Ann Marie Nacchio is a song writer, pianist and bassist who has just released the follow up to her debut album Little Dangers. The EP, a collection of seven jazz-rock tracks influenced by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Led Zeppelin, is called It’s been a day, a week, a month, a year.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Ted Maniatakos
For the EP, Ann is joined by Danny Bradley on drums, Adam Tilzer on production and a range of other guest musicians. Collectively they have created something that sounds exciting and unique. The first of two EPs that are intimately tied together by concept, It’s been a day, a week, a month, a year is set to be followed by The Outward Spiral.
The story begins with Kismet. Dramatic piano kicks things off before Ann’s expressive vocals come in. They deliver poetic lyrics and pop-friendly melodies in a way that’s both challenging and accessible. It’s a rare skill and one I’m a total sucker for. The climax gives us a percussive breakdown. It’s a strong start.
Maybe has a theatrical style, with intimate and storytelling lyrics. It’s marching beat drives the track along while the other instrumentals slowly build to a cathartic end. Loose-Lipped Love gives us brooding blues rock. The Zeppelin influences come through strongly in it.
Dead Flowers gives us a Bond theme-esque bombastic style while telling a tale of doomed love. Manic is a lively pop rock number while Friend slows things down with a musical theatre style arrangement. 17 Days, a collaboration with Avon Junkies, closes the story (for now) with some acoustic folk rock.
I’m so glad to have discovered Ann Marie Nacchio’s music through this EP. She truly is an innovator but doesn’t sacrifice relatability or accessibility with her sound. I can’t wait to hear the next part of the story! I hope you’ll be as excited about it as I am. You can check out the whole of It’s been a day, a week, a month, a year below.