Posts Tagged ‘Anathema’

Optimistic Beauty From Anathema

Posted: February 8, 2018 in progressive rock music
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band Anathema_1

Well it’s 2018.  And I’m still catching up with great progressive rock tracks from recent years that I stumble across during my forays onto the web and satellite radio.  This time it’s a return to one of my favorite bands of the genre, Anathema.

Prog cover

The band is currently riding high with their 2017 release, “The Optimist.”  So much so that Prog Magazine’s  year end reader’s poll named Anathema the #1 Band of the Year;  their album “The Optimist,” #1 Album of the year; Vincent Cavanagh was named #1 Male Vocalist and Lee Douglas, #1 Female Vocalist.  How’s that for a triumphant musical performance!

The track I’ve fallen absolutely in love with has a message that could very well have been included on their latest album had it not been released over 5 years ago!  The track is entitled “Lightening  Song,” from their 2012 album, “Weather Systems.”  

anathema-weather-systems-cover

 

 

 

It begins with the gentle guitar picking of Daniel Cavanagh, one of three brothers in this Liverpool band.

Daniel_1

 

 

 

 

 

The lush sound of a singular stringed instrument soon follows.  And then, the lilting voice of Lee Douglas.  After repeated listenings to this cut I can unabashedly say the beauty and optimism expressed through the lyrics and Lee’s voice can bring tears to my eyes.

Lee_2

The music this band creates is light years away from their beginnings as a metal band and I for one am so extremely grateful for the transformation.  At roughly 3 minutes into this 5 minute and 23 second track the harder leaning metal influence appears with driving electric guitar, powerful drumming and thumping bass.  Lee Douglas wraps her wonderous voice around the chorus of the track.

This world is wonderful, so beautiful
If only you can open up your mind and see
Your world is everything you ever dreamed of
If only you can open up your mind and see

The evolution of this band is striking.  From doom metal to one of the more prominent purveyors of neo progressive music today.  But don’t just take my word on this incredible band and this beautifully optimistic track.   The readers of “Prog Magazine”  throughout the world have spoken as well.  Anathema are definitively part of the current vanguard of a progressive rock music revival.   To support our claim, here is a live performance video of the band performing “Lightening Song” from “Weather Systems:”

Anathema, The Beauty of This Band Belies the Meaning of the Word

Posted: July 2, 2017 in progressive rock music
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Anathema text

Thanks to my good fortune I’ve met a fellow prog rock fan deep in the heart of Texas.  Someplace, quite frankly, I never thought I would find one.  And through him I’ve discovered a beautiful and haunting track I can’t help but replay over and over again,.

The band, Anathema and the track “The Lost Song Part 2” from their 2015 release “Distant Satellites.”  This unique band consists of the three Cavanagh brothers in addition to the brother and sister duo of John and Lee Douglas. Here’s the complete line-up of this Liverpool band and their respective instruments:

Anathema _1

Vincent Cavanagh – rhythm and acoustic guitars, keyboards, programming, lead vocals
Daniel Cavanagh – lead guitar, keyboards, piano  lead and backing vocals
Jamie Cavanagh – bass
John Douglas – drums, percussion, keyboards
Lee Douglas – backing vocals , lead vocals
Daniel Cardoso – keyboards, drums

The track, “The Lost Song Part 2” begins simply enough with understated piano.  Soon the beautiful female voice of Lee Douglas begins to fill your airwaves.  The groove is mellow and extremely pleasing to this listener’s ear.  Then the lyrics begin and the pace of this song changes dramatically.

                             

Lee Douglas

Lee Douglas, vocals

 

In a lifetime
There’a a moment
To awaken

To the sound of
Your heartbeat
Unbroken

And you’re free now
And I will remain
Still dreaming

Alive and aware
The love that I once believed in

 

The entire track is devoid of any overpowering guitar solos. Instead it relies on piano, keyboards and guitar to power it through.  And oh, the lush lead voice of Lee Douglas is a delight to be taken in.  “The Lost Song Part 2” is a true progressive rock ballad if such a thing does truly exist.  As the track effortlessly moves to its’ end, the soundscape of this band is both harmonious and discordant at the same time.  And the overall effect on this listener is overwhelming.

There’s an excellent video on YouTube that I’ve included here.  It features clips from the 2011 science fiction movie drama, “Perfect Sense” starring Ewan McGregor and Eva Green.  I have to admit I’ve never heard of the movie before but I’m certainly glad I’ve stumbled on this edited clip to this moving song.  The movie and this video focus on the relationship between their 2 characters as an epidemic spreads across the world whereby humans lose their sensory perceptions one at a time. Surprisingly this song does not appear on the soundtrack for “Perfect Sense” nor is it the official song for the movie. Still, having 2 gifted actors appear in an edited clip for this song only heightens the experience.

 

If you prefer a live performance of the song, I included that here.

 

 

Anathema is a band I will explore more closely and I hope you will too.  Don’t let the negative connotation associated with their name or even the awkward pronunciation discourage you.  Their music and this endearing track couldn’t be any further from that.