Anathema - Glasgow O2 ABC2
Something very special is happening around Anathema. Their recent album Distant Satellites has been universally acclaimed, from the pages of the Guardian to Terrorizer magazine, and of course in our own Room Thirteen review, which you can read here. Moreover, on their Satellites Over Europe tour, they are selling out UK venues. The O2 ABC2 in Glasgow is no exception, and is completely sold out tonight!
As drummer/keyboardist Daniel Cardoso sits down behind his drum kit, and starts up the opening strings section of The Lost Song Part 1 via his computer, followed by that amazing rolling drum pattern, it's as if a collective shiver runs down the spine of the audience, and the air is filled with applause, and a palpable air of anticipation. Vincent Cavanagh's plaintive voice immediately conveys the longing and intensity, so latent in this song, and when his voice is joined with Lee Douglas's, the rush of feeling is almost too much. A stunning opening to an exciting and moving evening.
The Lost Song Part 2 features Lee's amazingly expressive voice, as she closes her eyes and rocks gently in front of the microphone. It's a voice that conveys so much emotion and presence, that the audience seem completely transfixed. At the end of these opening songs, such is the strength of the audience reaction, that the band are smiling and applauding the audience!
Copyright: Gareth Allen
Untouchable Part 2 features the audience singing back to the band, an amazing moment of connection between both. You also notice in this respect, the way the band's front line are often moved to advance to the front of the stage, to be close to the audience, particularly the brilliant anchor of the band and ever smiling Jamie Cavanagh on bass. This is a band and audience completely smitten with each other.
The Lost Song Part 3 is a real highlight, as the percussion partnership of Daniel Cardoso and John Douglas play the most astonishing, take your breath away, polyrhythms. At the end of the song Danny Cavanagh quips humorously to the packed audience, 'There are more of you here than last time, where have you been?'.
So to Anathema, from the new album, which won the 'Anthem' award at this year's Progressive Music Awards. When Vincent sings But I loved you, the enormous passion in his voice causes it to soar out over the crowd. When Danny's breaking hearts guitar solo starts in, the music hits the most astonishing of crescendos, and the audience spontaneously applaud the solo before the song is finished. Two completely magical moments.
In Universal Daniel and John swap drums and keyboards, and Vincent and Danny are two voices in the most beautiful unison. The lovely piano coda that follows causes the audience to clap along, and in time! It's like a cinematic soundtrack emanating from the stage and this wonderful band.
The first encore of Distant Satellites confirms the adventurous electronic direction the band are not afraid to incorporate into their sound, and Anathema live at this point emerge almost as if an electronic dance band. A Natural Disaster which follows, witnesses Lee give the most moving and haunting vocal of the evening, with a spine tingling moment where she moves back from the microphone, allowing her voice to become this poignant distant echo.
'Thank you bonnie Scotland' is the heart felt cry that emanates from the stage, as the band finally need to say goodbye, leaving the audience to the unforgiving cold Glasgow night air.
It is impossible to do justice in words alone to the live experience of Anathema. All we can say, is If you have become jaded and disappointed with modern music, go and see Anathema and be inspired and moved emotionally in equal measure, and restore your faith in the power of music!
Copyright: Gareth Allen