AGUA DE ANNIQUE: AIR

A gem is the first album by Agua de Annique. Beautiful voice, some jazz elements, more ``relax´´ than gathering. Beautiful One, is a great opener. The first single, Day Alter Yesterday, with a captive piano, is another highlight. My favorite from all is Sunken Soldiers Ball, its even epic. The sound in many of the songs could be compared to Islands from King Crimson, the song. Crimson is a band Anneke several times said is a big influence. The only song that doesn't quite fit well is the second one, Witnesses. The lyrics are very introspective, about how she fells at the time(been a mother, getting old). Very recommended, just listen for yourself.

The news that Anneke Van Giersbergen would leave The Gathering didn't surprise nor disappointed me much. The previous two Gathering albums had only shown their diminishing creative flows.

It had also seemed to me as if the vocals had become something of an afterthought. Even though Anneke was given centre stage, it sounded as if she had to write her vocal melodies on top of already pre-recorded music. It's something that isn't easy to pull off and it often led to contrived or repetitious vocals. No, vocal lines are best written strumming away on a guitar or sitting at the piano. And that's exactly how this album was approached. Of course it makes for a singer songwriter album, rather then having anything to do with prog or rock. All elements that made the Gathering progressive are stripped away.

Anyway, what Agua The Anique brings is short melancholic rock songs and ballads, catchy verse chorus tunes with the most basic of rock arrangements: drums, bass and one guitar. The music is written around the gripping vocal melodies and that approach produced a set of spontaneously flowing songs. So let's just take this at face value; this is a touching collection of songs that sounds like Anneke doing Kate Bush or Tori Amos in a rocky mood. I think it won't disappoint admirers of the Gathering, nor fans of melancholic rock such as Anathema, Antimatter or even Radiohead.

Even though there is a slight lull after the stunning opening tracks, the album picks up its momentum again from track 6 onwards. Most songs here are too good to be on such an obscure album. It's a shame really. This music is delightful, without pretension, sincere and catchy. This should be loved by the masses instead of just me and two other devotees.

The sadness of the output of "Anneke" the band "The Gathering" was immense but incredibly good thing also happened, she set up another band. "Agua de Annique". Keeping the softness of the times of "The Gathering" with the sound traveler. This is not a copy, is a new band, original. "Anneke" can express yourself even better than before, the lyrics are living that perpetuate feelings through your voice. "Beautiful One" is a sonic journey that starts the album followed by the more lively "Witnesses." The other members do not call attention to themselves, play their part as best as possible in order to enhance the brightness of the voice of "Anneke". The debut album is full of passages for travelers especially the aforementioned "Beautiful One", "Witnesses," "Day After Yesterday" ... could quote almost the entire album. "Joris Dirks - guitarist" stands out on the track "Yalin" while the very "Anneke" joins his beautiful voice with his arrangements of piano on the track "Day After Yesterday". "Jacques de Haard - bass" and "Rob Snijders - drummer" the band complete. They are short tracks, nice. Just close your eyes and travel. "Take Care Of Me" is able to break the hardest of hearts. A song almost dragged, chords sung like an ordeal, one last time ... Once again the band stands out and rises the majestic voice of "Anneke" that in the final seconds gave himself to the promptings. In the track "Ice Water", "Joris Dirks" comes with "Anneke" on backing vocals increasing the drama of the music. beyond the short solo disconcerting that culminates with the voice of "Anneke" reaching the climax of the song. "You Are Nice" is the most aggressive song on the "CD" and also requires a higher pitch by "Anneke". "Trail Of Grief" has a strong mark on bass and other instruments of a growing, making this a more "collaborative" track on the album among the musicians. "Come Wander With Me" comes and goes like a breeze, simple e calm. "Sunken Soldiers Ball" gives us a moment of delicate strings with "Heleen de Witte - flute" and "Timothy Conroy - trumpet." "Kristin Fjellseth" sing along with "Anneke" in "Lost and Found." Unfortunately the album is finished and "Asleep" is the sound of goodbye. It is a journey worth every second, is a unique moment that lasts 51:19.