Anekdoten

It isn't hard to understand why some goth rock, darkwave, and gothic metal fans have been drawn to Anekdoten. Their music isn't goth rock, darkwave, or gothic metal; they are a progressive rock/art rock band that has strong '70s leanings and has been greatly influenced by King Crimson (with hints of Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull). But because their material tends to be melancholy, dark, and gloomy, some goth rock and darkwave enthusiasts have embraced them. And while Anekdoten's work has never been groundbreaking, much of it has been of a high quality. That high quality is evident on Chapters, a two-CD anthology that was assembled in 2009. Chapters ranges from previously released recordings from the '90s and 2000s to some previously unreleased rarities, including an alternate mix of "Sad Rain" and demos of "Book of Hours," "Prince of the Ocean," "This Is Far from the Sky," "Thirty Pieces," and "Nucleus"…

It isn't hard to understand why some goth rock, darkwave, and gothic metal fans have been drawn to Anekdoten. Their music isn't goth rock, darkwave, or gothic metal; they are a progressive rock/art rock band that has strong '70s leanings and has been greatly influenced by King Crimson (with hints of Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull). But because their material tends to be melancholy, dark, and gloomy, some goth rock and darkwave enthusiasts have embraced them. And while Anekdoten's work has never been groundbreaking, much of it has been of a high quality. That high quality is evident on Chapters, a two-CD anthology that was assembled in 2009. Chapters ranges from previously released recordings from the '90s and 2000s to some previously unreleased rarities, including an alternate mix of "Sad Rain" and demos of "Book of Hours," "Prince of the Ocean," "This Is Far from the Sky," "Thirty Pieces," and "Nucleus"…

"Until All The Ghosts Are Gone" is the long awaited album from Anekdoten, a wait of eight years since the excellent "A Time Of Day" (2007). Fortunately it's been worth the wait as it's as good as and sometimes better than most of their back catalogue. It's clearly recognisably Anekdoten with no great leaps in style. The haunting and melancholic melodies, the dynamic rhythm section and of course the ever present Mellotron. "Until All The Ghosts Are Gone" is a crowning achievement for Anekdoten, one of the absolute standout progressive rock albums of 2015.
Japanese papersleeve mini vinyl replica CD with a bonus disc that contains alternative mixes by Hans Fredriksson of "Shooting Star", "If It All Comes Down To You" & "Our Days Are Numbered".

"Until All The Ghosts Are Gone" is the long awaited album from Anekdoten, a wait of eight years since the excellent "A Time Of Day" (2007). Fortunately it's been worth the wait as it's as good as and sometimes better than most of their back catalogue. It's clearly recognisably Anekdoten with no great leaps in style. The haunting and melancholic melodies, the dynamic rhythm section and of course the ever present Mellotron. "Until All The Ghosts Are Gone" is a crowning achievement for Anekdoten, one of the absolute standout progressive rock albums of 2015.
Japanese papersleeve mini vinyl replica CD with a bonus disc that contains alternative mixes by Hans Fredriksson of "Shooting Star", "If It All Comes Down To You" & "Our Days Are Numbered".

In the early 90s a wave of King Crimson inspired new progrock bands emerged in Scandinavia. One of the first was four piece formation Anekdoten from Sweden. Gravity is the fourth studio album from this progressive rock act. The music on Gravity continues in the emotional style that was started on From Within but adds an alternative rock touch and a bit more commercial appeal to the overall sound. The dark mood and the famous extensive use of mellotron are still trademarks in Anekdoten´s sound on Gravity. The vocal melodies have become slightly more memorable, but they are still far from commercial rock melodies.

After a long silence, Anekdoten reemerges into the darkness with a record that is both more mature than their debut, Vemod, and yet somewhat less polished than 1995's Nucleus. From Within feels like it was produced on a tighter budget, and the production can have a rehearsal-room feel - although to be sitting in Anekdoten's rehearsal room is no small privilege. The opening title track is a band tour de force of crunching bass, swooping Mellotron, and clattering snare drums; one of the real high points of the album comes with the slowly building instrumental "The Sun Absolute," built around a single pulsing bass guitar note, ghostly Mellotron flutes, and sonar ping keyboards. But this fine album still falls a little short of its predecessor, for although Anna Sofi Dahlberg is still listed in the credits, her cello work is strangely absent from the mix. Its departure only serves to emphasize its importance in the band's sound in previous albums.

In the early 90s a wave of King Crimson inspired new progrock bands emerged in Scandinavia. One of the first was four piece formation Anekdoten from Sweden. Gravity is the fourth studio album from this progressive rock act. The music on Gravity continues in the emotional style that was started on From Within but adds an alternative rock touch and a bit more commercial appeal to the overall sound. The dark mood and the famous extensive use of mellotron are still trademarks in Anekdoten´s sound on Gravity. The vocal melodies have become slightly more memorable, but they are still far from commercial rock melodies.

Anekdoten's debut shows them a little rougher, more Gothic in tone, and less tonally subtle than in later years, but compelling nonetheless. From the crashing bass and Mellotron in the opening track "Karelia", it's clear that King Crimson reigns over their work - not to mention that it features riffs nicked from Crimson's "Easy Money." "Wheel" also has the dissonance and horns of the Lizard album. But they are creating something unique here, as the gentle instrumental "Longing" attests. While Anekdoten hadn't quite reached its potential yet - this first album shows a band of great promise.

Anekdoten's debut shows them a little rougher, more Gothic in tone, and less tonally subtle than in later years, but compelling nonetheless. From the crashing bass and Mellotron in the opening track "Karelia", it's clear that King Crimson reigns over their work - not to mention that it features riffs nicked from Crimson's "Easy Money." "Wheel" also has the dissonance and horns of the Lizard album. But they are creating something unique here, as the gentle instrumental "Longing" attests. While Anekdoten hadn't quite reached its potential yet - this first album shows a band of great promise.