Any time I visit the Louvre I make a special pilgrimage to see the Mona Lisa. Even though it’s truly smaller than I ever imagined, and even though there is always a sprawling crowd in front of it that makes viewing it that bit more of a challenge, viewing La Gioconda’s wry knowing smile is always worth the effort. This mini canvas of a woman formally dressed, captured sitting not posing or reclining, facing you off and yet inviting you in has created a mythical oeuvre with a depth of perception and meaning whose power to enthrall and captivate audiences throughout time and across the centuries has simply multiplied.
The same can be said of Annie and her fabulous new anthology ‘Masterpieces’. Created in celebration of her 50 years in broadcasting, it can’t have been easy picking the pearls from Annie’s vast mental, aural rollerdex and treasure chest. Whittling down the joy and passion of listening to music, interviewing and befriending its stars and living the rock n roll life style through a career spanning 18, 262.109 days, 5 decades and in fact two distinct and very different centuries into just three CDs must have been a proper mission and an extreme jog down memory lane. Still, you will be pleased to know that 18,262,109 days of being Annie – the First Lady of Radio One and the Queen of Breaks, does divide very nicely across 234 minutes.
What you get is a selection curated personally and with love by someone who has never lost their passion or enthusiasm for promoting fresh new music. Featuring some personal friends, family and the frequent guests from her Radio One shows and during her TV tenure on the Old Grey Whistle Test, ‘Masterpieces’ dynamically showcases the key musical moments and genres – juxtaposing music from Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound, to the formation of Britpop, Mod, Electronica, Prog Rock, Punk, New Wave, Nu Romantic, Hip Hop, Rap, Rave, Drum n Bass, Garage, Dubstep, Grime, Bass and Trap – in such a way as to seem effortless. It is absorbing, engrossing and enough to make you lost track of time both in the present and in your passage into the past. That’s how it is with good music – you don’t notice when the decades pass or that the genres feel any different when the selection is on point.
Across the CDs a glittering guest list including the Marvelettes, Paul Mc Cartney, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Loving Spoonful, The Byrds, Lou Reed, Mike Oldfield, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Joe Jackson, Joy Division, Blondie, the Cure, Cameo, Prodigy, Primal Scream, Rozalla, Missy Elliott, Moby, The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Basement Jaxx, MGMT, Example, Tinie Tempah, Magnetic Man, Flux Pavilion, La Roux, London Grammar, Keys and Krates and Troyboi (amongst many others) treat us to a thrilling lock-in and naughty night out at Annie’s lively and living musical museum. It’s psychedelic, rocking, sweet, intelligent, banging and the best fun you can have with or without your headphones on. It’s an aide memoire for young and old that will renew your faith and belief in all music.
Respect to Annie. Masterpieces is most certainly a collector’s item.
5 out of 5
Reviewed by Paulette
