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Vemod, by Anekdoten, their 1993 debut album, is here in a special edition that includes the original album as well as a 12" 45 RPM single-sided EP with the fantastic single track, "Sad Rain."
An impressive debut album, unlike anything anyone has done since the '70s at this level (only Hybris by Anglagard comes to mind).
A progressive rock album that highlights for the first time the distinctive sound of a band that would continue to express itself in their subsequent works with consistent quality and a mix of King Crimson influences tinged with typical Scandinavian melancholy. It boasts powerful sound and complex compositions, a heavy, atmospheric sound with sophisticated use of the mellotron (it seems they used two on this album), powerful bass, an extraordinary bass-drum section that generates dramatic shifts in tempo and atmosphere, and guitar riffs that aren't particularly virtuosic but are truly effective for songs with a great deal of emotional power.
Atmospheres alternate. Quiet and melancholic with instrumental explosions, creating a sense of drama and emotional intensity.
The Old Man & the Sea and Longing are particularly emotional and engaging, with their deeply moving atmospheres.
A masterpiece album. An incredible debut. Highly recommended. Beautiful. And this edition is also beautiful, remastered in 2022. Scandinavia has made and continues to make an enormous contribution to the music I love.
Tracklist
1. Karelia (7:22)
2. The Old Man & the Sea (7:50)
3. Where Solitude Remains (7:21)
4. Thoughts in Absence (4:13)
5. The Flow (7:00)
6. Longing (4:54)
7. Wheel (7:52)
Duration 46:32
LineUp
- Nicklas Berg (Barker) - guitar, Mellotron
- Anna Sofi Dahlberg - Mellotron, cello, vocals
- Jan Erik Liljeström - bass, vocals
- Peter Nordins - drums, percussion
With:
- Per Wiberg - grand piano
- Pär Ekström - flugelhorn, cornet
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page
