Any Anxiety?

I'm going to blame this mess on my friend Jonder. We're always passing music back & forth as we have similar likes & both are always on the look-out for something good. He was sharing some Little Axe live sets with me & another friend had recently asked me about Jeb Loy Nichols. Knowing the J & Ø mutual love of all things On-U Sound, I shared Long Time Traveller with Jonder.

He wrote back & said: "Thanks again for Jeb Loy Nichols.  He has an interesting story that weaves in and out of On U history, just like Little Annie (Anxiety) Bandez.  Either one of them would make a good topic for your blog (hint), but I'm not the man to write them!"

Well, Jeb Loy surely is an interesting character but much of his music is in the 'folk' vein. I am not an educated follower of that particular genre, so doubted that I was "the man to write" it, either. I do have a fondness in my soul for all things Little Annie (it might stem from youthful pilfering of a friend's older brother's Playboys & Little Annie Fanny, who knows). So I thought I liked Jonder's idea & might tackle the project. Well, what I had got myself into was more than I had imagined (if I were the man). I’m blaming it on Jonder...yeah, that's the ticket.

Little Annie Anxiety Bandez has been at this musick thing since the late 70s when she first took the stage as an under-age (16) teenager at Max's Kansas City, fronting her atonal, savage dance-rhythmed band Annie & the Asexuals. If you want to find out the true story, Annie has chronicled it in her book, You Can't Sing the Blues While Drinking Milk. I rather just let her music speak for itself, which is a gargantuan undertaking in itself. So without further bullshit, let's hit it…

As I already stated, Annie's musical career started with Annie & the Asexuals. Here's a track of theirs from Here We Go, Sterile SR08, release date 1985 (this is a benefit album for the UK Miners' Strike - also appearing on the album are Bourbonese Qualk, Nocturnal Emissions, The Hafler Trio, & Lustmord).

Annie & the Asexuals - Gates of Freedom

After meeting Steve Ignorant from the band Crass, Annie visited the UK for two weeks that turned into more than ten years. She began working with Penny Rimbaud & Crass, touring extensively as a solo artist & in collaboration with other musicians. Here, with Penny Rimbaud, is a single from Crass Records, ahead of its time for a bunch of punks in 1981. Annie Anxiety does eerie vocals & spoken word over various background noise / broken tape loops.

Annie Anxiety – Barbed Wire Halo 7”, Crass 321984/3, 1981.

Side A –

Hello Horror

Side B –

Cyanide Tears

After some time in London, Annie went on team up with Adrian Sherwood at On-U Sound to become their premiere multi-media artist & post-modern cabaret queen, including the recording of three solo LPs Soul Possession, Short & Sweet, & Jackamo & many singles & remixes.

Soul Possession features On-U Sound members as well as artists from Crass with whom Annie toured. It was produced by Adrian Sherwood. This record was never released on On-U Sound. Although all copies have the On-U number ON-U LP29 on the back of the sleeve it is clearly officially only a Corpus Christi release.

Soul Possession: Annie Anxiety – vocals; Martin Frederix – guitar; Kishi Yamamoto - Prophet piano, Chinese harp, & drums; Derek Birkett – bass; Adrian ‘Prisoner’ Sherwood – drums; Penny Rimbaud – drums; Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah – percussion with
Eve Libertine -  additional vocals.

Annie Anxiety - Soul Possession, Corpus Christi Christ It's 10, 1984.
all decryption codes in comments

Side One –

Closet Love 

Third Gear

Turkey Girl

Burnt Offering

Side Two –

To Know Evil

Sad Shadows

Viet Not Mine, El Salvador Yours

Waiting for the Fun

The album Jackamo was initially intended to be titled Giacomo & possibly before that My Life in the Shed Out Back. As an On-U Sound release, it never materialized. The tracks were produced & mixed by Adrian Sherwood & Kishi Yamamoto. The CD contains two tracks not on the LP ("Down by the Station" & "Rise (Dub)"). In 1996 the German label Echo Beach re-issued it as the Echo Beach Serious Classics (Echo Beach EB003) in a metal box with three new remixes which are added as bonus tracks here.

Jackamo is: Annie Anxiety – vocals & sound effects; Martin Frederix – guitar; Kishi Yamamoto - keyboards, rhythm tracks, & sounds; Ian Hill – accordion & piano; Doug Wimbish – bass; & Bonjo Lyabinghi Noah – percussion with Skip McDonald doing the remixing.

Annie Anxiety Bandez – Jackamo, One Little Indian TPLP 4, 1987.

Tracklist –

As I Lie In Your Arms

Bastinado

Chasing the Dragon down Broadway

Jackamo

Jack Yo Mama

One Mourning (for Marvin Gaye)

Rise

Hier Encore

CD bonus tracks (TPLP4CD) –

Down by the Station

Rise (Dub)

Echo Beach remix tracks (Echo Beach EB003)

Hier Encore (96 remix)

Rise Dub (96 remix)

As I Lie in Your Arms (96 remix)

Short & Sweet was produced by Adrian Sherwood. It features: Annie Anxiety – vocals; David Harrow – programming; Skip McDonald – guitar; Doug Wimbish – bass; & Somay Akpan – percussion.

Little Annie - Short & Sweet, On-U Sound ON-ULP60, 1992.

Side One –

Watch the World Go Bye

Bless Those (Little Annie's Prayer)

Going for Gold

I Think of You

I Think of You Dub

Side Two –

Give it to Me

You, the Night, & the Music

Little Man

Prisoner of Paradise

Everything & More

bonus track 1 – If Cain Were Able (ON-U CD16/dl only)

bonus track 2 - Watch the World Go Bye in Dub (from Short, Sweet, & Dread, Restless 72797, 1995)

In Dread with Little Annie EP was produced by Little Annie, Richard Norris, Dave Curtis, & Keith LeBlanc. Tracks were mixed by Adrian Sherwood & Skip McDonald. 

Little Annie - In Dread with Little Annie (Four Pieces of Heart at 33rpm), 

On-U Sound ON-UDP30, 1994.

Side A -

10 Killer Hurtz More (remix)

Miss the Light

Side B –

This Town

Le Manger Hereux

Here are some individual tracks with Annie & other members of the On-U family.

I featured The Missing Brazilians – Warzone on NSS previously. It was recorded at the same time as Soul Possession. The Missing Brazillians was a one-off album project led by Adrian Sherwood (listed as The Prisoner). Annie was mistakenly identified as Annia Anxiety.

Missing Brazilians – Warzone, On-U Sound ON-ULP34, 1984.

A2 - Gentle Killers

Keith LeBlanc is a key part of the On-U Soundsystem, Fats Comet, Tackhead & Dub Syndicate. He has performed on numerous Annie releases.

Keith LeBlanc - Stranger Than Fiction, Nettwerk W2-30032, 1989.

06 - Count This

Pay it All Back is an ongoing series of releases from the On-U Sound label, collecting various artists from the roster, often with exclusive tracks (like this one).

Various - Pay It All Back Vol. 5, On-U Sound 0075, 1995.

12 - I Drop Your Name

During this same time period, Little Annie Anxiety Bandez was a much sought-after artist who also recorded with The Wolfgang Press, Current 93, Coil, Nurse With Wound, Finitribe, & Collapsed Lung (to name but a few).

"The Mystical Body" was originally released in 1984. Annie is listed as being a member of Current 93, however, her voice is only audible on these tracks. At this time, she was performing with both Current 93 & Nurse With Wound, but her vocals are not audible on any (official) Nurse With Wound release.

Current 93 - Nature Unveiled, LAYLAH LAY4, 1984.

Side II - The Mystical Body of Christ in the Chorazaim (the Great in the Small)

bonus track – Beausoleil live (vocals by Little Annie)

Side b of Gyllensköld, Geijerstam & Friends - Live at Bar Maldoror was later included on the Nurse With Wound CD release of the same name, however, side b, where Annie can clearly be heard, is not included on the CD issue.

Personnel listed (on both releases) are: Steven Stapleton; Ruby Wallis; John Balance; Annie Anxiety; Chris Wallis; David Tibet; Diana Rogerson; Knori; & Tim o' the violin.

Gyllensköld, Geijerstam & Friends - Live at Bar Maldoror, Mi Mort 3, 1985.

side b

Devastate to Liberate was originally released by David Tibet's Yangki label, later issued on cassette by Steven Stapleton's United Dairies label. Annie is one of a dozen artists & bands featured on the compilation.

Various – Devastate to Liberate, Yangki YANGKI1, 1985.

B3 – Annie Anxiety - Soweto Suntan

On these songs, Annie Teams up with Finitribe. The avowed vegetarian terrorists band Finitribe formed in the early 80s. Members included Chris Connelly, David Miller, Philip Pinsky, Simon McGlynn, Thomas McGregor, & John Vick although membership went through many changes until by 1989 the group was down to a trio of David Miller, Philip Pinsky, & John Vick. Annie lends vox.

Finitribe - Noise, Lust & Fun, One Little Indian TPLP 21 CD, 1989.

07 - Fluke

Sleazy Listening features the song "Waltzer", an Annie tune taken from an earlier Finitribe recording session. By the time of its release, Finitribe was only David Miller & Philip Pinsky.

Finitribe - Sleazy Listening, Infectious Records INFECT43LP, 1998.

Side A – 05 - Waltzer

Annie performs on two linked songs on The Wolfgang Press release Queer.

The Wolfgang Press – Queer, 4AD CAD1011, 1991.

04 - Birdie Song

05 - Dreams & Light

Coil’s Love's Secret Domain was originally released by Torso in Europe & WaxTrax! in North America. Both editions were long out of print, but Torso re-issued it in 2013. Annie appears on track 3.

 

Coil - Love's Secret Domain, Wax Trax! Records WAXCD7143, 1991.

03 - Things Happen

Collapsed Lung enlisted Annie for their pop/rap release Jackpot Goalie. Collapsed Lung were: Jim Burke, Steve Harcourt, Anthony Chapman, & Jonny Dawe. Anthony Chapman now records as DJ Scissorkicks. The other three are in the band Junior Blanks.

Collapsed Lung - Jackpot Goalie, Deceptive Records BLUFF015, 1995.

05 - Interactive

At this time various tracks by various variations of Annie's nom de musique appeared on various compilations

F/Ear This (A Collection of Unheard Music, Unwritten Words, & Unseen Images Inspired by Fear) is a compilation arranged by music journalist & magazine editor Marco Pandin, who now operates Stella Nera out of Italy. Stella Nera is an autonomous anarchistic record label which has existed under different guises since the early 80s. Earlier incarnations included Rockgarage Records (which evolved out of the Italian fanzine by the same name that Marco wrote for & edited), Catfood Press, P.E.A.C.E., Divergo, & art as hammer until Pandin settled with Stella Nera in the 2000s.

"It Was July" features Annie – lyrics & vocals with Cecilia Dobner on piano.

Various - F/Ear This, P.E.A.C.E. Cat. N^o 4/5, 1987

C3 - It Was July

Interiors is a collection of tracks from John Everall's Sentrax label. It includes contributions by Panasonic's Mika Vainio, Drew McDowell's Screwtape, Mick Harris, & Coil's ELpH as well as this spoken word track that was later expanded (with music added) for the CoH - Vox Tinnitus release (which I’m posting next).

Various – Interiors, Invisible INV7001, 1998.

12 – Thirteen Things I Did Today

CoH (pronounced "son") is the musical project of Russian electronic musical artist Ivan Pavlov. As well as Annie, Peter Christopherson of Coil appears on this release.

CoH - Vox Tinnitus 2 x 7" 45s, Raster-Noton Raster-Static STATIC1, 1999.

Side D – Forty Six Things I Did Today

After about 1995, Annie took a hiatus from music to teach herself painting. She put in long hours learning her Art. Her primary musical efforts during this period usually involved her friend Kid Congo Powers.

Kid Congo Powers formed a new project The Legally Jammin' with Christian Jendrieko & Khan Oral. The 2003 album The Legally Jammin' was voted by Mojo #1 Dance Album of the Year.

Little Annie & the Legally Jammin' – self-titled, Italic ITA035, 2003.

Side A –

Bleach

Take it from Me

Samsara

2^nd Avenue Blues

Side B –

Backtrack Jack

No Angels

Well?

Chicken Delight

& then there was the remixed.

The Legally Jammin' – Mixed Up Little Annie 12" EP, Italic ITA042, 2004.

Side A –

Bleach (Illegally Club mixed)

Side B –

Bleach (Illegally Rock mixed)

Blacktrack Jack (Illegally Cramp mixed)

Kid Congo Powers & the Pink Monkey Birds – Philosophy & Underwear,
Trans Solar SOL029LP, 2005.

Side B – 02 – The Weather The War

It was during this same period that Annie met the late actor Bill Rice. The two became close friends & appeared together many times in numerous plays & theater pieces at Café La MaMa's, PS 122 & Dixon Place (doing works by writer, performer, & choreographer George Stamos, playwrights Charles Alcroft & (the late…d. 2010) Jim Neu whose play Alone Together was the couples last play together as Bill passed a few month after the end of its run in January 2007.

By 2006, Annie returned to music renewed, featuring a more chanson-centric piano / string section style.

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."  Oscar Wilde 1854-1900

Her first released came about with the help of Antony Hegarty (of Antony & the Johnsons fame).

Little Annie – Songs from the Coal Mine Canary, Durtro DURTRO/JNANA1967, 2006.

Tracklist –

Freddy & Me

Derma

Lullaby

The Good Ship Nasty Queen

Absynthtee-ism

If I Were a Man

Diamonds Made of Glassine

Strange Love

Sit on Down

End is Near

Much of  her recent work has primarily found her teamed with pianist Paul Wallfisch (of the band Botanica) releasing 2008s When Good Things Happen to Bad Pianos covers album & 2010s Genderful. In 2013 Little Annie teamed up with Baby Dee, a renowned performance artist & musician hirself. Annie's latest, titled Trace ( with Ryan Driver, Opal/ Onyx, & Paul Wallfisch) has been pre-released in download format for the supporters of her Pledge campaign. The release date is imminent. Since all these releases are readily available & currently purchasable, I will only showcase a few select tracks.

Little Annie & Paul Wallfisch - When Good Things Happen to Bad Pianos,
Durtro/Jnana 1966, 2008.

02 - Song for You (Leon Russel)

05 - If You Go Away (Jacques Brel)

Little Annie & Paul Wallfisch – Genderful, Southern Records 28160, 2010.

03 - Suitcase Full of Secrets

04 - Billy Martin Requiem

Little Annie & Baby Dee – State of Grace, Tin Angel Records TAR033LP, 2012

A3 – State of Grace (with Bonnie Prince Billy)

Here is a live version of  "Dear John" from the upcoming Trace. Recorded live at Dortmund November 2, 2013.

Little Annie – Dear John

Following are a variety of songs revealing just a few more of the myriad faces/phases of Miss Little Annie, chanteuse.

Little Annie - Diamonds Made of Glass 12" EP, Streamline STREAMLINE1021, 2001.

(with cover art by Annie)

Side B – Diamonds Made of Glass (remix by Christoph Heemann)

Blue Light Fever is the musical project of UK-based electronic musician Matt Preston.

Blue Light Fever – Blue Light Fever, S:alt Records SALTCD007, 2002.

03 - Toytown

10 - Round & Round Town

13 - Bottled Water

These 3xCD sets were given to all audience members (500) at the three day Brainwaves Festival in November, 2006 (the 10^th annual). There is no printing on the packaging whatsoever. The cover was intended for autographs. The sleeve is blank without any tracklisting or other details printed on it.

Various – Brainwaves, Brainwashed Recordings BRAIN012, 2006.

CD2-06 - Little Annie - Baby I Can Make You a Man

Here Annie fronts the band Larsen.

Larsen - La Fever Lit, Important Records IMPREC221, 2008

03 - Lefrak City Limits

06 - Flower

08 - T-Song

As the title so apply relates, this CD is made up of interpretations of Scott Walker tunes inspired by the must-see flick 30 Century Man.

Various – Scott Walker - 30 Century Man (Music Inspired by the Film), 

Lakeshore Records LKS339672, 2009.

12 – Little Annie & Paul Wallfisch - Such a Small Love

Little Annie & Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo – Blue Xmas EP, 

Tourette Records tourette028, 2011. 

(another cover art by Annie Bandez)

Side B – 01 – Blue Moon

Little Annie & the Sun Tangerine – How Could You? (Zero Cash remix), 

I'm Single Records 014-023, 2012.

& ending up back at On-U Sound.

Various – Trevor Jackson Presents: Science Fiction Dancehall Classics 3xLP,
On-U Sound ONULP129. 2015.

Side F3 - Little Annie - 77 Emerging Strips

… one last item, a live version of Lullaby recorded February 3, 2007 at Museo Serralves, Portugal. Take the time to listen to Annie's rambling intro, it is very revealing.

Annie Anxiety Bandez – Lullaby (live in Porto)

Enjiety,

NØ