ALTERNATIVE 4

For personal reasons i rarely listen to this album anymore, but there was a time when it was on rotation at least three times a week. There is a certain beauty, with the sparse doom sound of the silent enigma and pink floyd elements that comes from the overwhelming loneliness i feel when i listen to this album. The opening guitar on Fragile Dreams great,as is the rest of the song. Its one of the best on the cd. Empty is a short vent, with a great lead guitar. Its something that works brilliantly after the opener. I love inner silence the piano just cuts, and the lyircs are so beautiful, its like waking up and realising the one you love isnt there at the moment, its that split second of loss. The title track is also good the bass is quite cool, but the lyrics are rather average. Regret is my favourite song on the album, the accoustic guitar and the keyboard meld into this brilliant twisted riff thats haunting. On a side note the album title was taken from a Documentary/Book about a plan that would see humans living on mars, a plan called Alternative 3. I guess this album is about questioning where you are heading, its one of those valleys in life, the depression that can heal wounds. Some may see it as a little whiney, but I find some kind of honesty in Anathema's music that shines through on this album. Unlike other albums i dont feel there is much hope here, it was my favourite for a while, but now i reserve that for A fine day to exit.........