Anathema

• Posted: Fri 4 Mar 2011
• By: john haylock

Arthur Hughes

In a week that sees me suffer the double rock whammy of finding out that The Rolling Stones probably won't be playing Glastonbury after all but bloody Beyonce will, then weeing myself at the announcement that The Faces will play Cornbury Festival only to learn later that Rod Stewart will not be fronting them but Mick bloody Hucknall will, I needed some much needed GOOD ROCK news, I got it in spades tonight though with Anathema live.

Don't you just love gigs where you come out afterwards gagging to get on Amazon and buy up the complete back catalogue? Well it's happened again, this time with Liverpools finest (forget The Beatles) Anathema are one of the best 'rock' bands i've heard in ages....to call it rock or pop is to do their music a disservice, it's so much more than that, they deal in emotional atmospherics, (deep shit) not the petty, noise by numbers shite peddled by most bands, no these guys and girl are the real deal.

A quick plug for support band North Atlantic Oscillation who are getting better and better every time I see them, unfortunately tonight saw them played off the pitch by superior competition, they just weren't in the same league as the headliners, but don't let that put you off as you've only got to hear their latest album Grappling Hooks to know that they have great potential.

With the least fuss i've ever witnessed over a soundcheck (Archie Bronson Outfit take note!) Anathema plunge headlong into a ninety minute plus set, begining with the mesmeric, swirling 'Thin Air'...the opening cut on the new album, it sounds phenomenal, and it builds layer upon layer into a dizzying vortex of twisting sound...frankly i'm scared, scared that this will be the highlight and now there's nowhere left to go but disapointment street.

Thankfully I am proved totally wrong, they go on to play 'Dreaming Light' 'Angels Walk Among Us' and a cracking 'A Simple Mistake' all from 'We're Here Because We're Here' which is a great piece of work but somewhat marred by Steven Wilsons (Porcupine Tree) much too delicate production which unfortunately ironed out a lot of the dynamics inherent in these songs, but played live they take on a much more satisfying and heavier aspect.

Vincent Cavanagh is a natural front man full of confidence, bravado and charm not to mention the posessor of a mighty voice, his brother Danny is on second guitar and he proves to be a axeman of great sensitivity and subtlety....bassist Jamie Cavanagh sounds like he looks... rock solid !  Lee Douglas on occasional vocals is their secret weapon, she has the most stunning and moving singing voice best exemplified tonight on the title track from 'A Natural Disaster', when she repeatedly sings the refrain 'you slipped through my fingers' it's a spine shivering moment.

The version of 'Closer' was brilliant, starting off with Vincents urgent treated vocals then spiralling into a guitar frenzy it was beyond brilliant.  The band have announced an appearance at the second High Voltage Festival in London later in the year, i'll be there, will you?.