|
We’ve
been waiting for two years but at last the time has come to cherish
the new Anathema album! With a cover that reflects forlornness and
consciousness, but always leaves some space for own interpretation,
just like the music. The album is above all a creation of guitarist
Danny Cavanagh who went through rough times last years. This
resulted however in a number of thrilling songs which illustrate the
process of assimilation and personal growth. Since long the fans
knew already they wouldn’t make a simple metal/doom album but that
Anathema would evolve in the very direction chosen by themselves.
In
May 2003, during the concert we could hear two songs of this album:
‘Closer’ and ‘Flying’. It is an album you have to listen to a few
times before it unfurls its beauty, but it is with nice wondering we
discover every time new fragile details. The melodies soon start
haunting you. The best music is never fast consuming stuff.
Personally I notice with pleasure that this record gets good reviews
also outside the metal press, more in alternative magazines. Is
there still hope for some appreciation outside the circle? I hope it
for them because they would enjoy it. For it is indeed a ridiculous
statement that artists are forced to stay in the underground to be
‘true’. Enough reflections, what counts is the music and the music
leads us for one hour along the slippery path of desperation and
natural beauty.
It is
a sensitive track ‘Harmonium’ that opens the album, strings and
intensive guitar on the front. What strikes us are close harmony
vocals (yes!) and a synthetic background. The two first songs show
us the influence of Radiohead. With ‘Closer’ we are surprised again,
for this is Anathema meets Kraftwerk. Who ever expected this: an
electronic distorted voice. But then we dive into some whirling
riffs. It becomes really psychedelic, moving towards the wilful
existentialism of Katatonia and In The Woods. To return after a
while to the sober integrity of ‘Are you there?’. Quiet a change of
mood and provisionally the most heart-chilling track. Melancholy
with an adequate instrumental decoration. I hope they will play it
live!
‘Childhood Dream’ is a transition phase with a spot on Les’ son,
just preceding the hardest track of the CD ‘Pulled Under At 2000
metres A Second’. It shows the youthful venom and seen from that
point of view it is related to ‘Panic’ of the previous album. In
other words a song that will cause any commotion in the attentive
crowd at live gigs. Whispering fragments flow in primal rhythms of
boosting guitar-riffs. This eruption is followed by the caressing
sounds of the titletrack ‘A Natural Disaster’. This song sounded
quiet impressive already when Danny played it live in Apeldoorn.
It’s been a long cold winter… see
http://www.prog-nose.org/engels/concertinpressions/danny_jamie_1202.htm_
Now it is sung in a higher tone by Lee Douglas, drummer John’s
sister who sang ‘Parisienne Moonlight’ on Judgement. It remains an
entrancing composition, well performed by Lee. In ‘Flying’ Vinny
sings again, in the usual loved way and this brings us strong
moments where Vinny is strengthened by the firm bass of brother
Jamie on one side and the inspired ornaments of Danny on the other
side. Top! ‘Electricity’ has a disarming simplicity. It is based on
Danny’s piano and vocals and shows us the sense of the real artists
who are able to create an intimate sphere in the coolness of a
studio. We can chill out on the more than ten minutes long track
‘Violence’. This title must be a joke. All we hear is introvert
piano-play and one occasional outburst on guitars, a bit along the
lines of Katatonia. Furthermore introversion all over. I know I’m a
little late with this review, but now I just finished writing when I
have to leave for Danny’s concert. |
