Just getting into Anekdoten
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53897
Printed Date: February 22 2025 at 13:11
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Just getting into Anekdoten
Posted By: AdamHearst
Subject: Just getting into Anekdoten
Date Posted: December 07 2008 at 00:28
I did a search and surprisingly found very little discussion about this band on the forum. I intend to rectify that situation.  I have only very recently started listening to them. I knew their name for a long time but it never seemed like something i could get into. But after reading some reviews here i decided to give them a good hard listen... and i'm very glad i did. I wanted to start from the beginning so i tried Vemod first... and i gotta say it didn't do much for me (thought it was good but not great), but i could tell there was something there that might blossom on later albums. ...So i moved onto Nucleus and WOW, this is an amazing album! I love how they mix the heavy King Crimson-like parts with the atmospheric and depressive parts that remind me of some kind of 90's indie mope-rock band or something, heh. It really resonates with me..... Anway, i really like them now and can't wait to explore their later albums. How many fans of this band do we have here? Favortie songs/albums? Any similar bands to recommend?  ------------- I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity... |
Replies:
Posted By: KingCrimson250
Date Posted: December 08 2008 at 01:00
|
I agree, while Vemod is a solid record, Nucleus is absolutely phenomenal. I think I would say it's their best work, and I believe many others here would back me up on this. Nucleus operates as a bit of a transition between Vemod, which is mainly the heavy King Crimson-like parts, and their next album From Within, which focuses more on the atmospheric, depressive parts. I enjoy From Within a lot, but it took me a lot longer to get into than Nucleus. As I said, it's a big step away from the band's KC-derived sound and they seem to be clawing out much more distinct music. I think one PA reviewer described the album art as nihilistic - to me, this defines the whole album. The entire album feels very bleak and empty - but in a good way. It's a very hard thing to describe. Gravity I haven't heard, but according to reviews it isn't quite as good, and I've heard samples which seem to back this up, so I'm letting it alone for the time being. Their new album I don't really know much about. I'm pretty eager to hear it though. Excellent band. Overall my favourite songs would be This Far From The Sky, Karelia, Hole, Nucleus, Slow Fire. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: December 08 2008 at 09:21
|
I've been a fan of them since the first album and I have seen all seven of their concerts in Belgium.
However I find that their studio albums have weakened over the course of the 15 years since Vemod, which I still find their strongest.
Nucleus was quite violent, but was excellent as well.
I found From Within very good at first, but this didn't last. It's actually quite hollow. The longer tracks are not delivering the promise they set
Gravity is a real poor album, from Anna-Sofi herself saying it was a rushed job. >>> they were late on schedule had finish the recording in a hurry so it could get mixed and then be manufactured. They only received the crates of discs two days before hitting the road for their European tour. Apparently this was the reason why there is no cello on the album >> they never got down to recording it. In either case, this is the poorest songwriting.
Time Of Day is a much better album than its predecessor, buta far cry from the debut album.
Of the live album, I only have the official bootleg. I doubt that Waking The Dead will please, since it concentrates on From Within and Gravity. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Eetu Pellonpaa
Date Posted: December 08 2008 at 09:35
|
One of my favourite contemporay prog bandsm. I like their "From within" - "Gravity" era most, maybe as I found the band with their third album. "Nucleus" is a good one also, containing more aggressive and adventurous music than the later, but I think the emotional and aesthetical load in the albums I mentioned please me more than their early albums. As a curiosity, I would promote their 4 song live EP, as it has yet best version of "Karelia" I have ever heard (huge Mellotron attack in the end!). If you like the dark melancholia of "From within" and "Gravity" albums, then the "Waking The Dead" is a must. I had a change to attend a concert of the tour from which that recording is captured in Japan. "Time of Day" is also quite good, but somehow I feel it doesn't contain that divine wrestling with Ancient Gods than the previous two dark and moody albums. They really made a very strong personal impact to me. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 11 2008 at 08:22
|
I would go for Nucleus - which i rated as my favourite neo-prog album of the 90's. Vemod see Anekdoten shifting only a little distance from being a Crimson tribute band (on one of the Progfest recordings they do a KC cover). Nucleus still referencing Red finding their music developing some degress of separation from Crimson, whilst having some considerable heaviness. There wasa longish period after Nucleus filled with the occasional release of a live double and a live ep. From Within the first studio recording to be released in a number of years, finds them losing quite a bit of the Crimsoid references, although the first two tracks(?) echo what was heard on Vemod or Nucleus - btw I really love that slow tune, which was the longist on the album: perhaps the vibes do it for me? Still making my mind up with respect to the more recent studio albums. BTW their demo album is floating about as a bootleg, having a mix of Crimson covers and early versions of tunes heard later on Vemod (I have the feeling the guitar was mixed further forward on the demos than on Vemod, giving quite a different feel for a few tunes) . I would agree, there is what I perceive as an Englishman, as that Scandanavian aspect in their music: some bleakness or expressions of loneliness in the lyrics, the style of playing adopted earlier by Jan Garbarek which is occasionally labelled as reflecting the loneliness of fjords, high mountains, open spaces, the Nordic winters, etc. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: moe_blunts
Date Posted: December 11 2008 at 08:52
|
I find Vemod to be the most enjoyable. It has really tasteful bass lines and interesting guitar work. Most definitely one of my favorite contemporary prog bands. Favorite songs: Harvest, Karelia and Thoughts in Absence ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/moe_blunts/?chartstyle=minimalDarkRecent"> 
|
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: December 11 2008 at 09:45
|
My current favourite band, they are simply awesome, great to know you found them man! ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: AdamHearst
Date Posted: December 11 2008 at 11:45
I'm still listening a lot to Nucleus... still trying to disest it all. It's quickly becomming one of my favorites albums all-time.  I think Harvest stands out slightly as my favorite track right now... they do those heavy off-kilter riffs so well! I've still only explored Vemod & Nucleus... i'm slightly discouraged by what some have said about their later albums being softer... but i will listen to them in due time and make my own mind up. I still greatly prefer Nucleus to Vemod... i think it's mainly the vocal delivery, the vocals seemed to greatly improve (they sound more confident to my ears) on the second album. I NEED to find that demo with the King Crimson covers!  ------------- I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity... |
Posted By: Nightfly
Date Posted: December 11 2008 at 16:52
| Fantastic band, I can find much to enjoy in all their albums but Nucleus is my favourite, not least because of the strong influences of my favourite King Crimson era. |
Posted By: inrainbows
Date Posted: December 11 2008 at 17:06
|
I think Nucleus is one of their best, but Vemond is my favorite.
------------- 
|
Posted By: Moatilliatta
Date Posted: December 12 2008 at 00:40
|
I don't know why Gravity gets so much crap. I think it's fantastic. Really, each of the band's albums is equally important. ------------- www.last.fm/user/ThisCenotaph  
|
Posted By: Plankowner
Date Posted: December 12 2008 at 00:56
That's the album that really brought me in too Chris...
|
Moatilliatta wrote:Posted By: Antennas
Date Posted: December 14 2008 at 15:34
|
Fantastic band. I own all their albums, and each and every one of them is more than worth your bucks. My personal favs are Vemod and Waiking the Dead - if I'm already in love with this band on CD, I'm completely head-over-heels when I hear them live!
Needless to say, I was there at their concert in De Pul in Uden this year. Easily in my top-three concerts of 2008.
 ------------- 
Jesus never managed to figure out the theremin either |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: December 14 2008 at 17:38
| I have 'A time of day' but I am not at all impressed until now... I still have to give it a few more spins... |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 14 2008 at 22:59
|
I even love them. ------------- |
Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: December 15 2008 at 15:41
|
Also one my current favorite band. I also heard the name for years but never get a try until I found a used copy of Gravity and let me tell you. What a fantastic emotional album that is . even my wife who's into prog liked it. it isn't like vermod or nucleus which to my ears those 2 albums are their most king crimson like and proggier album by them, But excellent...
give it a try... ------------- http://darksideofcollages.blogspot.com/ http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darksideof-Collages/ |
Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: December 15 2008 at 15:42
 Me tooo..I down with you.... ------------- http://darksideofcollages.blogspot.com/ http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darksideof-Collages/ |
Posted By: Eetu Pellonpaa
Date Posted: December 18 2008 at 08:40
It's also quite accessible I think, emphasizing moods and dramaticism. Maybe many who enjoyed their more adventorous pre-MORTE MACABRE albums miss those elements? Many my non-prog music listening friends have liked this one.
|
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: December 22 2008 at 12:54
I have to agree. I love all five of the studio albums. I'd say the later albums are less angry but more atmospheric. They all have that melancholy that I love. The Waking the Dead and Official Bootleg are great also. I don't have the 4 song live EP or the bootleg.
If you are enjoying Vemod and Nucleus, don't hesitate to give the others a try too.
 |
Posted By: Anekdoten
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 04:53
|
Hello Sean,
Gravity was really not a "rushjob" . Were did you get that from??? We worked for 5 months every day recording mixing that album. I wouldn´t call that a "rushjob".
We weren´t in a hurry to finish the album for the tour. We had plenty of time wrapping things up.
It´s perfectly ok that you don´t like the album but I can´t tolerate lies that it was Gravity was done fast or in a hurry.
If you want to hear an album that was recorded and mixed fast with Anekdoten go for From Within. 2 weeks to record & 2 days of mixing.
Please check your sources before you write something like this. Escpeically as your a "special collaborator"
Yours truly
//Nicklas
|
Posted By: angelmk
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 05:12
Anekdoten  i love this band , amazing , unique, breath taking... From within and Gravity are my albums, in fact all their albums is just perfect. |
Posted By: Trial and Error
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 06:07
|
I like all of their albums, but I really love Vemod and Nucleus. Maybe because that style is exactly what drew me towards them when I began to get into them. My favourite track would be Karelia, which is a monster of an opener, but favourite album overall would be Nucleus, which has evolved positively from Vemod. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Trial_And_Error/?chartstyle=SidebarRed1"> 
|
Posted By: victor77
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 06:22
|
Although "A Time of Day" is better than the two previous albums, I still consider "Vemod" and "Nucleus" much more interesting. I have been listening to them since their first record and none of their later albums are as intense and original as the first ones. "Vemod" hasn´t any bad moment, but "Nucleus" has some downs. "From Within" sounds like a transitional disc, and you can find on it very great moments, but also
too many boring passages that, unfortunately, would continue on "Gravity"(which is, in my opinion, their weakest record). "A Time of Day" seems to recover a little bit from it, that´s why I have great expectations on their next record, whenever it will be released.
One of my favourite songs is "Book of Hours", and I felt really happy when listening to it in their recent gigs, because it was the only song from the old records. I wonder why they pay so little attention to their old records on their live sets. Maybe that´s why the double album "Live in Japan" is in my top10 live albums of all times (the extended version of "Rubankh" is outstanding).
|
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 07:49
hahhahah... ouch  gotta love critics ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: angelmk
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 10:11
are you realy Nicklas from anekdoten, wowowow . i can't belive this, member of anekdoten personaly, well , i 'am amazed, left without words, Your band is GIGANTIC. love it love it love it love it love .. . . Come to macedonia to play. please !! continue with great work ... greetings from Angel. |
Posted By: AtlantisAgony
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 10:31
|
Wow, Anekdoten, here on the forum?! May I ask you Nicklas how you guys (and Anna-Sofi of course) came up with something like "Hole"? It's one of (if not THE) best song you've ever recorded in my opinion. The mellotron parts are just fantastic, a brutal yet emotional and sad (but beautiful) melody. And in contrast the slow middle section where tension is gradually built up until I can barely stand it any more. The way I interpret it, the music portrays deep thought, someone dealing with some very heavy thoughts / emotions, that errupts during the mellotron parts. What is the song really about? Does it have a concrete meaning or is it open for interpretation? And again, your music is amazing! Keep up the good work. ------------- proggity prog prog |
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 14:57
Hole is really one awesome song, and agree with you about being one of the best, if not the best song of the band ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: Rottenhat
Date Posted: March 14 2009 at 15:44
|
"Any similar bands to recommend? "Maybe "White Willow" from Norway. They have a similar mood as Anekdoten. Also, "Paatos" and "Landberk" may be of interest. Both are Swedish bands. ------------- Language is a virus from outer space. -William S. Burroughs |
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: March 16 2009 at 14:38
| Don't forget Morte Macabre, which is a collaboration between members of Anekdoten and Landberk. An excellent album, to my ears slanted slightly more toward the ambience of Landberk--very atmospheric and moody. Don't overlook this! |
Posted By: John McIntyre
Date Posted: March 18 2009 at 17:53
|
I've recently got into Anekdoten, and they are fairly good. I do like the GRAVITY album, particularly the title-track. VERMOD is a bit of a disappointment, and I'm in the process of listening to FROM WITHIN as I travel on the bus to/from work. Planet Mellotron states that (early on) they were very close to King Crimson, but I'm damned if I can hear their influence - and I've been into KC since 1970! Still, I'd like to hear more of what they do before I fully commit myself one way or t'other. ------------- I am one of only about 1,800 people in the world with an original M400 Mellotron! |
Posted By: Anekdoten
Date Posted: April 02 2009 at 01:19
|
Oh thanks! Well Sean gave an explanation on his post. It was actually Anna Sofi who told him that Gravity was a rushjob. Wonder where she got that from? ;-) 'Anyways sorry for the late reply. I won't be too active on this list but on some occations I will bother you. I'll be back! //Nicklas |
Posted By: Anekdoten
Date Posted: April 02 2009 at 01:40
|
If you haven't heard Anekdoten and want a good introduction to the band you might wanna check this release. Out on Kscope, Snapper (home of Porcupine Tree, No-Man, Richard Barbieri) soon. http://www.burningshed.com/store/kscope/product/272/1480/ 1 new song and 6 unreleased versions. Among this the the furious Nucleus demos which in my opinion outclass the versions on the cd. Also our epic Sad Rain wich was previously only released in Japan. Here in a alt mix that was left in vaults because it had too much mellotron in the coda. The new song is a sweet mellotron drenched ballad wich we recorded in january with Per Wiberg of Opeth at the piano. All the best Nicklas |
Posted By: AstralliS
Date Posted: June 11 2010 at 07:11
|
http://www.last.fm/group/Prog+Sphere - Prog Sphere has spoken recently with Nicklas Barker, a well-known name in Swedish progressive rock circles. He’s been working with the highly appreciated Anekdoten since 1991, but also he’s involved in other projects and bands. The last, but not least of them is My Brother The Wind, a psychedelic rock oriented project that came up as an improvisational journey. Find out what Nicklas says about it, but also do not miss the chance to find out what’s going on with Anekdoten. Enjoy! You can read the interview http://www.prog-sphere.com/2010/06/11/nicklas-barker-my-brother-the-wind/ - HERE .
------------- |
Posted By: Falx
Date Posted: June 11 2010 at 08:25
|
I'm probably just going to repeat what others have said here, but Vemod and Nucleus are excellent, From Within is still pretty good, the albums after that were a big disappointment for me. The 1998 live album did nothing for me either, opens with a terrible version of Karelia, sounds like they hadn't even practised it beforehand. My main gripe with Anekdoten is the terrible singing. In my opinion, Anekdoten and Landberk play a distant second fiddle to Änglagård and Pär Lindh in the Swedish prog scene. =F= ------------- "You must go beyond the limit of the limit of your limits!" - Mr. Doctor "It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |