Track Listing

1. Great Unknown
2. 30 Pieces
3. King Oblivion
4. Sky About to Rain
5. Every Step I Take
6. Stardust and Sand
7. In for a Ride
8. Prince of the Ocean

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #100904 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds

Customer Reviews

Return of the mellotron masters
This is the 5th album by Sweden's premier dark prog group Anekdoten. Whereas 2003's "Gravity" was lighter and concentrated more on songwriting, "A Time Of Day" sees the band back to a heavier, harder edged sound. But this is not a backwards step as they have not only augmented their sonic palette with flute on a couple of tracks, but more significantly Moog synthesiser. Although the predominant instrument is the mellotron, played by both band leader Nicklas Barker and cellist Anna Sofi Dahlberg, the use of Moog adds a new dimension to the arrangements and is a real winner. In fact there is a greater emphasis on this album on keyboards, especially the vintage analogue variety of Fender Rhodes piano and Farfisa organ. All beautifully played and arranged.

The album starts familiarly enough with "The Great Unknown". A typical rousing piece, with another beautifully executed mellotron led chorus which Anekdoten do so well. "30 Pieces" is more introspective with some wonderful solo flute playing by Gunnar Bergsten. A highlight is "The Sky About To Rain" which features Moog here. At first it comes as a shock to hear this on an Anekdoten track, but the extra tonal colours of the instrument are well integrated into the flow of the arrangement. This track nicely merges into the instrumental "Every Step I Take" which features some really beautiful vibes playing. Also impressive is "In For A Ride", another strident piece with the mellotron really pushing this along at a fair whack.

I think this is Anekdoten's most fully realised album to date. Combining the sophisticated songwriting of their previous album as well as the heavier, grungier workouts as featured on the earlier "Nucleus" album to produce something that is very much their own. The Anekdoten sound is now very much in place. No longer the reliance on "Red" era Crimson for their sound, the use of keyboards, vibes, punchy bass is satisfyingly distinctive. Though in saying that there are of course echoes of those prog bands from the 70's. But Anekdoten never sound derivative. If anything their music evokes a true nostalgic sadness for those times, when music was innocent and forever far reaching and when we as teenagers were discovering the world through that music. For those who grew up in the 70's, Anekdoten are that rare beast who will instil that same feeling of awe I remember from first hearing bands like King Crimson, Yes and Genesis.

This has been a very, very good year for Swedish prog. Already we have had significant releases over the last month alone in the form of Kaipa's "Angling Feelings", Beardfish's "Sleeping In Traffic: Part 1", Carptree's magnificent "Insekt" and now Anekdoten's "A Time Of Day". What is it about the country that produces such great music? I think I might move there!