Art And Eros in "Swinging Berlin": Anna Aliena's Hottest Record

BERLIN - May 15, 2014 - PRLog -- Berlin, May 15, 2014. After the release of her third EP “Alien Pop“ (2013) Anna Aliena's spaceship has been descending on a vast swinger club called “Swinging Berlin“ where she strikes up the most lascivious notes of her project. Five brand-new songs range from techno opera to swing, dealing with a passionate affair between two artists which ends up in disappointment. In fact, it's a simple story containing a declaration of love for art: Heartache inspires the artist while the muse transforms into music.

Carmen meets techno

For the very first time the singer and songwriter has mixed her compositions with genuine opera. On the opening track “Swinging Berlin“ the famous aria “L'Oiseau Est Un Oiseau Rebelle“ from Georges Bizet's “Carmen“ meets minimalist techno beats. Throughout the whole song it alternates with comparably profane speech and orgasmic moaning. Actually the entire EP presents Anna Aliena as a modern Carmen on her erotic ramble through the Berlin art scene where she bumps into a superficial womanizer. On “This Man Is Dangerous“ and “Fire“ the object of desire makes her ignite flamboyant orchestral fireworks topped with banging samples and sound effects. On “The Director“, however, he is portrayed with sarcasm and irony. Thus, the record voluntarily lacks a grand finale as it depicts a journey from “Swinging Berlin“ to the “Capital Of Deception“. On track 5 not much will be left of operatic singing, pulsating beats and rich instrumentation. Nothing but light swing percussion, electric bass, acoustic guitars and vocals which could also be heard on the stage of a gloomy jazz club. After all, the feeling of being rebuffed by a lover is clad in a lively musical arrangement, though.

A symbiosis of music and photography

Since the beginning of her solo project Anna Aliena has changed her appearance several times. On “Swinging Berlin“ she stages herself as an artificial characterholding a fancy phallic symbol that is supposed to be a mushroom … Berlin photographer and film-maker Thomas Bröse (“SEELIG“) was delegated to shoot this pink persona with his camera. The pictures from that session have been used for the cover artwork of the CD and to illustrate the “Swinging Berlin“ promotion trailer on YouTube. Meanwhile Anna Aliena also produced a video of “The Director“ which is going to be released on June 15. Two days earlier there will be a local premiere at ART Stalker, a new art shop and venue in Berlin. Nevertheless, fans have to be patient until August 15 when the EP will eventually be available as a digital download and on CD.