DILATE info
(RBR008-D) 1996

Recorded in December 1995 and January 1996, DILATE features more trademark Ani-songs with drummer Andy. Three studios were used: Congress House Studio in Austin, Texas; Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton, Ontario; Chemical Sound in Toronto. Mark Hallman, Marty Lester, and Ed Stone handled duties in Austin, while Bob Doidge and Robin Aube took care of duties in Hamilton. Andy Gilchrist was present for the Toronto portion. Ani mixed the stuff herself in Texas with Chris Bellman handling mastering duties at L.A.'s Bernie Grundman Mastering. Again, Ani designed the album (with credited help from Adam Pause). Eye-pupils dilate. The female cervix dilates as it prepares for birth. Two possible interpretations come to mind. Does the tile refer to the widening and narrowing of Ani's cinematic, inner eye? Or to Ani's rebirth as an alterna-rock, post-riot grrl folkster?

      Part of what makes DILATE succeed so well is the presence of Andy S., Ani's erstwhile and supportive drummer. His presence is felt more acutely on this release. Other guests include David Travers-Smith on trumpet and Michael Ramos on organ. Everything else is handled by Andy'n'Ani. the cover shows the L'il Folksinger kneeling, face hidden by blue-dyed corn-rowed hair, hands nail-polished black. The word "dilate" appears in faded white letters, dominating the CD cover, almost as if she were deliberately keeping her face hidden.

      Critics and reporters often categorize DILATE as Ani's "coming out of the gay closet and into the straight one" album, the songs apparently turning off a large contingent of her "queer" following based on the he/she nature of the lyrics. But the lyrics are ambiguous, deliberately so, it would seem, allowing the listeners to bring their own interpretation to the songs based on their own subjective experience. This freedom of interpretation makes these songs sparkle and succeed. DILATE turned out to be breakthrough album for Ani. Younger fans flocked to its words and music in the wake of media attention following Alanis Morissette's breakthrough with JAGGED LITTLE PILL. Long-time, older Anifans saw the album as another stage in her evolution as a mature artist. ~ Raffaele Quirino