torstai 17. syyskuuta 2015

Anathema Discography: #11 We're Here Because We're Here (2010)


"I have found my way to fly free from constraints of time
I have soared through the sky seen life far below in mind"

Anathema finally released its 8th full-length album in 2010. We're Here Because We're Here is the start of a new phase: the sound is characterized by orchestral arrangements, a heavy dose of piano, Lee Douglas' greater vocal presence, Danny's E-bow leads, occasional rhythmic experimentation, as well as post-rockish song structures that start out soft and build up to a climax. The album has a more optimistic tone than any of Anathema's previous releases, which stems from the positive changes in the band members' lives, especially Danny Cavanagh's.

"Thin Air" is a great, upbeat opener that sets the tone for Anathema's modern style. "I love you" may be an overused phrase in popular music, but in this song it sounds perfectly honest. The lyrics can also be interpreted as the band's statement on its rebirth: "We've come too far to turn back / This is where we stand and face it / This is who we are."

"Summernight Horizon" is a louder and more intense song, but has an uplifting chorus, which separates it from the heavier tracks on previous albums. The mix of emotions that Anathema has mastered over the years continues in "Dreaming Light", which manages to sound wistful yet optimistic at the same time. Some people may find this tune too cheesy, but in my opinion it never crosses that line. "Everything" is a song about finding peace of mind and coming to terms with yourself - not one of the highlights of the album, but I love the pulsating 9/8 beat.

"Angels Walk Among Us" - which features Ville Valo (HIM) on backing vocals - is honestly one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard: Danny's wailing Ebow, Vincent and Lee's emotional vocals and the powerful climax are simply delightful. After the mostly spoken track "Presence", we get to the high point, which is "A Simple Mistake". This song has such an incredible build-up that few Anathema songs have managed to match it, before or after this album.

"Get off, Get Out" is the weakest song, but the mild Porcupine Tree vibe and the guitar arpeggios are enjoyable. "Universal" is more progressive: it starts out as a slow, vocal-centered piece, but the second half is instrumental. There's a great solo by Danny and some sweet orchestrations in this song. "Hindsight" shifts between major and minor keys and brings the album to a close successfully.

We're Here Because We're Here is by far the most cohesive and complete Anathema album since Judgement (1999). Years of hard work paid off, and the resulting record is lively and diverse. It's not an absolute 10 like Alternative 4 (1998) and Judgement, but Anathema found its own identity and signature sound on this euphoric rebirth of an album, and it set the standards for the subsequent records.

Rating: 4½/5


Ei kommentteja:

Lähetä kommentti