VEMOD

What is noticeable about this record is not that it was influenced by King Crimson's 'Red', but the impact it had on other artists, many of which would be part of the prog rebirth during the cusp of the millennium. In fact on the whole, Anekdoten's 'Vemod' sounds little like Fripp and company, reminding more of a very gifted club band ready to conquer the world but still just out of reach. And that's often a group's best period. Closer in spirit to NeBeLNeST or even early Pink Floyd, frostbitten but ready to warm things up with their fresh and spirited approach to hard prog, these four Swedes delivered an impressive first outing and except for some amateurish singing, it is a hugely satisfying collection that seems to grow a little bit deeper with each spin. The dual 'trons of Nicklas Berg and Anna Dahlberg lure us with some strangeness before the band pounds in for 'Karelia', Jan Erik Liljestrom's dominant bass taking Berg's guitar through a give and take of power and melody, Peter Nordin's astounding drums the lead instrument here. More loudness for 'The Old Man & the Sea', the quartet's use of mellotron a revelation of diversity and playful artistry, atonalities up against solid rock rhythms, guitars and drums dancing through a storm of Nordic proportions. Dramatic 'Where Solitude Remains' weaves balladry with angry punk, crushingly heavy 'The Flow' features Dahlberg's gutter cello, moving lament 'Longing' grieves for friends lost in the night, and symphonics of 'Wheel' finish a thoroughly great little album.