Anathema the optimist (CD, Kscope, 2017) ****
Genre: Prog rock
Places I remember: JB HiFi (Palmerston North)
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: The Lost Song Part 3
Gear costume: Endless Ways
Active compensatory factors: These are the final two Anathema albums to report on. Two albums in six years isn't too unusual these days.
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: The Lost Song Part 3
Gear costume: Endless Ways
Covid-19 can be blamed for the band's hiatus since the optimist (yes, lower case).
A real shame - because every subsequent release was getting better and better.
The distant satellites (yes, lower case) album is a cohesive, beautifully played, wonderfully sung suite of songs, that builds momentum throughout. There are lyrical passages (thanks to Daniel Cavanagh's lovely keyboards, and metal guitar drive-bys mixed up for a spirit of innovation and then there is Lee Douglas on vocals (with Vincent Cavanagh). She's just great!
Their latest album to date is the optimist, a kind of sequel to a previous album A Fine Day To Exit. Both are concept albums. Now I am a sucker for a good concept album, so these are right up my alley. Except the story line isn't too clear to my befuddled brain.
Nevertheless, worth exploring, and Lee's vocals are a standout on Endless Ways and Ghosts.
Where do they all belong? And that's it for Anathema. Next up in the prog section is Ian Anderson's solo stuff.
Where do they all belong? And that's it for Anathema. Next up in the prog section is Ian Anderson's solo stuff.
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