ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN: The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest (POP): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Anneke Van Giersbergen is one of the most involved artists in today's rock-metal scene because of the diversity and quality of her personal projects as well as the aura of the muse she embodies in some of the most talented composers of the progressive sphere (Devin Townsend, Arjen Lucassen, Danny Cavanagh). The strong investment made on her latest project VUUR and the vicissitudes of love life made the beautiful Dutchwoman feel the deep need to compose for herself for a sixth time.

The essence of the album is said in its title "The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest". On a sober instrumentation made of acoustic guitars, simple percussions and some arrangements (the violin of 'Agape' and klezmer of 'My Promise', the trumpet of 'Hurricane') develops a whole range of emotions echoing the chiaroscuro tug-of-war of the state of the soul. It ranges from the almost danceable lightness ('Survive', 'Hurricane') to the deep melancholic mood ('The End' and 'Losing' You') to the more ambiguous moods of shy euphoria in the mid-tempo of modern pop ('Survive', 'Agape', 'The Soul Knows') and American-inspired folk ('Lo And Behold'), world music ('Keep It Simple') or medieval ('I Saw A Car').

Anneke gently guides the listener through the meanderings of the sometimes contradictory, often visceral emotions that are at play in moments of pain. Her vocal grace is an enchantment that can be a comfort (the whispering of 'The End', the humming of 'Love You Like I Love You') as well as an elegiac radiance (the lyricism of 'Lo And Beyond'). But it is above all with a spirit of generosity that the beautiful Dutch woman brings her voice, with benevolence and a will to the share emotions ('Love You Like I Love You') in a kind of communion ('Agape') that passes through many choirs ('Lo And Behold', 'Survive') and even gospel ('Keep It Simple').

If it is nocturnal feelings which inspired the composition of these songs, Anneke Van Giersbergen never lets herself be locked up in the inner darkness and delivers an intimate and cathartic album certainly crossed by melancholy but rocked by a positive spirit. Listening to Anneke's voice is a delight in itself, but when the setting is of this melodic quality one can only fall under the spell. - Official website

ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN

THE DARKEST SKIES ARE THE BRIGHTEST

INSIDEOUT MUSIC

POP