A TIME OF DAY

My original frustrations with this album brought back memories of a similar event in my life back in 1982. It was like history repeating itself for me. RUSH has been my favourite band longer then I care to say, and I remember buying "Signals" and being so disappointed. It was nothing like their previous five glorious albums. Sure their previous album "Moving Pictures" was their most radio friendly release but it still rocked. "Signals" didn't rock and synths dominated where the guitar should have. Well after putting it aside for weeks I brought it back out and it just clicked with me. I still prefer the five albums before it but man I like "Signals" an awful lot. Fast forward to 2007 and "A Time Of Day" from ANEKDOTEN (my second favourite band) comes out and I just couldn''t get into it. The powerful bass and heavy sound was lightened, sure the mellotron was still there thankfully but it wasn't gale force like before. "Gravity" the previous album much like "Moving Pictures" was more commercial sounding but it was still awesome. Well in my first review I gave "A Time Of Day" 4 stars reluctantly but felt in my heart it didn't deserve it, but I also thought it would grow on me. After putting it aside for months I brought it back out and it just confirmed what i felt earlier and so i changed it to 3 stars. Well i'm back in April of 2009 after listening to it about four times over Easter weekend and it clicked. Funny but it clicked the first time I listened to it, but further listens have only made me like it even more. Go figure ! The band continues to progress by adding some flute from guest Gunnar Bergsten from FLASKET BRINNER and some Post-Rock style guitar on one song, and an overall more modern sound.

"The Great Unknown" is classic ANEKDOTEN ! I like the lyrics which are about a man going into deep space where no one has gone before. It opens with drums and rumbling bass as mellotron rolls in. The song settles down quickly as vocals come in. A lot of bottom end on this track. Mellotron returns in a big way, enough to capsize a ship. Some great guitar later. What an opener ! "30 Pieces" features vocals that are deliberate and almost spoken with steady drums for a minute when mellotron floods the song breifly which is so moving. This contrast continues. A flute solo starts before 3 minutes while the song closes out with piano and flute until mellotron joins in around the 6 minute mark. This song shows the band trying new things more than any other song on this disc. It's also my least favourite (Haha). "King Oblivion" is a song that would have fit nicely on the "Gravity" record. I love the vocals on this track and the tasteful guitar solo before 3 minutes.

"A Sky About To Rain" is a song that Jan-Erik said was their most accomplished and visionary yet. And it's hard not to disagree with that as I feel this is the best song on the album. Why am I so moved when I listen to the beginning of this song ? We get a full sound 1 1/2 minutes in of mellotron, bass, drums and guitar. Hell yeah ! The contrast of the mellow and full sound continues. When he sings "A sky about to rain" then the mellotron falls like a down-pour of rain. Nice. Heavy guitar follows. This song eventually blends into "Every Step I Take" an instrumental that sounds like the previous song (like the second part of it) only the guitar shines even more. This is where the Post-Rock style guitar comes in as the song slowly builds. Great tune ! "Stardust And Sand" is a good song with gentle guitar, drums, vocals and synths. Oh and lots of mellotron. I agree with tszirmay that this song has a real PINK FLOYD feel to it and especially a "Welcome To The Machine" sound.

"In For A Ride" is the most uptempo song on the album. Mellotron leads the way in the beginning until guitar takes it's place as vocals arrive. Mellotron 4 1/2 minutes in is back and there is a guitar solo 6 minutes in. What's so cool about it is the distorted organ or is it farfisa throughout. Anyway it has a strong Canterbury flavour to it that I thought i'd never hear on an ANEKDOTEN tune. Great track ! "Prince Of The Ocean" is good but not great, the cello is a nice touch anyway.

In the liner notes they thank Anna & Mikael Akerfeldt as well as Stefan Dimle and Reine Fiske both previously from LANDBERK, as well as both PAATOS and OPETH.