Anathema Discography #14: Distant Satellites (2014)

"Building foundations, straining
Such good intentions, failing
Slowly we faltered from the line
slowly dissolving our time"

Anathema's latest album, Distant Satellites (2014) is a darker and more minimalistic and electronic effort than its two precedessors, but not a radical stylistic departure.  In fact, the album starts with two songs that are tied together musically and lyrically, just like Weather Systems (2012). While "The Lost Song" may not be as mind-blowing as "Untouchable", it's a damn good way to open the album. Part 1 has got a great rhythmic hook, while Part 2 plucks at your heartstrings with its beauty.

"Dusk (Dark Is Descending) is not a stand-out track, but also not as forgettable as the weak points of the last album; the opening guitar arpeggio is pretty cool. "Ariel" is similar to "The Lost Song, Part 2" in the sense that it's a piano ballad sung (for the most part) by Lee Douglas and shines with its melodies. "The Lost Song, Part 3" feels a little redundant: it has the same rhythm as the first part, but isn't nearly as catchy or emotionally powerful, which makes it a weird choice for first single. "Anathema", on the other hand, is a majestic piece of music that deserves to bear the name of the band. Vincent Cavanagh's high note at the end followed by his brother Danny's solo is one of the best moments in the band's discography, and that's a huge achievement for a band with such a long history.

"You're Not Alone" kicks off the second, more electronic half of Distant Satellites. The repetitive vocals irritated me initially, and it's hard not to think of this under 3 minutes long tune as a filler track, but I like the way the electronics have been combined with the rocking guitar riff. "Firelight" is an ambient track that doesn't work on its own, but it's a perfect introduction to the title-track. "Distant Satellites" is an absolute winner and soothing yet energetic - in a perfect world this song would be played in clubs all around the world! "Take Shelter" feels slightly underwhelming after the greatness of the previous song, but it's got beautiful strings and a nice atmosphere, making it a decent closer.

For me, Distant Satellites is a step up from Weather Systems: it's more dynamic and I dig the less heavily layered instrumentation and the darker vibe. It doesn't reach the brilliance of Anathema's best works, but the highlights are easily among the band's greatest songs, and the experimentation gives the record a shade of freshness, though there's plenty of familiarity in the first half. The album doesn't sound rushed, although it was done with a tight schedule. It'll be interesting to see whether Anathema will further explore the electronic path or if they have something different in store for us listeners!

Rating: 4/5

Anathema Discography: #13 Weather Systems (2012)

"Inside this cold heart is a dream
That's locked in a box that I keep
Buried a hundred miles deep
Deep in my soul in a place that's surrounded by aeons of silence"

The ninth studio album by Anathema is the densely layered Weather Systems (2012). Fingerpicked guitar melodies, vocal harmonies, and orchestrations are all over the album, and its uplifting atmosphere picks up where We're Here Because We're Here (2010) left off.

The two-part suite "Untouchable" opens the album and is one of the greatest things ever written by Anathema. The first part is a rock song, while the second is a more subdued piano ballad. These two tracks have got hummable melodies and rich arrangements that make them irresistible.

The rest of Weather Systems can't match the impact of the opening duology, but there's still plenty of good stuff. "The Gathering of the Clouds" isn't a great standalone track, but it's a good introduction to "Lightning Song", which is driven by Lee Douglas' fantastic vocals and has a powerful ending that always makes me feel pumped. "The Beginning and the End" is yet another piece of evidence that Vincent Cavanagh is one of the most passionate singers in the business, and I love Danny Cavanagh's solo and the beautiful piano. "Internal Landscapes" is a slightly repetitive song, but it's a perfect closing track, and the spoken word sections about a near-death experience are touching.

The post-rock influenced "Sunlight", like earlier songs featuring Danny Cavanagh on lead vocals, isn't a special song (I think there's a reason this one hasn't been played live) and feels like a filler track. "The Storm Before the Calm" is a 9½-minute epic that feels like two songs glued together, as the industrial-sounding first half is far-removed from the big orchestral ending. However, I guess it makes sense because of the theme of the song (the first half is the "storm", while the second is the "calm"), and I have to admit that the tune came across better when I heard it live. "The Lost Child", on the other hand, just plods along and doesn't stick out from the rest.

Weather Systems was a disappointment for me at the time it was released, because the best songs ("Untouchable Pt. 1" and "The Beginning and the End") had been released in advance of the album and made my expectations too high. After revisiting the album, I still think Weather Systems is slightly uneven and lacks variety. The highs are fantastic, but don't save it from being in the lower half of my Anathema album ranking. That said, I'm glad the record brought Anathema more exposure, because they've earned their success.

Rating: 3½/5