's initially difficult to properly take in. It's like a gigantic monument that you have to keep stepping back from in order to get any perspective on it.
The sleeve alone should clue the listener to the fact that there's nothing here as heart-stoppingly lovely as 'Mountains Crave' from 2012's Ceremony: Hausswolff appears as a faceless apparition, an erased portrait sitting in a derelict room with faded pictures of Christ and angels on the walls. The elemental vastness of the sound recalls the aesthetic of Swans, while Nico is another key reference point, one woman communing with herself and the world via a droning, medieval keyboard. But The Miraculous certainly isn't all existential gloom and despair. Instead, its sense of dread is offset throughout by a yearning to break free of mortal bonds and become immanent in nature.
'Discovery' immediately sets the tone, a foghorn blast of bass pipes suggesting that something huge is approaching in the dark. A thick wave of organ slowly seeps into every corner of the audio field, before a skirling siren call and the military drums of battles past introduce notes of tension and conflict. It breaks down to the sounds of aftermath from which a spare Morricone-esque guitar line emerges. When Hausswolff finally starts to sing, her voice is strong as she bears witness, but soon the words start to tumble out with growing urgency, and then she's chanting "Run!/Run!/Run to the sun!"
This epic opener is followed by two shorter tracks. 'The Hope Only Of Empty Men' sounds like it's being transmitted from some point in the distant past, Hausswolff's syllables twisted and tortured as they leave her mouth, while the organ pulses like a hangover. 'Pomperipossa' is an awestruck blast of ecclesiastical prog full of unnerving chord changes.
But it's the eleven minute sturm und drang of 'Come Wander With Me/Deliverance' that's the album's massive centrepiece. A slow, sepulchral organ melody is joined by the beautiful controlled tone of Hausswolff's lonely choir girl. There's a great segue into a lumbering procession of the damned which then consolidates into a hammering one chord riff over an increasingly martial beat. Hausswolff sings, "He came from the sunset / He came from the sea / He came from the shadows…" like Elizabeth Fraser on the rack, before dissolving into wordless cries of ecstasy or pain, who knows. Cue guitar solo, and then a little sit down to recover.
It's hard to imagine where to go after that, but another three short tracks pick up the album's themes. 'En Ensam Vandrare' is based on the type of brooding but meditative arpeggios that inevitably bring Philip Glass to mind, while 'An Oath' is a ballad sung against marching drums again. And then 'Evocation' is a summoning up of everything that's gone before, the density of the sound plus the inflection in Hausswolff's voice making me wonder if this is what Sunn O))) recording with Abba would sound like. There's a minute of static and feedback ascending and then disappearing into the sky, and it feels like a natural ending–
But no. 'The Miraculous' itself is an extended drone piece, a gradual layering of chords on the organ as though it's slowly waking up from a deep slumber. Hausswolff's voice drifts over the top, her faceless spirit moving through the pipes, the organ's high notes like swooning strings and brass. Final track 'Stranger' is perhaps the most 'traditional' and romantic song here, a plea for absolution with twanging guitar.
This album is a pretty astonishing piece of work. Hausswolff has pushed out into unmapped territory where post-rock, prog, doom metal, modern classical and high church music all co-exist in uneasy alliance. It's the type of album you have to commit to completely, but for those seeking a glimpse of the numinous, it's worth the effort.
March 2018 sees the release of Anna's fourth album - "Dead Magic", and was preceded by the single "The Vanishing of Elektra" and in the run up to the albums release its first track "The Truth, The Glow, The Fall" was officially released as an audio onto YouTube.
Official site: http://www.annavonhausswolff.com
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/annavonhausswolff
Stranger
Anna von Hausswolff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The birds are watching every step I take
Beneath the stars, beneath the moon, there is a hole
It's covered up in darkness and fear
But then, there is something moving against me
It's not in line with the world I know
Changing the heart, changing the spirit
My sight is clear, the colors are expanding
I don't frown in the mirror, on the world
There is no time, there is no face, there is no me
I am following a shadow while I'm reaching for the sun
But then you tell me I shouldn't worry
You tell me to stay strong
You tell me I shouldn't worry
Why is the stranger in sync with my heart?
I tip toe here, I don't want you to see me
I'm listening, I'm stolen by every word you say
A dream is pulling out my heart and spirit
And I'm scared to fall, I'm scared of death
And I'm scared of all the lies
But then you tell me, oh, I shouldn't worry
Oh, you tell me to stay strong
You tell me I shouldn't worry
We're living now, let's live now
Let's live only for love
The lyrics to Anna von Hausswolff's song "Stranger" seem to be about a journey, both literal and metaphorical, towards something unknown and transformative. The first verse suggests that the singer is moving into uncharted territory, with the birds as watchful spectators. There is a sense of foreboding in the image of the hole covered in darkness and fear. However, the second verse introduces a glimmer of hope and possibility, as something "not in line" with the known world starts to exert its influence. This leads to a shift in perspective, as the singer's sight becomes clearer and the world more colorful.
The chorus introduces the "you" of the song, who encourages the singer to stay strong and not worry. However, there is also a sense of unease here, as the stranger who seems to be in sync with the singer's heart is still a mystery. The final verse introduces the idea of a dream pulling out the singer's heart and spirit, a vivid image that underscores the transformative potential of the journey. Despite fear and uncertainty, the chorus encourages the singer to embrace the present moment and live for love.
Overall, the lyrics to "Stranger" capture the sense of possibility and vulnerability that comes with embarking on a new path. The imagery is evocative and richly symbolic, leaving room for individual interpretation and reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
We're walking in a curved line into something new
We're embracing change in our lives by moving towards something new in a non-linear way.
The birds are watching every step I take
Our actions are being observed by others, whether we're aware of it or not.
Beneath the stars, beneath the moon, there is a hole
There is an unseen emptiness or void that exists in our reality.
It's covered up in darkness and fear
Our fear and ignorance obscure the emptiness, making it difficult to confront or understand.
But then, there is something moving against me
There is an unexpected force that is influencing our path or trajectory in life.
It's not in line with the world I know
The force or experience is in contrast to what we believe to be true about the world.
Changing the heart, changing the spirit
The experience is transformative, affecting our emotions and inner selves.
Changing my path, changing my soul
The experience is also changing the trajectory of our lives, altering our essence.
My sight is clear, the colors are expanding
Our perception of the world is becoming more vivid and nuanced, revealing new aspects of reality.
I don't frown in the mirror, on the world
We're no longer pessimistic or negative in our view of ourselves or the world.
There is no time, there is no face, there is no me
We are experiencing a profound sense of ego dissolution, merging with something greater than ourselves.
I am following a shadow while I'm reaching for the sun
We are pursuing an ideal or goal that seems distant or unattainable, but still worth striving for.
But then you tell me I shouldn't worry
Someone is offering us reassurance or guidance during a time of uncertainty.
You tell me to stay strong
They are encouraging us to persevere and maintain our resolve.
Why is the stranger in sync with my heart?
We're surprised to find that an external person or force seems to understand us intimately.
I tip toe here, I don't want you to see me
We're feeling vulnerable or self-conscious around others, trying to hide our true selves.
I'm listening, I'm stolen by every word you say
Someone is captivating us with their words or ideas, drawing us in.
A dream is pulling out my heart and spirit
We're experiencing a visionary or imaginative experience that is deeply emotional.
And I'm scared to fall, I'm scared of death
We're afraid of experiencing pain or harm, whether physical or emotional.
And I'm scared of all the lies
We're also apprehensive about deception or falsehoods.
But then you tell me, oh, I shouldn't worry
The reassurance from another person continues, helping us to overcome our fears.
Oh, you tell me to stay strong
Their encouragement helps us to maintain our courage and determination.
We're living now, let's live now
We're being urged to seize the present moment and make the most of it.
Let's live only for love
The artist suggests that love should be our guiding principle in life.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, PFIVE Entertainment Mexico
Written by: Anna Von Hausswolff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kimberlyn Estrada Raymundo
We're walking in a curved line into something new
The birds are watching every step I take
Beneath the stars, beneath the moon, there is a hole
It's covered up in darkness and fear
But then, there is something moving against me
It's not in line with the world I know
Changing the heart, changing the spirit
Changing my path, changing my soul
My sight is clear, the colors are expanding
I don't frown in the mirror, on the world
There is no time, there is no face, there is no me
I am following a shadow while I'm reaching for the sun
But then you tell me I shouldn't worry
You tell me to stay strong
You tell me I shouldn't worry
Why is the stranger in sync with my heart?
I tip toe here, I don't want you to see me
I'm listening, I'm stolen by every word you say
A dream is pulling out my heart and spirit
And I'm scared to fall, I'm scared of death
And I'm scared of all the lies
But then you tell me, oh, I shoudn't worry
Oh, you tell me to stay strong
You tell me I shouldn't worry
We're living now, let's live now
Let's live only for love
María Inés Parnisari
The finale of Killing Eve sucked but this song more than makes up for it. I've played it on repeat for the past three days. Thank you
roxie Arg
Me too , necesito llorar
Juliana Felix
me too
Sildelfi
I'm still crying after the Killing Eve finale a week ago and this song hits me harder and harder inside my soul for everything that could have been and was not.
AG LadyBird
Same 😭 it's so sad
Taís
Please may you put this song on Spotify?? 😭🤒💙✨ i promise I’ll listen to it 45 times a day
biinabrombim
Precisamos dessa música no Spotify 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲
Taís
@Nimzaway not here in south america 🤒
Nadir Elizalde
@Nimzaway not in all countries :(
Nimzaway
It's on there