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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the 5th album by Sweden's premier dark prog group Anekdoten. Whereas 2003's "Gravity" was lighter and concentrated more on songwriting, "A Time Of Day" sees the band back to a heavier, harder edged sound. But this is not a backwards step as they have not only augmented their sonic palette with flute on a couple of tracks, but more significantly Moog synthesiser. Although the predominant instrument is the mellotron, played by both band leader Nicklas Barker and cellist Anna Sofi Dahlberg, the use of Moog adds a new dimension to the arrangements and is a real winner. In fact there is a greater emphasis on this album on keyboards, especially the vintage analogue variety of Fender Rhodes piano and Farfisa organ. All beautifully played and arranged.
The album starts familiarly enough with "The Great Unknown". A typical rousing piece, with another beautifully executed mellotron led chorus which Anekdoten do so well. "30 Pieces" is more introspective with some wonderful solo flute playing by Gunnar Bergsten. A highlight is "The Sky About To Rain" which features Moog here. At first it comes as a shock to hear this on an Anekdoten track, but the extra tonal colours of the instrument are well integrated into the flow of the arrangement. This track nicely merges into the instrumental "Every Step I Take" which features some really beautiful vibes playing. Also impressive is "In For A Ride", another strident piece with the mellotron really pushing this along at a fair whack.
I think this is Anekdoten's most fully realised album to date. Combining the sophisticated songwriting of their previous album as well as the heavier, grungier workouts as featured on the earlier "Nucleus" album to produce something that is very much their own. The Anekdoten sound is now very much in place. No longer the reliance on "Red" era Crimson for their sound, the use of keyboards, vibes, punchy bass is satisfyingly distinctive. Though in saying that there are of course echoes of those prog bands from the 70's. But Anekdoten never sound derivative. If anything their music evokes a true nostalgic sadness for those times, when music was innocent and forever far reaching and when we as teenagers were discovering the world through that music. For those who grew up in the 70's, Anekdoten are that rare beast who will instil that same feeling of awe I remember from first hearing bands like King Crimson, Yes and Genesis.
This has been a very, very good year for Swedish prog. Already we have had significant releases over the last month alone in the form of Kaipa's "Angling Feelings", Beardfish's "Sleeping In Traffic: Part 1", Carptree's magnificent "Insekt" and now Anekdoten's "A Time Of Day". What is it about the country that produces such great music? I think I might move there!
The album starts familiarly enough with "The Great Unknown". A typical rousing piece, with another beautifully executed mellotron led chorus which Anekdoten do so well. "30 Pieces" is more introspective with some wonderful solo flute playing by Gunnar Bergsten. A highlight is "The Sky About To Rain" which features Moog here. At first it comes as a shock to hear this on an Anekdoten track, but the extra tonal colours of the instrument are well integrated into the flow of the arrangement. This track nicely merges into the instrumental "Every Step I Take" which features some really beautiful vibes playing. Also impressive is "In For A Ride", another strident piece with the mellotron really pushing this along at a fair whack.
I think this is Anekdoten's most fully realised album to date. Combining the sophisticated songwriting of their previous album as well as the heavier, grungier workouts as featured on the earlier "Nucleus" album to produce something that is very much their own. The Anekdoten sound is now very much in place. No longer the reliance on "Red" era Crimson for their sound, the use of keyboards, vibes, punchy bass is satisfyingly distinctive. Though in saying that there are of course echoes of those prog bands from the 70's. But Anekdoten never sound derivative. If anything their music evokes a true nostalgic sadness for those times, when music was innocent and forever far reaching and when we as teenagers were discovering the world through that music. For those who grew up in the 70's, Anekdoten are that rare beast who will instil that same feeling of awe I remember from first hearing bands like King Crimson, Yes and Genesis.
This has been a very, very good year for Swedish prog. Already we have had significant releases over the last month alone in the form of Kaipa's "Angling Feelings", Beardfish's "Sleeping In Traffic: Part 1", Carptree's magnificent "Insekt" and now Anekdoten's "A Time Of Day". What is it about the country that produces such great music? I think I might move there!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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8 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Ominous Brilliance - essential headphone listening!
26 Oct 2007
Format:Audio CD
I too have been following Anekdoten since 1994's Vemod and, honestly, they get better with every release. If you have never heard Anekdoten and are looking for a description of their music, imagine that their earlier recordings (Vemod and Nucleus) sound like Lark's Tongues-era King Crimson. After that, their material moves into Red Territory. Both Time of Day and the absolutely essential Gravity sound like King Crimson, ala Fallen Angel - brooding Mellotron, catchy hooks, pounding drums, double tracked vocals, synth, etc. Amazing. Up there with Amon Duul 2's Wolf City. The kind of music that brings the clouds and summer rain storms. Dark but gorgeous. Other name checks? In For A Ride starts off like the twin brother of Be All Right by Caravan and has the groovy early 70's moves, but like every Anekdoten track, they top those they borrow from every time. The Great Unknown, the opening track, sounds like every great Anekdoten track - and that's a good thing. Surging Mellotron, the build ups- oh my GOD the build ups - that give you goose bumps. 30 Pieces surprises with a flute solo over the accustomed Lark's Tongues in Aspic Wetton bass lines. You get the picture. And speaking of pictures, their best album cover since their first album.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Getting better with each new release!!
7 Sep 2007
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've been listening to Anekdoten since they released VEMOD in 1994 and this band never ceases to surprise me every time they release a new album. TIME OF DAY, their newest, has a more upbeat tempo than its predecessors but preserves the distinct sinister and haunting atmosphere that makes Anekdoten such an excellent band.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
They Still Have What it Takes
15 Jan 2009
Format:Audio CD
Anekdoten returns after 4 years with perhaps one of their most memorable albums yet. Their sound continues to evolve, but not to the point where it sounds like a different band. You still know it is the same good ol' Anekdoten. The songs are more crisp and fresh than the older albums, more memorable, and have better production, while still retaining that mysterious, gorgeous, lush atmosphere.
The majority of this album is pretty calm, (not like Anekdoten have ever been super-hard rockers... maybe on parts of Nucleus) but it just feels more relaxed overall than previous albums. But that's totally fine and it's certainly not to the point where it gets boring. There aren't really any super-hard rockin' moments. "In for a Ride" may be a slight exception, but even that tapers off toward the middle of the song.
Anekdoten's production quality has certainly improved, starting with the last album, Gravity. The three albums in the 1990's had a very raw sound which is now gone. I think it's generally a good thing; we still have the older albums to listen to, and the raw sound was part of them, but now, the band has evolved.
"A Sky About to Rain" is perhaps my favorite song on here. It's so warm, calm, and inviting. It's melancholic, but in a very peaceful way.
"30 Pieces" has a killer flute solo - a good flute solo always makes an album brilliant.
I love the vocal melodies in "Prince of the Ocean" about halfway though. It's another memorable point of this album. Their vocals remain the same - very prominent, thick accent, almost mechanical and choppy sounding - might be annoying to some listeners, but I'm so used to it now I didn't think twice about it. This song finishes the album off with a wonderful blend of instruments forming a peaceful serenity.
If you are just getting into Anekdoten, I probably wouldn't recommend this album first - I'd probably suggest "Gravity" or "Vemod" as they are more well-rounded, and most consider "Vemod" to be their strongest album, and a classic in the modern progressive rock world. But this album proves that they still have what it takes.
The majority of this album is pretty calm, (not like Anekdoten have ever been super-hard rockers... maybe on parts of Nucleus) but it just feels more relaxed overall than previous albums. But that's totally fine and it's certainly not to the point where it gets boring. There aren't really any super-hard rockin' moments. "In for a Ride" may be a slight exception, but even that tapers off toward the middle of the song.
Anekdoten's production quality has certainly improved, starting with the last album, Gravity. The three albums in the 1990's had a very raw sound which is now gone. I think it's generally a good thing; we still have the older albums to listen to, and the raw sound was part of them, but now, the band has evolved.
"A Sky About to Rain" is perhaps my favorite song on here. It's so warm, calm, and inviting. It's melancholic, but in a very peaceful way.
"30 Pieces" has a killer flute solo - a good flute solo always makes an album brilliant.
I love the vocal melodies in "Prince of the Ocean" about halfway though. It's another memorable point of this album. Their vocals remain the same - very prominent, thick accent, almost mechanical and choppy sounding - might be annoying to some listeners, but I'm so used to it now I didn't think twice about it. This song finishes the album off with a wonderful blend of instruments forming a peaceful serenity.
If you are just getting into Anekdoten, I probably wouldn't recommend this album first - I'd probably suggest "Gravity" or "Vemod" as they are more well-rounded, and most consider "Vemod" to be their strongest album, and a classic in the modern progressive rock world. But this album proves that they still have what it takes.
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