Ann played seven songs per set from her latest album When We Were Spies as well as her sophomore effort, Modes of Transport (“Crowd Pleaser”, “Back Seat Driver”) and debut Soul Unravelling, including the Paul Simon inspired “The Only Living Girl In New York” and the gorgeous “Waterfront”, which much to her delight was highlighted on the recently released Party of Five DVD soundtrack.  She took a short break in between to talk to her new fans, answer their questions and sell CDs.  What you have to know about Ann Vriend is that her spectacular, poetic talent for storytelling and her intelligent, clever voice deserves a massive audience and you can start offering your appreciation by purchasing a copy of the sensational When We Were Spies either through her MySpace site or CD Baby.

Former Secret Agent Ann Vriend grew up listening to 70’s songwriters Paul Simon, Cat Stevens and Leonard Cohen.  She’s a big fan of Tom Waits which is evident in her writing style and Aretha Franklin which is equally apparent in her singing.  After posing as a freelance journalist to keep her spy status intact, Ann made the impossibly difficult and dangerous decision to defect and fortunately for us, convinced Juno nominated producer Douglas Romanow to produce an ode to her past, When We Were Spies: an album, in her own words, “centred around this exploration I seemed to be having about how much vulnerability and trust and transparency you allow yourself to have in a relationship, from the level of an intimate, personal one, to political and social ones.”

The lushly orchestrated When We Were Spies opens with its second single, the infectious espionage love song, “(If We Are Not) Spies” and slips effortlessly into the picturesque “Central Park Monday” before honouring Neil Young with a matchless version of “Rockin’ In The Free World.”  The optimistic and upbeat “Start Over”, which strikes a Sarah Slean chord, is a declaration of willingness to give love another chance:

“I’ll take off my armour
You drop your crown of thorns
I’ll empty out a cartridge
You put down your sword
Baby, are you ready
To suspend your disbelief
Will you start over with me”

The enchanting, hypnotic “Radio” is a dramatic, passionate plea (akin to a Tori Amos torch ballad) for help in calling out to a lover.  The first radio single, “St. Paul” embraces a mission, the singer daring to risk it all; while “Now The Lights” accedes the ending of a relationship.  “Where You Are” has an enthusiastic, jaunty, carnival feel to it, carrying on the spy theme.  “The Agreement” is a lovely, slower paced piano ballad of love and doubt, preceding my favourite tracks which coincidentally close the album, the poignantly profound “Halloween” and exquisitely plaintive tale of love at the end of a night in a bar, “Take My Hand.”

It is an absolute felony that Ann Vriend doesn’t have a prominent label behind her and the fact that this woman has sold over 10,000 CDs on her own is a testament to her ambition and determination to succeed in the cold and icy wasteland that is currently Edmonton…I mean the music industry!

Fans of Katie Melua, Coco Love Alcorn, Sarah Slean and Kate Bush will undoubtedly love Ann Vriend and I urge you to listen to her music.  Purchase her wonderfully eclectic discography through CD Baby (http://cdbaby.com/cd/vriend3) and uncover her charms through Killbeat Music at www.killbeatmusic.com, her official website at www.annvriend.com (where you can really get to know Ann through Leaks To The Press) and at www.myspace.com/annvriend where you can send her some love first hand.  This enigmatic woman is a Canadian music legend in the making.

Christine Bode
c.bode@partyinkingston.com