Weather Systems

by Anathema

Overview

After Falling Deeper, Anathema's orchestral detour into greatest hitsville, the Liverpool band return with a true follow-up to We're Here Because We're Here. What Falling Deeper accomplished was to make the band comfortable with the string arrangements of Dave Stewart; they're used abundantly -- and to great benefit -- on Weather Systems (produced by Christer-Andre Cederberg with Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh). Guitarist Daniel has written a set of songs that are more daring, harmonically ambitious, and poetically sophisticated than anything he's previously attempted. Vocalist and occasional keyboardist Vincent arranges them for drummer John Douglas, vocalist Lee Helen Douglas, and help from Cederberg on bass. Piano, acoustic, and electric guitars continue to dominate Anathema's latter-day sound, but strings are now an immense part of their textural architecture. Anathema's brand of 21st century prog embraces pop's grandest scales and accessibility without mindless kitsch, shallowness, or phony detachment. This material, which is lyrically on the heavy end of the emotional scale, is offset by the sheer beauty of the compositions and orchestrations. The album explores the range of human emotions regarding death -- the acceptance of its inevitability and the transcendence of the fear it engenders -- which illuminates these nine songs. According to Daniel's lyrics, it's the ferocity of love that both bridges the mortal divide and renders fear impotent. While on the surface the piano and acoustic guitar intros on most of these songs may seem to be repetitive, they are merely feints, serving as guideposts to vast interiors, musically, sonically, and lyrically. It's a gorgeous whole, but there are standouts. The two parts of "Untouchable" feature Vincent and Douglas on alternate, contrasting leads. The first part is mostly driven by guitars and drums with strings added for depth; the second is drenched in strings and becomes the first part's mirror image. "Lightning Song" features Douglas. Her crystalline vocal helms the track as it gradually gathers intensity until explosive electric guitars transform it into an anthem, yet she rises above to carry it home. "Sunlight" begins quietly, but its drums and electric guitars gather into a storm force, yet the hook remains transparent. Closer "Internal Landscapes" -- introduced with ambient electronics and a field recording of a near-death experience -- breaks free from its initial weightiness with its sheer musicality and honest emotional expression from Vincent and Douglas. Weather Systems stands with Anathema's finest work. They've not only escaped the limitation of expectations, they've exceeded them. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	03/25/2022
Label:	Kscope
UPC:	0802644809311
Rank:	58082

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Anathema   Primary Artist
Vincent Cavanagh   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Musical Direction,Vocals (Background),Bass
Wetle Holte   Drums
Perry Montague-Mason   Orchestra Leader
Christer-Andre Cederberg   Bass,Piano
Petter Carlson   Vocals (Background)
John Douglas   Drums
Lee Helen Douglas   Vocals (Background),Vocals
Jamie Cavanagh   Bass
Daniel Cavanagh   Guitar (Electric),Keyboards,Guitar (Acoustic),Bass,Piano,Guitar,Vocals
London Session Orchestra   Strings

Technical Credits

Vincent Cavanagh   Design,Artwork,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming,String Arrangements
Steve Price   Engineer
Andy Leff   Management
Christer-Andre Cederberg   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Dave Stewart   String Arrangements
Alx Leeks   Management
Rod Maurice   Band Photo
Sarah Derat   Design,Artwork
Andrea Wright   Assistant Engineer
Chris Sansom   Mastering
Devin   Assistant
John Douglas   Lyricist,Composer
Daniel Cavanagh   Producer,Composer,Lyricist