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Anouk - For Bitter Or Worse

“The idea was to keep it simple and uncluttered. No overload of instruments,” Anouk says about her new album. And then she adds in a dry tone: “We didn’t quite succeed.” That must be the understatement of the year, because For Bitter Or Worse is an immensely rich and varied album, with Anouk sounding more soulful than ever before. The singer thinks this is the inevitable result of working with the producer/composer duo of Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad (who have worked with Franz Ferdinand, The Cardigans and New Order, amongst others).

Anouk: “The original intention was to record Who’s Your Momma with Tore and Martin. They really liked a number of songs from that album. But when we started jamming together they transformed them into totally different tracks. Then I thought that I really wanted to do something with them, but first I would write songs in their league. That’s what I did and the results are fabulous.”

The album was mastered and mixed in Sweden but the final vocal tracks were laid down in the Dutch Wisseloord studios, the only studios where such a fantastic sound can be realised. The singing as well differs from the previous albums. “Tore and Martin came up with arrangements and harmonies I would never have thought of myself. Their approach demands a lot more Soul. You simply groove into the sound and mood they create. That is why on this album I sing in a lower and darker register. It just came naturally.”

The troubles besetting Anouk before work started on For Bitter Or Worse are partially reflected in the songs on the album. But it is not a dark, angry or sorrowful record. “It revolves around taking stock of a period which lies behind me. In any case, my albums always have a personal slant but they also contain pieces that are completely fictional. But in the end, who knows?” The first single, Three Days In A Row, is definitely not fictional. “This is a very special song to me. I wrote it for my friend Unorthadox. We got to know each other briefly nine years ago but never really met again after that. When I was on my own for a while, we got in touch again and it was very direct: ...it is hard to find words for that. The words ..in love.. are too easy and humdrum for what we share.”

For Bitter Or Worse – containing Swedish contributions as well as songs featuring Anouk working together with Tjeerd Bomhof (Voicst) and old faithful Bart van Veen – is an extremely varied album. Three Days In A Row is a mid tempo ballad, but In This World is an outright guitar driven sixties pop song. Anouk: “I love that sound. I wrote this song for my friends. I am not much of a talker and can better express my message in the lyrics of a song. Today is the album’s power track and Woman is a real sing-along cruncher. My Shoes is more of a jokey and sarcastic song.”

The title track, For Bitter Or Worse, is nothing short of orchestral. It is the first song Anouk wrote after the break-up of her last relationship. And although the expression doesn’t really fit Anouk, it could almost be called a tear-jerker.

Anouk is now firmly in the zone, which has resulted in plenty of ideas for new songs. “I am really fond of Faith in My Moon on this album. It’s slightly bluesy. Empty, but with enough structure to hold it together. I wouldn’t mind further exploring that approach in the future.”

She admits it is a bit rash to start thinking about a new album already. “It has never happened like that before, but when you hit your stride the best thing to do is to go with the flow. Before you know it you may hit a dry spell for a year or two."

That seems highly improbable. “Recording this album has given me so much energy. And the cooperation with Tore and Martin holds a lot of promise. I foresee exciting things happening there. I love all my records but when I compare them in chronological sequence I can hear how I’ve grown each time. Production wise and in the choice of material and the quality of my singing this is my best record so far.”

The single Three Days In A Row was released August 28.
For Bitter Or Worse will hit the stores on September 18.