"A once in a lifetime experience that words can barely do justice"
So reads a line commenting on this immense, unique, and unrepeatable concert.
And it is entirely true because it is indeed a challenging task for me to describe in words the total emotion in which I found myself, from the very first listen, knowing by heart the entire artistic arc of Anathema. From their far-off and lost Gothic-Doom beginnings in the early nineties, to the masterful transformation and artistic metamorphosis that saw them land, with their latest works, on a Post-Rock tinged with infinite and successful Progressive shades.
A change of direction, a constant desire to experiment, to add new elements; an artistic growth that has always convinced and excited me. Putting themselves out there every time, without any fear of receiving heavy criticism (as indeed happened) from their old fans, those attached to the period when metallic sounds abounded.
"A Sort of Homecoming" is the title of the double CD. They played, in fact, on March 7th, 2015, inside the imposing neo-Gothic cathedral of their Liverpool. A sacred "profanation" seeing the Cavanagh brothers' band performing amid minimal lights and arrangements in a semi-acoustic concert. Almost two hours rich with pathos, melancholic nuances, huge emotional charge; leaving many spectators who flocked in awe.
They set aside, and rightly so, their past and indulge in long and soft instrumental digressions accentuated by the environment and the particular atmosphere of the chosen venue, so imposing, severe, and mystical. Lee Douglas' angelic voice (which lacks nothing compared to Anneke from The Gathering) accompanies Vincent in many tracks; while Danny embroiders and weaves with his guitar, mainly acoustic, soft and enveloping chords. Assisted in this important and fundamental task by a violin and a cello capable of making the flow of the expansive compositions even more celestial.
It's tough to speak, to recount the development of any track; it's a work that must be listened to "all in one breath", keeping well in mind the location where it was recorded. In silence, with eyes closed.
Standing as the highest, ever-changing pinnacle is the concluding "Fragile Dreams" (from their masterpiece "Alternative 4") where the almost whispered voices of Vincent and Lee unite, complementing each other..."Maybe I always knew, My fragile dreams would be broken for you"... coming sadly to the final farewell with those guitar strings delicately plucked; and the track fades, evaporates among endless applause.
Spectacular and wonderful.
Ad Maiora.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 A Natural Disaster (08:45)
It's been a long cold winter without you
I've been crying on the inside over you
You just slipped through my fingers as life turned away
It's been a long cold winter since that day
And it's hard to find
Hard to find
Hard to find the strength now, but I try
And I don't wanna
I don't wanna
I don't wanna go on and speak now
Of what's gone by
'Cause no matter what I say
No matter what I do
I can't change what happened
I can't change what happened
No matter what I say
No matter what I do
I can't change what happened
I can't change what happened
No, no, I can't change
You just slipped through my fingers
And I feel so ashamed
You just slipped through my fingers
And I've failed
'Cause no matter what I say
No matter what I do
I can't change what happened
I can't change what happened
No matter what I say
No matter what I do
I can't change what happened
I can't change what happened
No, no, I can't change
Just slipped through my fingers
And I feel so ashamed
You just slipped through my fingers
And I've failed.
02 Temporary Peace (05:15)
Deep inside the silence staring out upon the sea
The waves are washing over half forgotten memory
Deep within the moment laughter floats upon the breeze
Rising and falling dying down within me
And I swear I never knew, I never knew how it could be
And all this time all I had inside was what I couldn't see
I swear I never knew, I never knew how could be
All the waves are washing over all that hurts inside of me
Beyond this beautiful horizon lies a dream for you and I
This tranquil scene is still unbroken by the rumours in the sky
But there's a storm closing in voices crying on the wind
The serenade is growing colder breaks my soul that tries to sing
And there's so many many thoughts when I try to go to sleep
But with you I start to feel a sort of temporary peace
There's a drift in and out
Drift in and out
Drift
14 Fragile Dreams (07:29)
Countless times I trusted you
I let you back in
Knowing... Yearning... you know
I should have run... but I stayed
Maybe I always knew
My fragile dreams would be broken for you
Today I introduced myself
To my own feelings
In silent agony after all these years they spoke to me
After all these years
Maybe I always knew
My fragile dreams would be broken
For you
15 Electricity (03:53)
Seems like you never really knew me
Seems like you never understood me
Seems like you never really knew how to feel
But electricity it drew you near to me
What you needed was to be rid of me
There were times you really made me smile
And there were times you really made me cry
And there were times i never really knew how to feel
But electricity it drew you near to me
What you needed was to be rid of me
And the fear made you so unsure of me
What you needed was to be rid of me.
But electricity it drew you near to me
What you needed was to be rid of me
And the fear made you so unsure of me
What you needed was to be rid of me.
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