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""The Optimist" is a dreamlike journey into the land of melody and emotion as only Anathema can offer."
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4/5
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32.63N 117.14W, San Diego Beach. A man's breath covers the rolling waves. He gets in his car, looks for a radio station. He's come a long way. Exactly in 1999 when the time of an album, "A Fine Day To Exit", he had fled his life, cut himself off from the world for a lost quest. Time passed and the albums that followed consolidated Anathema as a leader in atmospheric rock. But by deciding with their eleventh album, "The Optimist" to finish the story of this character left alone to face his fate on this Californian beach at the end of the last century, the band reveals the process of its own evolution.
Because Anathema's music is evolving. Slowly, quietly, the English are building bridges between styles and between their own albums. Like the link between "Ana" and "thema" on the album cover, the band seems more united than ever, confident and determined in its musical approach, calm and serene. Indeed, even if 'Leaving It Behind', its drum machine, its guitar arpeggio and its characteristic rise in power make the link with the previous album "Distant Satellites", most of the tracks begin as piano-vocals and their organic color is accentuated by the quintet's choice to record in studio, face to face, in live conditions.
Listening to "The Optimist" is fascinating in many ways. First of all, through his cinematographic construction punctuated by surprising post-rock titles that are almost entirely instrumental ('San Francisco','Springfield','Wildfires'). Then because the band has no equal in arousing emotion with darkly melancholic tracks such as the gems 'Endless Ways' and 'The Optimist'. Finally because with the passing of the albums, Vincent Cavanagh has the intelligence to gradually leave the microphone to Lee Douglas. And the singer's enveloping voice, present on most of the tracks, pierces the listener who can only give up his weapons in the face of so much talent, class and gentleness. The sumptuous "Close Your Eyes", the first jazz track in Anathema's long discography, is thus a summit of sensuality and spleen where Lee's voice reassures and comforts the main character in doubt in a hotel room.
A dark, sensitive and mature album, "The Optimist" bears its name well because the solitary and tortured anti-hero finally returns home, close to his family, to a joyful and very symphonic melody ('Back To The Start') which, like on "Temporary Peace", the last track of "A Fine Day To Exit", gives way to a long period of silence before a dry guitar and children's voices ring out.
Despite some weaknesses, notably the rather anachronistic pop song "Can't Let Go", "The Optimist" is a particularly endearing album that is gradually unveiling itself and deserves many listenings. If only for the pleasure of hearing Lee Douglas whisper "Close your eyes, sleep tonight and dream on ...". - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. 32.63N 117.14W - 01:18
02. Leaving It Behind - 04:27
03. Endless Ways - 05:49
04. The Optimist - 05:37
05. San Francisco - 04:59
06. Springfield - 05:49
07. Ghosts - 04:17
08. Can`t Let Go - 05:00
09. Close Your Eyes - 03:39
10. Wildfires - 05:40
11. Back To The Start - 11:41
LINEUP:
Daniel Cardoso: Batterie
Danny Cavanagh: Chant / Guitares / Claviers
Jamie Cavanagh: Basse
John Douglas: Percussions
Lee Douglas: Chant
Vincent Cavanagh: Chant / Guitares / Claviers
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(3) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
3.2/5 (16 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.1/5 (8 view(s))
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT ANATHEMA
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