Track Listing

1. These Good People
2. Even The Spirits Are Afraid
3. Broken Glass
4. You Learn About It
5. Souvenirs
6. We've Just Stopped Breathing
7. Monsters
8. Golden Grounds
9. Jelena
10. Life All Mine

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48786 in Music
• Released on: 2003-04-07
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Anneke's Enchanting Voice Returns... with friends!
Since the release of the "Black Light District" EP to commemorate their 12.5 year anniversary producing uplifting music (for an increasingly dedicated and reverential group of fans), the Gathering have again poured themselves wholeheartedly into the creation of another seminal album. Unusually for them, this album sees a degree of collaboration with other artists (notably, Trickster G of Ulver) - but don't allow this to put you off! I personally much prefer the Gathering's music to Ulver's, so it comes as a relief to say that the other artists have willingly adopted the Gathering's style.

Fans of the Gathering's early releases (with male vocals and a heavier style) should probably look elsewhere. Just because a woman's singing doesn't mean the album should be ignored, however, and it would be a pity for anyone to miss out on this because of the traditional Metal fan's narrow horizons. This kind of stereotyping is unfair, but it serves well to show how, if they would only listen, even the sceptical would be convinced. This album does not "grow on you" (unlike most of the others in my collection). Its originality will impress with the very first play.

It does take time to get used to this, though. The Gathering have been growing more "progressive" with every album ("How to Measure a Planet" being the obvious example), and I have always loved them for it. They have taken me with them on their journey without requesting anything in return. But while this album will seem impressive on its first play, it will also seem quite cold. After a few plays, however, the warmth surfaces, and the emotion in every track is enough to ensure that this album is often my choice to go to sleep with, alongside Cat Power and the like.

The individual feeling each Gathering release posseses is present here once more - a new Gathering album is a very personal experience. The album title, for instance, is not printed onto the cover booklet (and so is not visible in the picture at the top of this page), but is actually in the form of a transparent sticker on the front of the case. This has been done by hand - something you won't see on a Craig David release! Track Three, "Broken Glass", will be familiar to those of you who have heard "Black Light District", as there is a piano version to be found there. But this new, harsher version is almost unrecognisable; it is the way the track was meant to be.

All in all, this is a stirring, heartfelt release from one of Europe's most original bands. The music is beautiful, the lyrics are beautiful - even the cover booklet artwork is beautiful, if a little enigmatic!. If you have a remote interest in original, unusual music, or a taste for the Gathering's more recent releases, you will not do yourself a disservice by picking this up. Without shouting "Buy this Album!", I can say no more.

Awesome
This easily beats any other Gathering album i have heard. Anneke's voice is still haunting as ever and this album should be the starting point for any1 interested in the gathering... My choice song on the record has to be the title track or perhaps the finishing track; A life all Mine.

Anneke's Enchanting Voice Returns... with friends!
Since the release of the "Black Light District" EP to commemorate their 12.5 year anniversary producing uplifting music (for an increasingly dedicated and reverential group of fans), the Gathering have again poured themselves wholeheartedly into the creation of another seminal album. Unusually for them, this album sees a degree of collaboration with other artists (notably, Trickster G of Ulver) - but don't allow this to put you off! I personally much prefer the Gathering's music to Ulver's, so it comes as a relief to say that the other artists have willingly adopted the Gathering's style.

Fans of the Gathering's early releases (with male vocals and a heavier style) should probably look elsewhere. Just because a woman's singing doesn't mean the album should be ignored, however, and it would be a pity for anyone to miss out on this because of the traditional Metal fan's narrow horizons. This kind of stereotyping is unfair, but it serves well to show how, if they would only listen, even the sceptical would be convinced. This album does not "grow on you" (unlike most of the others in my collection). Its originality will impress with the very first play.

It does take time to get used to this, though. The Gathering have been growing more "progressive" with every album ("How to Measure a Planet" being the obvious example), and I have always loved them for it. They have taken me with them on their journey without requesting anything in return. But while this album will seem impressive on its first play, it will also seem quite cold. After a few plays, however, the warmth surfaces, and the emotion in every track is enough to ensure that this album is often my choice to go to sleep with, alongside Cat Power and the like.

The individual feeling each Gathering release posseses is present here once more - a new Gathering album is a very personal experience. The album title, for instance, is not printed onto the cover booklet (and so is not visible in the picture at the top of this page), but is actually in the form of a transparent sticker on the front of the case. This has been done by hand - something you won't see on a Craig David release! Track Three, "Broken Glass", will be familiar to those of you who have heard "Black Light District", as there is a piano version to be found there. But this new, harsher version is almost unrecognisable; it is the way the track was meant to be. Do not worry that this is some scam to fill the album by repeating the track - this is effectively a new song, just like the rest.

All in all, this is a stirring, heartfelt release from one of Europe's most original bands. The music is beautiful, the lyrics are beautiful - even the cover booklet artwork is beautiful, if a little enigmatic!. If you have a remote interest in original, unusual music, or a taste for the Gathering's more recent releases, you will not do yourself a disservice by picking this up. Without shouting "Buy this Album!", I can say no more.