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ANEKDOTEN

Heavy Prog • Sweden


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Anekdoten picture
Anekdoten biography
Founded in Borlänge, Sweden in 1991

In the early 90s a wave of King Crimson inspired new progrock bands emerged in Scandinavia. One of the first was four piece formation Anekdoten from Sweden and they are still alive and progging, unlike their promising contemporaries Anglagard and Landberk.

Anekdoten their roots are in 1990 when Nicklas BERG (guitar and Mellotron) and Jan Erik Liljestrom (bass and vocals) decide to found a band to make progressive rock music. They name the band King Edward and the musicians start to rehearse, soon accompanied by percussionist Peter Nordin. Their repertoire consists of songs from King Crimson. In 1991 Anna Sofi Dahlberg joins King Edward, this inspires them to intensify their rehearsals, to write own compositions, to rename the band into Anekdoten and to release two demo-tapes under their new name in 1991 and 1992. With the second demo things start to roll for Anekdoten because several Skandinavian progressive rock labels show their attention and invite the band to make a CD on their label. But the band prefers to release their debut album entitled Vemod on their own label in the Spring of 1993. The press hails the obviously KING CRIMSON inspired and Mellotron drenched compositions. A strong point in the music from Anekdoten is the hugh tension between the mellow, often melancholical climates and the dynamic parts delivering ROBERT FRIPP-inspired howling electric guitar, an aggressive and propulsive bass and splendid drumwork.

⭐ Collaborators Top Prog Album of 2015 ⭐

In 1994 Anekdoten starts a worldwide tour (including Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, USA and Canada) with an acclaimed performance on the annual USA progressive rock festival Progfest as their absolute highlight. Some tracks from that treat of a concert are present on the "Progfest 1994" double live CD and video.

Late 1995 Anekdoten releases their eagerly awaited second album entitled "Nucleus", the band succeeds to sound more original and is on the way to develop an own musical identity.

The next year Anekdoten tours around the same big European countries, but Japan turns out to be by far the most important country in which they've played and impressed a lot (after Sweden). Vemod soon gets re-released, followed by a mini-CD called "Live EP". Three sh...
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ANEKDOTEN discography


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ANEKDOTEN top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.06 | 483 ratings
Vemod
1993
4.02 | 459 ratings
Nucleus
1995
4.08 | 481 ratings
From Within
1999
3.83 | 381 ratings
Gravity
2003
3.95 | 441 ratings
A Time of Day
2007
4.16 | 744 ratings
Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
2015

ANEKDOTEN Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.29 | 86 ratings
Official Bootleg - Live in Japan
1998
4.55 | 111 ratings
Waking the Dead - Live in Japan 2005
2005

ANEKDOTEN Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

ANEKDOTEN Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.08 | 89 ratings
Chapters
2009

ANEKDOTEN Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.80 | 40 ratings
Live
1997
4.25 | 8 ratings
Shooting Star
2016

ANEKDOTEN Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Waking the Dead - Live in Japan 2005 by ANEKDOTEN album cover Live, 2005
4.55 | 111 ratings

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Waking the Dead - Live in Japan 2005
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by TenYearsAfter

5 stars I remember still vividly the time that I started to write about prog for Dutch SI Magazine, in the early Nineties, and as a Tron-maniac I was asked to review a few interesting new bands from Skandinavia, named Anglagard, Landberk and Anekdoten. Listening to these bands turned out to be a mindblowing musical experience, what a wonderful, often compeling and Mellotron drenched prog this was, wow! This trio speerheaded the New Wave Of Skandinavian Prog, from Paatos to Beardfish, from White Willow to Wobbler, and from Morte Macabre tot Par Lindh Project, to name a few. After all those years Anekdoten has become my favorite Skandinavian prog band, and I was lucky to witness the band two times (De Pul and De Boerderij). In my opinion Anekdoten is a band that rises to the occasion on stage, more powerful, more compelling, and, last but nost least, a more lush Mellotron sound. On Waking The Dead, Live In Japan 2005 you can experience that unique Anekdoten sound in its full splendor.

Heavy and agressive with a thunderous rhythm-section, propulsive guitar riffs and floods of Mellotron violins in Monolith, From Within and Kiss Of Life.

Hypnotizing with twanging electric guitar and soaring Mellotron female choirs in Hole, and the previously unreleased track Moons Of Mars and The Sun Absolute.

Slow rhythms with a very compelling atmosphere featuring a melancholical undertone, often embellished with a lush Mellotron violins sound in Gravity and the previsously unreleased track This Too Will Pass.

The final composition Sad Rain (additonal bonustrack on the remastered CD version of their debut album Vemod) is 'a wet dream for Tron-maniacs', due to the intense Mellotron violins soaken eruptions, an obvious tribute to In The Court Of The Crimson King. Because Anekdoten started as a prog band playing King Crimson compositions, but the band succeeded to incorporate the King Crimson hints with lots of interesting own musical ideas, thumbs up for their incredible musical development. Anekdoten is not only my favorite Skandinavian prog band, but also one of my favorite post-70s and 80s progressive rock formations.

Highly recommended .... to be more specific, a must!

 Until All the Ghosts Are Gone by ANEKDOTEN album cover Studio Album, 2015
4.16 | 744 ratings

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Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by Prognut
Prog Reviewer

4 stars WOW!!!

You call it Heavy, I call it "Eclectic".

In many ways a refreshing going back to their roots. Anekdoten has been one of those bands with releases every several years (every 3-4), this one came after a whooping 8 years silence, and to my amazement a very good album indeed.

IMHO this Swedish ensemble had one of the most amazing debut albums over the past few decades with Vemod back in 1993, with indeed a heavy KC influence. With the exception of Nucleus they did drifted into a more Scandinavian melodic music (nothing wrong with that) as Gravity is one of their best releases overall. In spite of that, they would kept their sound very much intact and only characteristic to 'Anekdoten'.

This particular last release, I found it my self right in the middle of all their previous albums, as they do mix music from both aspects of their repertoire (Eclectic and Melancholic), maybe with a more Melancholic tendency (again nothing wrong with that), blow me away the first time I listened and has grown on me exponentially after several spins.

Mr.Theo Travis (from KC fame) has contributed with Flute, and together with the Sax of Gustav Nygren have expanded their sound even more this time around.

I personally over the past few years, have come to adore wind instruments on my progressive music addiction.

Is also nice to see that Per Wiberg is back on the spot (from Vemod appearance) on Organ, and and invited Marty Wilson-Piper on Lead guitar on the album name track.

Of course, the double Mellotrons continue their omnipresence, as from the beginning of their musical career, together with Nicklas's guitar solos.

UATGAG is in my opinion a typical Scandinavian/Anekdoten affair in every sense, and at the current time writing this critique, this album is one of my favorites from this great Swedish Band.

The shortest track clocked at 5:07 and most of the material is long enough to keep you entertain. The heaviest and most eclectic song is without a doubt 'Shooting Star' followed by 'Our Days are''

My favorite track is definitely 'Our Days'' mostly because it has enough textures of heavy/melancholic passages (with some passages really recalling Anglagard, with that heavenly Mellotron presence) but what in my mind makes this track so special and good in this release, is the constant signature changes with the addition of Sax for the first time, mouth drooling!!

Judging by the way Anekdoten release new material, is probably about time to have a new album, one can only hope for'

I got my self the Japanese/Arcangelo Edition, as have an extra CD with alternate mixes of 'shooting.., If it all' and Our Days'' (which are a great inclusion in my opinion)

Overall this album would be a great addition to any prog music collection and for the Anekdoten fan a real delight. 4 Stars

 Gravity by ANEKDOTEN album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.83 | 381 ratings

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Gravity
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by The Crow
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Fourth album by the impressive Anekdoten!!!

So far, I have only listened to their first four albums, and without a doubt this Gravity is the one I like the most of all of them.

Unlike in From Within there is no fillers to be found here maybe with the exception of the rather anodyne The Games We Play (Sigur Ros influences here), it is not as dense as Nucleus, and without a doubt the band sounds much more cohesive and mature than in Vemod.

I even like Niklas Barker's voice better on this album! It's certainly still the band's weakest point, but here at least he sounds in tune and doesn't bother at all.

So as soon as you like heavy prog with tons of mellotron, give Gravity a try! And if you've never listened to Anekdoten, it also seems like a perfect album to immerse yourself in their discography.

Best Tracks: Monolith (hypnotic and with incredible Mellotron work), Ricochet (I especially like the verses, performed with exquisite taste, and of course the great keyboard solo), The War is Over (beautiful acoustic guitar work) , What Should but Did not Die (impressive keyboard arrangements and an anthological crescendo for what is perhaps the most intense track on the album), Gravity (the best composition on the album altogether, highlighting a punchy bass in a great instrumental interlude )

My Rating: ****

 Waking the Dead - Live in Japan 2005 by ANEKDOTEN album cover Live, 2005
4.55 | 111 ratings

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Waking the Dead - Live in Japan 2005
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

5 stars Something about Japan - and perhaps more specifically the experience of stepping onto a Japanese stage in front of an audience of enthusiastic local fans - seems to bring out the best in Anekdoten. As with the earlier Official Bootleg, Waking the Dead captures them in the course of a Japanese tour - this time in 2005 - and just like with that album, the live context and atmosphere really helps bring their music to a level they've only fleetingly been able to capture on their studio albums.

This time around, Anekdoten dip their toes into some almost post-rock-esque sections, especially in their quieter moments, and between that and the setlist of more recent songs this album has enough of a different sound from the preceding Official Bootleg that the two releases complement each other magnificently.

 Gravity by ANEKDOTEN album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.83 | 381 ratings

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Gravity
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Whereas From Within had Anekdoten teasing out the more ornate, gothic, atmospheric prog side of their sound, Gravity finds them leaning back into some of the alternative rock influences which had been more prominent on their debut but had been mostly dormant since, revisiting and updating a sonic territory they'd otherwise had somewhat moved away from. It's still recognisably Anekdoten, mind you, but an Anekdoten more willing to get a little quiet and acoustic than they had been for some time, an Anekdoten who sound a bit closer to the mainstream here than they would on any of their other studio albums.
 Official Bootleg - Live in Japan by ANEKDOTEN album cover Live, 1998
4.29 | 86 ratings

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Official Bootleg - Live in Japan
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by Warthur
Prog Reviewer

5 stars A live double album from Anekdoten's early peak, offering excellent, raucous, heavy renditions of their material. Most of Vemod and Nucleus is here, as are a number of non-album tracks (a good chunk of which would eventually see release on From Within), and the overall standard of the performance is fantastic. Whereas the studio renditions of the track in question are decent enough, they don't capture the energy that Anekdoten has live, and I'd say that if you've previously restricted yourself to the band's studio albums you've only heard half the story, at least as far as this early phase of their career goes.
 A Time of Day by ANEKDOTEN album cover Studio Album, 2007
3.95 | 441 ratings

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A Time of Day
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by sgtpepper

3 stars Anekdoten returned back with a modern mixture of prog, alternative rock, Canterbury and alternative pop influences. On average, the songs are calmer than before. The album does not bring anything revolutionary but shows that the band changes over time.

The first song "The great unknown" flows well and shows the band in a good shape. Canterbury influences with hard KC elements can be heard on "30 pieces". A great calm flute section can also be heard. "King oblivion" is a soft melodical song and one of the most catchy in their repertoire. "Every step I take" is a welcome instrumental trip with echoes of post-rock. "Stardust and sand" is another soft and semi- acoustic song to reflect. "In for a ride" brings an organ sound reminiscent of Caravan times.

Though not a bad album, it is not very memorable either. We must give Anekdoten credit for not resting on their laurels and providing an even album.

 Gravity by ANEKDOTEN album cover Studio Album, 2003
3.83 | 381 ratings

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Gravity
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by sgtpepper

3 stars Anekdoten returned to the stage with an updated sound and composing on their fourth album, Gravity.What used to be a prototype 90's KC-inspired progressive rock has turned into an alternative sounding rock with typical progrock instruments and layers without the previous complexity.

The first song shows a greater degree of accessibility than ever before, driven by mellotron, not heavy guitar riffs and mainstream friendly drums. "Ricochet" reminds me of Anathema not only because of vocals but also the rhythm section. "What should but did not die" is one of the closest songs harking back to the old times, however, gone is the raw brutality; the guitar riffs are decent and radio friendly. "SW4" is a forgettable track with experimental mood, what stands out is a digital piano line. The title track is one of the best on the album and gives space for mellotron to shine through. It's the last track "Seljak", where I finally find my favourite track. This fully instrumental and nostalgic number is a rather complex number with drums and guitar exceeding themselves. Melancholy reminds me of Opeth way of depression. All instruments are impressive here.

Overall, this is a pleasant album but in comparison to the previous ones, it didn't make Anekdoten stand out from the crowd.

 From Within by ANEKDOTEN album cover Studio Album, 1999
4.08 | 481 ratings

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From Within
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by sgtpepper

3 stars On this release, Anekdoten updated their sound to be more contemporary, include more keyboard sounds but at the heart, King Crimson still remains a clear influence. Singing has improved to be more convicing although still lacking the range of a common singer. This album is a seminal change in the direction that Anekdoten would be pursuing in the future.

"Kiss of life" showcases where band will be heading to in the future - a more streamlined and accessible interplay between mellotron/keyboard, guitar and rhythm section, excluding metallic fever and avantgarde elements.

"Hole" is a cornerstone on this album, however it reveals less in 11 minutes than some previous Anekdoten tracks in 7. The quiet parts represent the track majority and aren't too memorable. "Slow fire" and "Firefly" focus more on the overall feeling than sonic details. "The sun absolute" has a repetitive but capturing mellotron and xylophone interplay. The last track on the album is a poignant and melancholic one, the sung vocal suits very well.

Overall, it is a very enjoyable album although not on the same level as the first two in terms of music quality.

 Nucleus by ANEKDOTEN album cover Studio Album, 1995
4.02 | 459 ratings

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Nucleus
Anekdoten Heavy Prog

Review by sgtpepper

4 stars Anekdoten returned with another raw, uncompromising album that is subtle and mellow as a contrast. The first track shows the development in the last two years: More confidence in new instruments, more variation in singing and less stiffness, also some inspiration by avantgarde and metal music. The intro is one of the heaviest by Anekdoten. Unusual singing on "Harvest" reminds me of alternative rock, especially in the end. The anthemic "Book of hours" is a lengthy piece taking its time to reach climax. The guitar notes in the intro accompanied by mellotron slowly take crescendo. The experimental part comes after a mellotron chorus featuring disonant avantgarde notes. "Raft" and "Rubank" have a unpolished and also unfinished feeling. "Here" is one of the few tracks on the album featuring cello to create a layer of deep sadness. "This far from the sky" is my favourite track on the album. The metallic riffs interchange with mellow guitar tones and excellent flute. The melotron chorus especially the crescendoed one at 3:30 leaves me speechless. Delicate guitar and heavy King Crimson like sounding parts add to the beautiful listening experience. The last track is quite different - mellow sounding harmony vocals, cello soundscape and xylophone in the end.

Anekdoten reached another level of maturity with this album and the album stood the test of time. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Erik Neuteboom for the artist addition.

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