ANNIE
DARK HEARTS
WW
ANNIE MELODY
★★★★
Anne Strand’s frequently fetishised the 80s: her debut, 2004’s Anniemal, earned her a “hipster Kylie” rep, and 2009’s Don’t Stop provoked Pat Benatar comparisons. Dark Hearts maintains such habits, but on its 13 tracks - encouraged by producer Stefan Storm - her magpie instincts now allow her to draw upon a far broader range of influences. This time, the Norwegian, now in her 40s and a mother of two, seems less enamoured with the dancefloor and more with the hours which precede and pursue a party.