A Time Of Day

Anekdoten | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Musea/Virta
• ASIN: B000Q66PR0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,668 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Great Unknown

2. 30 Pieces

3. King Oblivion

4. A Sky About To Rain

5. Every Step I Take

6. Stardust And Sand

7. In For A Ride

8. Prince Of The Ocean

Editorial Reviews

Along with ANGLAGARD, ANEKDOTEN is the most famous example of the new Scandinavian School. This trend mixes dark and gloomy influences with an extreme energy a bit in the way of KING CRIMSON on "Red" or UNIVERS ZERO. The orchestration includes Mellotron and cello (All performed by the pretty Anna Sofi DAHLBERG !) and allows to turn in one second from a vaporous atmosphere to the paroxysm of frenzy. "Vemod" (1993) can be considered as a total masterpiece, and "Nucleus" follows right in the wake. A music with a rare intensity which let any listener breathless. The double-CD "Live In Japan" allows us to enjoy their live and musical performances. "From Within" (1999) shows a return to a less tough and more "anglagardian" music, still within a wonderful melancholic tension. As for the newcomer "Gravity" (2003), it succeeds in mixing ANEKDOTEN's typical style with more modern influences. That's how the eight songs on the album take you to a new direction, sometimes sweet and acoustic, even psychedelic, and sometimes atmospheric (Ala RADIOHEAD). Along with king Mellotron, you can now find the Farfisa organ, sounding very much like late Sixties tunes. Very well producted, this great album will please various audiences, and the fans will still love it. Total class ! Some four years after the previous album, here is finally the fifth opus. It was worth waiting though ! "A Time Of Day" (2007) seems to come back to the sound, energy and ambition of the beginnings, offering as an overture a double swig of Mellotron plus a bunch of well inspired schizoid riffs. However, those who prefer up-to-date and mainstream sounds are not forgotten either. It is granted that most of Progressive rock fans should readily be contented throughout those eight tracks, lasting more than three fourths of an hour. The presence of a flautist, guesting on the second track "30 pieces", bringing about a welcome wind of freshness, should also be noted.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ominous Brilliance - essential headphone listening!, October 26, 2007

By 

F. Dangiolillo "slowdive20" (NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Time of Day (Dig) (Audio CD)

I too have been following Anekdoten since 1994's Vemod and, honestly, they get better with every release. If you have never heard Anekdoten and are looking for a description of their music, imagine that their earlier recordings (Vemod and Nucleus) sound like Lark's Tongues-era King Crimson. After that, their material moves into Red Territory. Both Time of Day and the absolutely essential Gravity sound like King Crimson, ala Fallen Angel - brooding Mellotron, catchy hooks, pounding drums, double tracked vocals, synth, etc. Amazing. Up there with Amon Duul 2's Wolf City. The kind of music that brings the clouds and summer rain storms. Dark but gorgeous. Other name checks? In For A Ride starts off like the twin brother of Be All Right by Caravan and has the groovy early 70's moves, but like every Anekdoten track, they top those they borrow from every time. The Great Unknown, the opening track, sounds like every great Anekdoten track - and that's a good thing. Surging Mellotron, the build ups- oh my GOD the build ups - that give you goose bumps. 30 Pieces surprises with a flute solo over the accustomed Lark's Tongues in Aspic Wetton bass lines. You get the picture. And speaking of pictures, their best album cover since their first album.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting better with each new release!!, September 7, 2007

By 

Ramas (Mexico City) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Time of Day (Dig) (Audio CD)

I've been listening to Anekdoten since they released VEMOD in 1994 and this band never ceases to surprise me every time they release a new album. TIME OF DAY, their newest, has a more upbeat tempo than its predecessors but preserves the distinct sinister and haunting atmosphere that makes Anekdoten such an excellent band.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Still Have What it Takes, January 15, 2009

By 

IcemanJ (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Time of Day (Audio CD)

Anekdoten returns after 4 years with perhaps one of their most memorable albums yet. Their sound continues to evolve, but not to the point where it sounds like a different band. You still know it is the same good ol' Anekdoten. The songs are more crisp and fresh than the older albums, more memorable, and have better production, while still retaining that mysterious, gorgeous, lush atmosphere.

The majority of this album is pretty calm, (not like Anekdoten have ever been super-hard rockers... maybe on parts of Nucleus) but it just feels more relaxed overall than previous albums. But that's totally fine and it's certainly not to the point where it gets boring. There aren't really any super-hard rockin' moments. "In for a Ride" may be a slight exception, but even that tapers off toward the middle of the song.

Anekdoten's production quality has certainly improved, starting with the last album, Gravity. The three albums in the 1990's had a very raw sound which is now gone. I think it's generally a good thing; we still have the older albums to listen to, and the raw sound was part of them, but now, the band has evolved.

"A Sky About to Rain" is perhaps my favorite song on here. It's so warm, calm, and inviting. It's melancholic, but in a very peaceful way.

"30 Pieces" has a killer flute solo - a good flute solo always makes an album brilliant.

I love the vocal melodies in "Prince of the Ocean" about halfway though. It's another memorable point of this album. Their vocals remain the same - very prominent, thick accent, almost mechanical and choppy sounding - might be annoying to some listeners, but I'm so used to it now I didn't think twice about it. This song finishes the album off with a wonderful blend of instruments forming a peaceful serenity.

If you are just getting into Anekdoten, I probably wouldn't recommend this album first - I'd probably suggest "Gravity" or "Vemod" as they are more well-rounded, and most consider "Vemod" to be their strongest album, and a classic in the modern progressive rock world. But this album proves that they still have what it takes.