A Time of Day by Anekdoten

A Time of Day by  Anekdoten, 2007

A different album, simpler, or rather, less complex, but I feel the same emotions even if they're evoked by different atmospheres.

When I first listened to it, I was very prejudiced, influenced by the negative reviews I'd read. However, as usual, I formed my own opinion, and no, I don't agree with the detractors; this is a great album!

- The first track, "The Great Unknown," is beautiful, with a melancholic streak and an epic atmosphere over a linear structure. I've listened to it several times because I loved it so much.
- "30 Pieces" is more underground, with almost spoken vocals. The strange rhythm of a folk ballad begins, with a later, broader phase that repeats in a classical pattern, then it gets harder with a beautiful, harder guitar riff. Then the beautiful flute enters, playing on the tense atmosphere created by the guitar, which rises in pitch with each bar. Then the piece finally opens up towards the end with a beautiful finale featuring keyboards and flute, followed by a brief piano riff that closes the track. This piece is also very, very beautiful.

- King Oblivion begins with acoustic guitar and flute in the background, a truly psychedelic opening. The vocals perfectly follow the harmony, very beautiful here, in this piece, which starts romantic and then becomes epic. The keyboard and guitar riffs are beautiful as they open up to a captivating melancholy. The emphasis remains high, as do the emotions between keyboards and guitar, then between keyboards and mellotron, with a beautiful chorus punctuated by a truly beautiful guitar riff. A great piece. It takes its time to delve into the underlying melancholy theme and succeeds very well.

- A Sky About to Rain is, in my opinion, an extension of the previous track, a long acoustic guitar riff slowly followed by light drums, followed by keyboards and guitar in a solo with very long sounds, a crescendo piece with a beautiful melancholic atmosphere.

- Every Step I Take, with a beautiful opening on an almost beat-like rhythm but very intense, with dissonant electric guitar arpeggios that drive the entire song.

It's perhaps neither beat nor rock nor prog; it's something different, with the guitar taking over in a "light" solo with psychedelic atmospheres and deep, low sounds. This is followed by a progression of long, high-pitched sounds, and finally, the opening theme returns and closes the song. A beautiful piece that stays in your head for a long time.

- Stardust and Sand begins with acoustic guitar arpeggios and vocals, then the keyboards enter with a Floydian sound. This drum-free piece is slow and suspended in limbo, in an expected explosion that never arrives, keeping us in a light, imperceptible tension until the bass enters to mark the song's ascent. The vocals become a chorus, the rhythm becomes more pressing, but always with a slowly psychedelic mood. Beautiful keyboards and a beautiful composition.

- "In for a Ride" is more in line with this band's typical sound, a fast tempo of nice prog rock with folk inflections and a vaguely Yes-like feel in some of the sounds, just a hint. A captivating song with a classic structure until a long variation of bass, guitar, and drums comes in, playing in unison, then returning to the opening theme and then accelerating again while the bass plays a great metronome. Captivating. "Border Line," a sound that's not perfectly definable but very beautiful, perhaps for that very reason.

- "Prince of the Ocean" starts with guitar and keyboard, an "English" sound but with the dark tones of this band. A slow ballad whose vocals remind us of Pink Floyd in their singing style. The strings at the end are beautiful.

A beautiful end to an album, less complex in tempos and variations but certainly very complex in atmosphere, sound, and emotion.

I absolutely don't understand those who criticize this album. It's simply beautiful, absolutely on par with their first albums in terms of the quality of the compositions and the execution, composed of eight gems, an album I've listened to several times in a row every time I got it. Even today.

It doesn't have what the first four have, true, but there's so much more that it can't be considered a decline in the band's output, but rather a new feeling, one we hadn't perceived before...

Absolutely recommended!

Tracklist

1. The Great Unknown (6:22)
2. 30 Pieces (7:13)
3. King Oblivion (5:02)
4. A Sky About to Rain (6:29)
5. Every Step I Take (3:06)
6. Stardust and Sand (4:29)
7. In for a Ride (6:47)
8. Prince of the Ocean (5:30)
Running Time: 44:58

Lineup
- Nicklas Berg (Barker) - vocals, guitar, Mellotron, Moog, vibes
- Anna Sofi Dahlberg - vocals, Mellotron, organ, Moog, Rhodes, cello, piano
- Jan Erik Liljeström - vocals, bass
- Peter Nordins - drums, percussion, cymbals, vibraphone
Featuring:
- Gunnar Bergsten - flute