Eternity

The new Anathema album, We're Here Because We're Here, is in constant rotation on my Ipod. When the double Vinyl arrives at my door, it too will be spun endlessly. It's that good. Scratch that, it's that fucking amazing. Since I must hold true to my policy of not posting new albums, I will instead offer their classic album Eternity.

Formed in 1990, Anathema were members of the English triumvirate of doom along side My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost. But it was in 1996 that everything changed. With the release of their third album, Eternity, Anathema would take a drastic and stunning turn away from doom and metal and into the world of atmospheric alt-rock. Pink Floyd would emerge as a major influence and this passionate album is a fitting tribute to all things ethereally epic. It is a boundless piece of music and you kind of need it.

...enjoy...

PS: make sure you check out
the cover Roy Harper's "Hope."
Brilliant.

Madre, Protegenos

I've been inspired to post Madre, Protegenos by the news of the imminent release of a new album...

Ion is Duncan Patterson's (Anathema, Antimatter, etc) solo project and this be his 2006 debut. With the aide of a number of musicians (many of which are particularly fetching ladies from all about the globe) he has created an often pensive and ethereal musical experience. There is a gentleness and organic nature to the album (something often hinted at in his previous works) as well as a definite "world" music vibe. Now relax, I'm not talking Peter Gabriel singing among the tribes people of central Africa (not that there's anything wrong with that), but instead Patterson takes small bits of local flavors and blends them into his music. From Ireland to Spain to the Mediterranean, he has weaved together elements of folk and ambient musics. The result is unique and subtly breathtaking.

Included is a stunning cover of the Irish classic "Goodbye Johnny Dear" which was written by Duncan's great grandfather Johnny Patterson. Johnny was a renowned singer/song writer/performer in Ireland and later America and Australia. He took the oddly unpopular opinion that Catholics and Protestants should live together peacefully in his song "Do Your Best for One Another." At a show on May 31, 1889 a riot erupted during his performance of his ode to peace and he was tragically killed.

Mother, Protect Us