HOW TO MEASURE A PLANET ?

Another change, not as radical as between albums 1 & 2 to number 3 & 4, yet obvious and easily visible, mh ... excuse me ... audible. I couldn't deal with ALWAYS & ALMOST A DANCE - the non-ANNEKE albums. I really enjoyed MANDYLION & NIGHTIME BIRDS a lot and would use these two as my personal recommendations.

Where's the difference now? All the elements of the two albums before can still be found on HTMAP but there is something new. They use electronically programmed soundbits and samples, sort of a ... let's say ... ambient industrial touch. Sometimes this works quite nicely, adding new colours and nuances -> TRAVEL, MAROONED, RESCUE ME. So, based on disc 1, I would call it a development and definitely interesting - a noteworthy combination of good old trademark sounds and new elements.

Unfortunately ... there are also songs - especially on disc 2 - where these new elements seem to take over and thus pushing aside some of the strengths in their performance. To me, the sound of THE GATHERING has a lot to do with atmosphere and ... if you can agree: mood and emotion. It seems to me that they were able to catch me completely with MANDYLION & NIGHTIME BIRDS and disc 1 of HTMAP. Everything they did since then (including disc 2 of this one here) made it more difficult and less accessible for me ... which does not at all mean that it's not good.

I reread the points 4 & 6 of the reviewing guidelines below, so I will try to put it like that: I do not really feel the need to dwell in almost half an hour of electronic ambient noises, like offered in the title track. I prefer to use this time rather to relisten the rest of an otherwise really good and enjoyable, very decent album. But this is of course only my point of view.

Disc 1 -> clearly 4

Disc 2 -> 3 for the songs 1-4

The title track being the reason to have the 3 as a result instead of a 4, sorry - but I was waiting 28:33 for something to happen but nothing did. It simply didn't touch me at all.