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THE REVIEW
"Planetary Confinement" is the last album of Antimatter with Duncan Patterson, and indeed, he recorded the tracks away from the band. The work is divided into two sessions, one recorded in Ireland by Duncan and another in England by Mick. The two equally share the number of songs to record; Patterson brings Amélie Festa with him to record the tracks, while Stephen Hughes replaces the former Anathema member in Mick's sessions, but regardless of these "technical" details, the CD is a gem and Duncan couldn't have given a better farewell.
A sublime album from the first to the last track. It alternates between the singing of Mick Moss and the female voice of Amélie Festa, who take turns singing one track each until the end. The album has beautiful atmospheres: acoustic chords that exude emotion, simple yet beautiful piano passages, not to mention the work the violin does, with its notes transporting the listener into a sea of melancholy that seems to have no return. Everything blends perfectly into a weave of sounds and emotions. The listener is gently transported into the world of Antimatter, almost without realizing it, but from the very beginning, one breathes in an atmosphere that urges you to delve into the most hidden places within yourself. The music makes one think of a gray sky, with many raindrops falling and wetting the ground, or perhaps wetting us, with water streaming down our faces and falling from our eyes, as if it were a tear, a drop in which everyone's emotions reside, whether joy or pain...
The album begins with a brief piano intro and from there, it does not have a single moment of decline, whether you wish to be carried away by the melancholic notes of "Epitaph" and "Legions," or immerse yourself in the beautiful voice of Amélie in songs like "Mr. White" (a successful cover of Trouble) and "Relapse." The conclusion of the album, "Eternity 24" (is the title perhaps a nod to Anathema..?), is a long ambient instrumental, where the only voices are slight and confused backgrounds, a worthy conclusion to the work, which, with its slow and introspective pace, prepares the listener to exit the "journey" undertaken by listening to this album.
One of the most emotional albums I've ever listened to. I highly recommend it to every music lover, listen to it at least once.
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Summary by Bot
Planetary Confinement marks Duncan Patterson's final album with Antimatter, recorded in separate sessions in Ireland and England. The album features emotive acoustic, piano, and violin elements alongside dual vocals by Mick Moss and Amélie Festa. Praised as a deeply emotional and atmospheric work, it skillfully balances melancholic melodies with beautiful instrumentation. The reviewer highly recommends it as a touching and introspective musical journey.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Antimatter
Antimatter is a UK dark/alternative rock project formed in 1998 by Mick Moss and Duncan Patterson (ex‑Anathema). Early albums fused trip‑hop and ambient electronics with acoustic textures and female vocals; following Patterson’s departure after Planetary Confinement (2005), Moss continued the project with a more song‑driven, guitar‑led approach.06 Reviews
Other reviews
By Dunkel
"My favorite track is 'A Portrait..', an acoustic arpeggio that communicates all of its sadly restless essence."
"The last track, 'Eternity part 24', is an end without any words, an acoustic beginning, and then a tapestry of synth and keyboards drawing a fragment of an endless journey."
