This is a review taken from the Greek Metal Hammer (which is a very good metal mag, nothing like the British one). It's an EXACT translation (and not things I made up myself). So, here it is:
Duncan Patterson has left Anathema years now. The last thing he recorded with them was the insuperable "Alternative 4". I should remind you that Patterson was not just the bassist of the band, he wrote music and lyrics for Anathema in an exceptional way. For example, more than half the songs from "Alternative 4" have his signature. His exit was a great loss for the Liverpool band. Why am I talking about Patterson? Because Antimatter is a project that was created by Duncan's collaboration with another talented musician, Michael Moss. Both of them seem to have decided to follow their desires, without caring where this will lead them, musically speaking. Personaly, all I can do is respect their choice, the result of which was "Saviour", a "difficult" listening that will not appeal to all Anathema fans that easilly. But it's better this way. An album created with "the good old recipe" would offend Patterson's composing skills, and he smartly avoided that. On the contrary, he and Moss bring out their deeper self. The result of this procedure is the lamenting atmosphere that dominates the album, the acoustic melodies where somewhere in their subconscious lives the ghost of Tim Buckley or Syd Barret, the trip-hop obsessions that pay respect to the temple of Portishead, the dub pursuits, the orchestral mood, the fragile female vocals and the electro-gothic feeling that does not care about cheap impressions but for the real essence of music. What did I learn from the "Saviour" album? The following: Patterson has much to offer to those who trust him and Antimatter is a non-commercial project that however produces great music.
8 out of 10.
That's it. I think I did a good job with the translation, though at times it was not easy at all. Hope that now the lads will consider playing a few gigs down here soon!
Duncan Patterson has left Anathema years now. The last thing he recorded with them was the insuperable "Alternative 4". I should remind you that Patterson was not just the bassist of the band, he wrote music and lyrics for Anathema in an exceptional way. For example, more than half the songs from "Alternative 4" have his signature. His exit was a great loss for the Liverpool band. Why am I talking about Patterson? Because Antimatter is a project that was created by Duncan's collaboration with another talented musician, Michael Moss. Both of them seem to have decided to follow their desires, without caring where this will lead them, musically speaking. Personaly, all I can do is respect their choice, the result of which was "Saviour", a "difficult" listening that will not appeal to all Anathema fans that easilly. But it's better this way. An album created with "the good old recipe" would offend Patterson's composing skills, and he smartly avoided that. On the contrary, he and Moss bring out their deeper self. The result of this procedure is the lamenting atmosphere that dominates the album, the acoustic melodies where somewhere in their subconscious lives the ghost of Tim Buckley or Syd Barret, the trip-hop obsessions that pay respect to the temple of Portishead, the dub pursuits, the orchestral mood, the fragile female vocals and the electro-gothic feeling that does not care about cheap impressions but for the real essence of music. What did I learn from the "Saviour" album? The following: Patterson has much to offer to those who trust him and Antimatter is a non-commercial project that however produces great music.
8 out of 10.
That's it. I think I did a good job with the translation, though at times it was not easy at all. Hope that now the lads will consider playing a few gigs down here soon!
