As played on John Peel on Radio 1, Radio ATL in Belguim and Radio FSK in Hamburg.

First up and just when you thought it was safe to leave the bunker, Emma's House Recordings of Manchester weigh in with another mighty addition to their already veritable bulging catalogue of delights. This time turning their attention closer to home, pressed on 10 inches of white vinyl and again limited to a meagre 200 copies, which should by rights fly out the door pretty sharpish is the 'Philokalia' ep by Manchester based duo Anna Kashfi. Words cannot describe adequately the way these 6 tracks of tortured acoustic fragility kept me bound in a state of wonder and awe. Reference points are easy, try Mazzy Star and the Delgados for starters, and remember the mention of these bands in particular are not easily thrown down. 'Philokalia' is a mature collection for a duo who have only been around for 18 months, it hurts, it weeps drowning in it's own sense of despair, it's lonely and tugs emotionally at the most ardent of stone hearts. 'Rain keeps falling' and 'Farewell Song' follow a similar pattern, acoustically driven to delicate extremes, Sian Webley's vocals imparting a seldom heard longing quality that graze over the sympathetic natural qualities of the dutiful though distantly envisaged chords. However the jewel in the crown can be found on 'Three Wise Men', if any record could come near to the dizzy heights of Mazzy Star's immortal 'Fade into you' then this it, prickling and picking at the senses, 'Three Wise Men' unearths a hitherto hidden beauty, fractured elegance toying with ethereal smoothness, a real emotional tug of war. 'Used Up' is equally tantalising if only for the way it seems to echo the charges laid down by REM on 'Everybody Hurts'. 'Sunburn' is bestowed with an eerie charm, replete with steel guitars and wind chimes, its haunting looped chord work has the effect of trapping you on a spiders web awaiting your fate, a tensely delivered meisterwork. With a self released album under their belts entitled 'About the Boy' I've a distinct feeling that Anna Kashfi will be around for a long time to come, don't know about you but I'm off to hunt down that debut CD. The only word of warning I can give is that if your cheque isn't already in the post for this, then don't come crying six months down the line wondering what all the fuss is about.
Mark Barton Losingtoday.com - December 2002

Anna Kashfi are probably one of the best, most understated and unfortunately still least well known americana bands in the UK at the moment, but they’re really not going to keep that up for long if they keep releasing material like the six songs that form their new "Philokalia" EP. Hailing from Manchester, the material up until the present has been nothing short of remarkable, but it still doesn’t prepare you for the sheer splendor of any new material when you hear it, the EP being a point in question. Released as a limited edition 10” white vinyl, it’s probably a good thing that you have to turn over after track three as it adds a little bit of longeivity to an EP that’s over with far too quickly, for no other reason than all six songs are near perfect. It’s a strong word to use, but you only have to listen to the first two songs to gain a measure of the band’s talent. Sian’s vocals are as slight as ever but perfectly accompanied by James’ instrumentation, and the songs themselves - the usual comparisons with Mazzy Star and Sparklehorse don’t really do justice to the emotional wreck tracks like "Three Wise Men" can quickly metamorph even the most wary of listeners into. It’s a pity that given the format and limited edition, more people won’t get to hear it, but that’s all the more reason to get a copy. See the website for more details.
Americana-uk.com - December 2002

"Anna Kashfi is not a person but a duo of Sian Webley (vocals) and James Youngjohns (guitar). They have a new 6-track vinyl EP on the enterprising Manchester label, Emma's House Recordings. The title Philokalia is taken from a J.D. Salinger novel, which is appropriate. Holden Caulfield (from Salinger's Catcher in the Rye) and Anna Kashfi are kindred souls: both strangers in the world and both imaginary characters. If the painful self-consciousness of adolescence survives in Anna Kashfi songs, they also retain the romance and rapture. They gently haunt the senses."
Mike Butler Metro NorthWest - January 2002

Beautiful mini-album (currently vinyl only, but scheduled on CD early 2002), from Manchester’s Anna Kashfi, ostensibly a duo featuring the remarkable talents of vocalist Sian Webley and multi-instrumentalist James Youngjohns. Sparse, acoustic tenderness across six tracks that ooze class and taste, Webley’s voice casting a seductive spell, controlled menace bubbling under the surface. Youngjohn’s accompanyment is suitably assured, built around an acoustic guitar framework with florishes of harmonica and keys, alongside unobtrusive contributions from Alan Cook on pedal steel and Chris Ingold’s banjo. The country inflections of closer "Day His Star Dies" are reminiscent of Gentle Creatures era Tarnation, sung by a less self-aware Hope Sandoval. Philokalia is thankfully devoid of faux-Americana however, placing it’s trust in song, not artifice.
Matt Dornan Comes With A Smile - Spring 2002