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Rating: Genre: Trip Rock
The Gathering has always proven to be a chameleon-like band, emblematic in its musical directions. They started a decade ago with the raw doom/death of “Always” and “Almost a Dance” with male vocals, then moved on to the melodic and atmospheric doom of “Mandylion” and “Nighttime Birds”: the style of these albums revolutionized the metal scene and influenced dozens and dozens of bands that unsuccessfully try to recreate the magical chemistry of pieces like “Eleanor” and “Sand and Mercury”.
In '98, a huge change of direction: “How to Measure a Planet?”: proposing a psychedelic rock far removed from the early albums, their relationship with their label, “Century Media,” began to deteriorate. Finally, with “If Then Else,” we have a much more direct and traditional rock. In 2003, the new album was released for the Dutch band, with the fascinating title “Souvenirs,” the first published under their newly formed label “Psychonaut Records,” the first free from exhausting pressures. The proposed genre is labeled by the band itself as “Trip Rock”: that is, take a dreamy and psychedelic rock and add electronic contaminations of various kinds.
The songs are little gems, just like little souvenirs from a fascinating journey. Anneke's voice has even improved: it knows how to be seductive and enchanting, sweet or impetuous. The tracks are indeed all at the service of her beautiful voice. The CD opens with “These Good People”, a hypnotic and very minimalist track. It is followed by “Even the Spirits Are Afraid”, another truly successful piece with very vibrant guitars. The ending is beautifully done by the keyboards. “Broken Glass” is one of the best pieces on the whole CD: liquid, dreamy, hypnotic, it truly gives intense emotions. “You Learn About It”, at first hasty listen, might be cataloged as a sappy pop song. In reality, the piece is moving in its seemingly simple beauty. It is followed by the visionary title track: a beautiful and peculiar piece, strange and unexpected, like a prematurely bloomed flower. The ending gives chills. “Monsters” is the most dynamic piece of the entire work: excellent almost robotic electronic inserts. “We Just Stopped Breathing” is a psychedelic and magical piece, with numerous changes of atmosphere. “Golden Grounds” (its intro reminds me of “Lose Yourself” by Eminem”) is a piece entirely centered on Anneke's voice. “Jelena” is an excellent piece. Finally, “A life all mine” is the track made together with Trickster G from Ulver.
Overall, a strange and complex album, which needs numerous listens to be fully appreciated. If you don’t set unnecessary boundaries and barriers, this CD is made for you.
Let yourself be lulled by the dreamlike visions created by Anneke's voice.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Even the Spirits Are Afraid (05:12)
You think you were earning
Burning the church of your god
You were yearning
Learning the birth of your dirt
Did you think you earned it
Burning your god
That you thought messed up your life?
You spill red
On my cloudy carpet
You think you were earning
Burning the church of your god
You were yearning
Learning the birth of your dirt
Did you think you earned it
Burning your god
That you thought messed up your life?
You spill red
On my cloudy carpet
Your skin turns dust
On my cloudy carpet
You think
You were earning
Burning
Your skin turns dust
No more you were yearning
Burning
Burning
Your skin turns dust
Your skin turns to dust
When holding it close to the sun
And it burns the skin from you're your precious sun
It burns the skin
It burns the skin
It burns the skin
[Anneke van Giersbergen]
03 Broken Glass (04:59)
Strange vibe circles round,
Tries to comfort buzzing sound.
Form an arrow, point at us,
We, the target, are the one.
Place your bet on the best,
The fastest horse you can find.
Drop yourself in the grass,
Breathe the air at last.
Hold on tight, don't fall down.
Breathe the air through the water.
Form an arrow, point at us,
Be the target of the center.
Find the key, lock the door,
Close your eyes for encore.
Drop yourself in the grass,
Breathe the air at last.
Hold on tight, don't you fall down?
Breathe the air through the water.
Find your peace, turn in sight.
You're the target, you're the center.
Find the key, lock the door,
Close your eyes for encore.
Drop yourself in the grass,
Breathe the air at last.
Hold on tight, don't you fall down?
Breathe the air through the water,
Water, through the water.
05 Souvenirs (06:06)
Jump in heat
Plunge to your truth
Agree with your youth
Consider defeat
Part and part
And separate
We will
Brand new paths
In ways to soothe
Never disagree with your youth
Part of your heart
Will separate
It will
The gift of your life
All what was concealed
No skin-deep a dive
Your childhood revealed
You jump in heat
Plunge to your start
Don't underestimate
Your own point of view
Don't part your art
Or hesitate
Your will
The gift of your life
All what was concealed
No skin-deep a dive
Your childhood revealed
You peel all the layers of forever
You start the beginning of the end
Breathing is bridging the gap
Between black and light
And now you feel alive!
And now you learn to dive you know!
Breathing is bridging the gap
Between black and light
[Anneke van Giersbergen]
07 Monsters (05:01)
All you need all you need
All you need
Is all is now
All you need all you need
All you need
Is not what you're getting
All you live all you give
All you live
Fits in a teardrop
If you come closer
I'll show you how it feels
All you need all you need
All you need
Is all is now
All you live all you give
All you live
Fits in a teardrop
Give what's worth remembering
Give what's worth dying
Give it al
Oh, back for more
You just give it all
Oh, back for more
If you come closer
I'll show you how it feels
High is high
Low is low
Love is gone
The best ones are the first to
If you come closer
I'll show you how it feels
High is high
Low is low
Love is gone
08 Golden Grounds (04:52)
As the sand
Spreads wide open
And the glow of the sun
Pearls the skin
All hope is craving fluids
And the yearning to where we've been
Golden grounds
So absorbing
When the heat of the sun
Boils the skin
We have to stand the test of nature
To return to where we've been
Hold on my saviour
Keep my heart in holy dimensions
Drag me on your back
For one more day
One more day
One more day
You give
You learn
You live
You learn
I guess what ever you may find
It's all right to eat a piece of your mind
[Anneke van Giersbergen]
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