Anekdoten - Kscope reissues

[Valen]

Anekdoten were a highly regarded band in the Scandinavian prog scene in the late nineties, and they released a handful of excellent albums before adopting a lower profile over the last few years.

But the Kscope label has started reissuing these albums, on cd and vinyl, with newly remastered sound.

Here’s my take on the first of these reissues, From Within.

https://momentstransition.wordpress....m-within-1999/

[mozo-pg]

Nice review. Thanks for posting. Do you have a link where I could buy these CDs?

[Valen]

Nice review. Thanks for posting. Do you have a link where I could buy these CDs?

Hi Mozo

Perhaps this link will help?

https://burningshed.com/index.php?ro..._category=true

[mozo-pg]

Thanks!

[Scrotum Scissor]

^I presume you've got the originals?

All of their output is usually available here:
https://www.recordheaven.net/index.cfm

[Mascodagama]

Gawd. Will we never be free of Swedish poofters and their frothing Mellotron obsessions...??

[Scrotum Scissor]

Well, at least they always knew how to use it for intended effect.

[AncientChord]

Gawd. Will we never be free of Swedish poofters and their frothing Mellotron obsessions...??

God I hope not. Hope they play mellotron at my funeral.

[Mascodagama]

Well, at least they always knew how to use it for intended effect.

I was just being a dick. Trouble is I've listened to some of these albums until I want to puke.

[mozo-pg]

^I presume you've got the originals?

All of their output is usually available here:
https://www.recordheaven.net/index.cfm

Yep, all the originals - including Japanese Mini-Lp CDs.

[Kcrimso]

Great band. I have seen them four times live in Finland. Always good gigs and the last time (2018) was maybe the best so far. My favourite album of theirs is From Within (1999).

[Scrotum Scissor]

From Within (1999).

Interesting pick. It's where their post-rock influence comes into motion with the drawn-out passages of intense repetition. It really works in "Slow Fire" and the title track, less so (I think) in "Hole" although they come pretty close. And "Kiss of Life" is one of their coolest tunes overall.

[chalkpie]

What's everybody's top 3 or so by these lunatics?

[Scrotum Scissor]

^ Have to say that I usually found them - the folx in the band, I mean - reasonably unloony.

1) Nucleus
2) A Time of Day (I know; unusual!)
3) Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
4) From Within
5) Gravity
6) Vemod

Of the two full live albums I'd take Waking the Dead, Live In Japan 2005 over the earlier 2CD set (Official Bootleg). Dead also works exquisitely as a general collection of their material post-Nucleus and even features a splendid rendition of their early classic "Sad Rain".

All this being said, I find 'doten a bit miss'n'hit as far as live performance goes. I've seen a couple of fine concerts by them, but also gigs where they simply weren't able to reach that zenith of force which their music often begs. In fact, some of their live stuff at times comes across as less immediately raunchy than their studio recordings.

[chalkpie]

Lunatics is a warm and fuzzy term I use for almost everyone, except real lunatics.

[chalkpie]

Thanks for the insight too. Dude that Simon Steensland stuff was the real deal. Monstrous yet exquisitely crafted.

[Scrotum Scissor]

^ That's why you never use it on me, Frankster. Only invisibly and unauditively, to make for a lively privy saliva.

[Progatron]

What's everybody's top 3 or so by these lunatics?

Nucleus
Waking The Dead
Until All The Ghosts Are Gone

...I like them all to one degree or another. Last time I felt like getting all Anek-d up, I put on Chapters and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Kcrimso]

What's everybody's top 3 or so by these lunatics?

1) From Within
2) Nucleus
3) Vemod
4) Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
5) A Time of Day
6) Gravity (only one that I don't like. Not that I hate it either.)

[chalkpie]

Wow, Nucleus seems to be a consistent favorite.

[mozo-pg]

Wow, Nucleus seems to be a consistent favorite.

My head and shoulders top pick - but I like everything, including Vemod. I was set to see them Friday and Saturday nights at Terra Incognita in Quebec City this spring - before all this bullshit. Saw them once before at this festival and it was excellent - they closed wth Sad Rain.

[Progbear]

What's everybody's top 3 or so by these lunatics?

1. Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
2. A Time of Day
3. From Within

[GuitarGeek]

Didn't they play at the second NEARfest?

[spacefreak]

Nucleus
Vemod
Until All The Ghosts Are Gone

[Crystal Plumage]

After recording the Morte Macabre album Symphonic Holocaust in 1998, Anekdoten's sound changed a little. More "drone-y" in places. If you listen to the title track of the Morte Macabre album, you'll hear what I mean. Compare it to the From Within track The Sun Absolute.



My favorite Anekdoten albums? Probably their first two, but there's a lot to like in all of them. If you like your music Live and in your face, try tracking down the "Live EP" that came out in 1997.
The track "Book of Hours" made me an instant fan, by the way. There's a stunning live rendition on one of those Cyclos campler CDs.