Search - Anekdoten :: Chapters

An Influential Band Resurrected

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 05/31/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fans of modern Swedish prog will be delighted by the reappearance of a band which was a seminal influence in the resurrection of a genre many thought died with the 1970s. While I don't think Anekdoten is as good as some other Swedish prog groups like the Flower Kings, Paatos, and Beardfish became, their music helped set the scene, allowing for others to flourish in their footsteps.

On Chapters, fans of the band are treated to one disc featuring compositions recorded over the past decade and a second disc which features six works recorded in the 1990s and another two recorded this year. These selections include several demos. Here are my favorites:

Disc 1) The first two tracks, Ricochet and The Great Unknown are good, solid rocking openers. Track 3, From Within is an excellent throbbing, pounding piece of prog. Monolith, which I pick as the best track in the set, will remind the listener of Jack Bruce as will the relentless and beautiful Gravity.

Disc 2) Sad Rain opens solemnly and builds into a mellow piece of traditional prog. Think King Crimson in one of their quieter moods. The Sea features a strong interior statement in an otherwise mellow composition. This Far From the Sky is pure cacophony. Overall, the bonus disc offers a decent batch of songs but nothing really compelling. Most of the meat is on disc one.

The CDs come packaged in a handsome tri-fold and are accompanied by an attractive booklet that contains all pertinent album information, lots of pictures, but no lyrics. If you are a fan of modern prog and have heard of Anekdoten but have not actually heard them because of the scarcity of their albums, Chapters is now your chance to enjoy them."