A TIME OF DAY

An early contender for album of the year, ANEKDOTEN have once again produced an album that combines excellent individual songs with a cohesive feel that leaves the listener with the impression that he has arrived at the end of an emotionally intense journey at the end of the album's 45 minutes.

A bit slower-paced on the whole than some of ANEKDOTEN's earlier works, the music benefits from a more organic feel, flowing effortlessly between tracks, moving the listener rather than punishing him (as some moments on NUCLEUS may have done). And yet the sound is unmistakably familiar, no other band could have made this album.

Highlights for me are "A sky about to rain" and it's natural conclusion in "Every step I take", a worthy centrepiece to the album, as well as "In for a ride" which does pretty much what it says on the album cover. Less patient listeners might deride the fact that the pace of this latter song is rarely matched elsewhere, but then the balance would have been lost. For me, this is possible ANEKDOTEN's most consistent work to date and the most emotionally rewarding with a grain of hope glistening through the characteristic melancholy.

Undoubtedly one of the best albums of 2007, essential listening for all fans of post rock and melancholic prog, and worthy of a place in any prog fans collection. Perhaps 4.5 stars for the individual tracks, but 5 stars for the complete piece of music.