Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Anekdoten
Label: Virtalevy
Released: 1993
Running time: 56:58
Rating: 4/5
Sweden’s masters of dark melancholy Anekdoten were, in the 1990s, among the most important representatives of the so-called third wave of progressive rock, which had a mostly Scandinavian-American stamp. Alongside Anglagard and Landmark, Anekdoten are today among the most revered names on the Scandinavian prog scene, and they’ve long enjoyed a well-deserved cult status among ‘prog heads’. The band was formed in 1991 by guitarist/vocalist Nicklas Berg (later Barker), keyboardist/cellist Anni Sofi Dahlberg, bassist/vocalist Jan Erik Lijestrom and drummer Peter Nordins. The lineup has stayed unchanged ever since, which in the world of modern progressive rock, where reshuffles within bands are totally commonplace, is nothing short of a miracle.
Anekdoten first made their mark with the very good debut »Vemod«, which in 1993 laid much of the groundwork for their signature sound: extensive use of the Mellotron, punchy yet mathematically precise guitar passages and fractured rhythms, which led plenty of people to compare them early on to the classics of progressive rock, with King Crimson at the head of the pack. The influence of the latter is unmistakable, especially in moments dominated by melancholic Mellotron waves, ‘Frippoid’ mathematical guitar phrases and broken rhythms that often conjure up a chaotic, furious mood. You can hear at every turn that Anekdoten grew out of a band that played King Crimson covers before they started writing their own material. In Anekdoten’s music, which was already noticeable on »Vemod«, you can also find traces of psychedelic rock and progressive metal, since they know how to heat up the atmosphere properly with snarling guitar phrases.
The word ‘vemod’ in Swedish means sadness or melancholy, and that’s exactly the mood of Anekdoten’s debut, marked by dark sorrow and anxiety, which is typical of quite a few Scandinavian prog rock acts. Most of the lyrics touch on the transience of human life and nostalgia for a better past. Per Wiberg, best known for his work with prog rock/prog metal champions Opeth and stoner metallers Spiritual Beggars, guested on grand piano on »Vemod«. The weakest side of »Vemod« is the somewhat squeaky vocals, mostly sung by bassist Lijestrom, who was still unpolished as a singer at the time, while Nicklas Barker only worked up the courage to step up to the mic on the next Anekdoten album, »Nucleus« (1995), which brought a noticeable improvement in the singing. Already on the chilling opening track, the instrumental treat »Karelia«, Anekdoten spread dark ambient plains that make it easy to picture cold Scandinavian nights.
»The Old Man & The Sea« is flooded with furious guitar passages and scattered yet cleverly timed drum transitions, while an anxious mood hangs in the air throughout. »Where Solitude Remains« features rasping bass lines and ominous Mellotron textures that make your blood run cold. »Thoughts in Absence« is an ethereal lament modeled on early King Crimson ballads in the vein of »Moonchild«. With a bit more emotional investment from the lead vocalist, it would have left an even better impression. With its chaotic rhythmic fragmentation, »The Flow« instantly recalls the »Larks’ Tongues in Aspic« era of King Crimson, while the pastoral-tinged instrumental »Longing« is yet another nostalgic gem, led by moving Mellotron-and-acoustic plains and string arrangements. On »Wheel«, Anekdoten make rather clever use of male and female vocal harmonies and a guest horn, while the tense mood takes over once again. It’s somewhat ironic that the best piece on »Vemod« is the bonus track, which originally came out only on the Japanese edition of the album. The ten-minute melodramatic epic »Sad Rain« is the peak of the whole album, positively bursting with contrast and sumptuous Mellotron arrangements that once again invite comparisons with their great idols, while the whole thing, through dynamic rhythmic rapids, comes across like a dark revelation before an approaching apocalypse.
With »Vemod«, Anekdoten made a superb debut that still had a few typical beginner’s flaws, among them rather average vocals, which they later improved considerably. It was clear from the release of their studio debut that Sweden’s prog scene had gained one of the most interesting bands of the third wave of progressive rock in Anedkoten, and that they were far from just a Scandinavian answer to King Crimson, but had a lot of specific sonic language and a thoroughly distinctive pathos. From »Vemod« onward, Anekdoten shrewdly refined their sound and created some of the most picturesque achievements on the prog scene over the past twenty years, which makes them a band that deserves the respect of every progressive rock fan.
Lineup
Nicklas Berg (changed his surname to Barker after getting married) – guitar, Mellotron
Anna Sofi Dahlberg – cello, Mellotron, backing vocals
Jan Erik Liljeström – bass guitar, vocals
Peter Nordins – percussion
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Per Wiberg – grand piano
Pär Ekström – horn, cornet
Production
Anekdoten, Roger Skogh and Simon Nordberg
Track list
1. Karelia (7:20)
2. The Old Man & the Sea (7:50)
3. Where Solitude Remains (7:20)
4. Thoughts in Absence (4:10)
5. The Flow (6:58)
6. Longing (4:50)
7. Wheel (7:52)
8. Sad Rain (10:14)
