Annie - Chewing Gum
(679 Warners - September 2004)
Produced and co written by Richard X
Annie's early singles were a big inspiration around the time of the Girls On Top records, the idea that pop could again exist with a more left field slant outside the mainstream. Annie appeared on the X Factor track ironically on probably the least poppy track "Just Friends". Recorded in early 04 and written with Hannah Robinson. Such joy.
NME Single Of The Week
“We’re slightly premature in reviewing “Chewing Gum” – it’s out around now as a limited edition seven-inch single but isn’t properly released until September, Even if it was scheduled to be the last single released before the Apocalypse, however, we’d still bend the rules in favour of this, a single that manages to radiate ice-cold Nordic aloofness and yet be so ludicrously chirpy it makes Britney sound like Patti Smith.
The reason lies in the inspired pairing of Annie with Richard X. She’s the Norwegian chanteuse who caused a stir in the danced undergrowth with her Madonna-sampling (and, alas, inaccurately titled) ‘The Greatest Hit’ a few years ago. He’s the former bootleg kink who took the Sugababes and Rachel Stevens to the top end of the charts while retaining a fondness for the kind of Sheffield electro-sleaze sells ten copies in Rough Trade and zero in HMV. Together, they’ve made a record that can hold its own on the coolest dancefloors and in the CD:UK studio alike, that will unite everyone from indie fanboys to Dido fans in appreciation of its bubblicious charms.
The lyrics compare men to confectionery and are sighed in an almost illegally high and breathy voice by Annie, who sounds like she could overdose on oxygen alone. The music is a Day Glo homage to ‘80s punk funk (specifically the Tom Tom club’s much sampled ‘Genius of Love’), with electro pings and whizzes underpinned by clattering percussion and a booty-pinching bassline. If we were more muso we could attempt to explain exactly why this record works – something to do with the way the tune’s laid over the rhythm to make It sound deliciously off-kilter. But that would be like performing vivisection on a butterfly. Better to enjoy the summery splendour of ‘Chewing Gum’ whole.”
Alex Needham NME
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