ANUBIS, of course, have nothing to do with the similarly titled RTL teen series. It is an Australian progressive rock band, formed in 2004, by vocalist Robert James Moulding and keyboardist David Eaton.
The two songwriters were in the studio recording the album from 2006 to 2009, and came out with the interesting concept album 230503.In addition, they found themselves still looking for suitable co-musicians. The story is briefly described as a man who chugs around with his love of his life on a houseboat and comes with an ominous accident in the water. He loses his memory, is washed up somewhere and then learns "to know The Doctor", who makes him into a drug addict (Operation Mindcrime, anyone?). Gradually, the protagonist tries to regain his former self.
Musically, this story appropriately moody and atmospheric and in a very analog-sounding way. In addition to a wonderfully raw sound of guitar, drums and bass there is still often Mellotron strings, Hammond, old-school synths and sometimes, even saxophone. The ten varied songs are arranged very differently, sometimes tonal and harmonic, the next minute atonal and chaotic. Atmospheric, beautiful widescreen melodic sections alternate with gently sloping psychedelic verses. The singer is reminiscent of a young David Gilmour, and in many ways, the name PINK FLOYD flashes repeatedly, but perhaps in a lively and rockier incarnation (for example, "Leaving Here Tonight" or the "Echoes" memory trip in "Breaking Water").
A combination of PINK FLOYD (Mellotron, vocals and melody), KING CRIMSON (instrumental parts) and some ZAPPA sound effects in the nearly ten minute "The Bond Of Mutual Distrust"- the first outstanding song - (track six). The two shorter instrumentals "Anonymity" and "Flying / Falling" are actually relatively modern sounding, featuring more modern ambient sounds, interlude 230503. These fit perfectly into the very classic analog album. ANUBIS move up to the penultimate two tracks at a solid level, to the final "The Collapse" (twelve minutes) and "Disinfected and Abused" (seventeen minutes), the great tennis (?) Only with these two giant songs do the band play fully to the songwriting strengths that they've hinted at in the shorter pieces. 230503 is a nice concept work, which has one hand raised classic but also plays with modern elements. If at first there are doubts, as the shorter songs don't always ignite immediately, one penetrated by the long finale in the ANUBIS work, which after all, is more than a good third of the disc.
Rating: 5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment