After listening to only three songs, yours truly was already convinced this second long player by Hollie Cook would end up in our list of favorite albums for 2014. Cook once again joined forces with Prince Fatty, but 'Twice' sounds significantly different (read: less poppy) than Hollie's self-titled debut album from 2011 and thanks to the presence of an entire string orchestra (the Macedonian Radio Symphonic Orchestra), slightly reminiscent of film and television soundtracks from the 1970s. 'Twice' opens with 'Ari Up', a fitting tribute to the late Ari Up, front woman for The Slits, a formation Hollie was a part of for a while, who passed away in 2010. The album sleeve of 'Twice' is a clear nod to the exotica genre (named after the eponymous 1957 album by Martin Denny and popular during the nineteen fifties and sixties, the genre stands for tropical ersatz music influenced by Oceanian, Southeast-Asian, Andean and African culture) and in some of the songs on 'Twice' these exotic influences can even be heard (the cuíca, a Brazilian friction drum, popping up in '99', the steel drum in 'Postman'). As icing on the cake Holy could also rely on the services of Dennis Bovell, Omar, George Dekker (Pioneers) and Winston Francis. Unfortunately 'Twice' counts only nine tracks, so you'll definitely need the replay button. Instant classic!