Anathema are one of the finest progressive rock bands of all time, and it is on this basis that their new release Falling Deeper revisits their early days. Lead guitarist Daniel Cavanagh, who produced the album, states that it is “a nod to our past and a look to our future all at the same time, with a sound that is designed to transport you to the heart of the present moment.” As Anathema possess a unique capacity for melody, the album contains moments of breathtaking beauty; orchestral arrangements are provided by Dave Stewart, while Everwake and Alone feature guest vocals by Anneke van Giersbergen.
But why would a band who have been constantly experimenting, taking risks, and evolving their sound in new directions, want to turn back and reinterpret their origins as doom metal pioneers more than fifteen years ago? What I find fascinating about Falling Deeper is that Anathema do not rewrite their history, but literally reinvent their early body of work. Their approach in doing so is quite diverse; for example, Sunset of Age maintains its length and appears to be heavily orchestrated, while in contrast They Die is shortened and based on a minimalistic, as well as beautiful, melody; at the same time, however, J’ai Fait une Promesse is substantially reworked and extended.
Falling Deeper displays a strong instrumental orientation; many of the lyrics have been removed, and the verse/chorus convention has been largely abandoned. In other words, the album moves away from the format of the song, and tends to suggest Anathema’s work in terms of a variety of musical themes. And yet, the band are always present, and so is the evocative musical landscape they are renowned for; Kingdom is a characteristic example in this respect. Falling Deeper is not a plain orchestral adaptation of Anathema’s music, and the arrangements ensure that neither is it the rather predictable result of a rock band being backed up by a string section.
Anathema’s semi-acoustic album Hindsight, which revisited their 1996-2003 period, largely maintained the original song structures. Falling Deeper does not; it is actually more of an extraction of themes and motifs, rather than a selection of songs, from their early EPs (The Crestfallen, 1992, Pentecost III, 1995) and albums (Serenades, 1993, The Silent Enigma, 1995). Overall, these themes and motifs have been recreated in a manner which takes Anathema further away from genre stereotypes and musical conventions; that is to say, they are taking risks again.
But why would a band who have been constantly experimenting, taking risks, and evolving their sound in new directions, want to turn back and reinterpret their origins as doom metal pioneers more than fifteen years ago? What I find fascinating about Falling Deeper is that Anathema do not rewrite their history, but literally reinvent their early body of work. Their approach in doing so is quite diverse; for example, Sunset of Age maintains its length and appears to be heavily orchestrated, while in contrast They Die is shortened and based on a minimalistic, as well as beautiful, melody; at the same time, however, J’ai Fait une Promesse is substantially reworked and extended.
Falling Deeper displays a strong instrumental orientation; many of the lyrics have been removed, and the verse/chorus convention has been largely abandoned. In other words, the album moves away from the format of the song, and tends to suggest Anathema’s work in terms of a variety of musical themes. And yet, the band are always present, and so is the evocative musical landscape they are renowned for; Kingdom is a characteristic example in this respect. Falling Deeper is not a plain orchestral adaptation of Anathema’s music, and the arrangements ensure that neither is it the rather predictable result of a rock band being backed up by a string section.
Anathema’s semi-acoustic album Hindsight, which revisited their 1996-2003 period, largely maintained the original song structures. Falling Deeper does not; it is actually more of an extraction of themes and motifs, rather than a selection of songs, from their early EPs (The Crestfallen, 1992, Pentecost III, 1995) and albums (Serenades, 1993, The Silent Enigma, 1995). Overall, these themes and motifs have been recreated in a manner which takes Anathema further away from genre stereotypes and musical conventions; that is to say, they are taking risks again.
Falling Deeper successfully brings the core qualities of Anathema’s music to the foreground. What is kept from their past, as well as what is left out, has been well thought of, carefully selected, and given new life through intelligent arrangements. Inevitably, this is also an album that requires an open mind so as to be fully appreciated; if one thinks of past classics as a sacred realm never to be trespassed upon, or succumbs to music industry doctrines such as producing a machinery of successive new albums and tours, they may find themselves perplexed. Above all, the album requires an understanding of Anathema as anything but an ordinary band. In this respect, Danny Cavanagh’s eloquent introduction to Falling Deeper is an example of the band’s respect for their past and present, their old peers Paradise Lost, and their current collaborators Dave Stewart and Anneke van Giersbergen. Moreover, towards the end of the interview Danny Cavanagh reflects upon Anathema’s musical identity as follows:
If I think of some of my favorite songs, they always have that element of feeling incredibly grateful to be alive throughout all the difficulties that life may put you through. That’s what we try to get across with our music, [...] that feeling of vulnerability, and that feeling of strength at the same time.
It seems to me that there has never been a more insightful interpretation of what Anathema are about; and in this sense, it is also a key to understanding their reason for creating Falling Deeper.
4 comments:
I like Everwake, especially due to Anneke's vocals but that piano on Crestafallen is also enchanting and subtle. Although I learned about Anathema's existence while they had already began experimenting with their sound and were already quite away from the doom/death metal which they were introduced to their audience with, I believe that the musical path they've chosen to follow suits them quite ok. I don't know if they reinvent their early body of work as you mention in the above post but surely "Falling Deeoer" is an album worth listening. And by the way, the album cover is breathtaking, melancholic and atmospheric, just like their music during these last years.
I couldn’t agree more – the adjectives enchanting and subtle actually apply to the whole album. I also became aware of Anathema after they began evolving their sound – however, it seems to me that their previous album We’re here because we’re here, and I think this one too, stand out among their whole body of work, whether it is their older pioneering doom metal releases, or their subsequent move into progressive/alternative/atmospheric rock. The truth is that there is no single category that can contain their music, which is a rare quality.
The reason I said that they reinvent their origins is that they are not covering themselves, as in just using different arrangements or instruments, and adopting a different style while the music and the lyrics are in effect the same. In contrast, here the music is restructured, as some motifs are chosen and reworked, while others are not. See for example the new Crestfallen version in comparison to the old:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tI-KCk9HSU
I haven't yet heard their early works but listening to Anathema's music always reminds me of
winter sunlight.I think that's because "the appreciation of life
despite all its difficulties" is very clear
in their music.I love this mixture of melancholy
and hope,all at the same moment.
It's becoming one of my very favourite bands.
elastigirl
Winter sunlight - well put!!! This mixture of melancholy and hope, as you say, is what gives such an edge to Anathema's music. Obviously there are many and important elements in their work and its evolution in time, but this feeling of winter sunlight is in my view the best way to appoach the band, it takes one right to the core of what they do.
And I am very happy, my dear Elastigirl, that Anathema are becoming one of your very favourite bands, for the additional reason that they are one of my very favourite bands too!
: )
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