ANEKDOTEN - Chapters (2009) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It isn't hard to understand why some goth rock, darkwave, and gothic metal fans have been drawn to Anekdoten. Their music isn't goth rock, darkwave, or gothic metal; they are a progressive rock/art rock band that has strong '70s leanings and has been greatly influenced by King Crimson (with hints of Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull). But because their material tends to be melancholy, dark, and gloomy, some goth rock and darkwave enthusiasts have embraced them. And while Anekdoten's work has never been groundbreaking, much of it has been of a high quality. That high quality is evident on Chapters, a two-CD anthology that was assembled in 2009. Chapters ranges from previously released recordings from the '90s and 2000s to some previously unreleased rarities, including an alternate mix of "Sad Rain" and demos of "Book of Hours," "Prince of the Ocean," "This Is Far from the Sky," "Thirty Pieces," and "Nucleus." Because all those rarities are included, Chapters isn't really a best-of and isn't recommended to casual listeners; a true best-of would take more of an "Introductory Anekdoten 101" approach. But for someone who has more than a casual interest in the Swedish prog rockers/art rockers, Chapters is an enjoyable listen -- enjoyable because of the rarities, and enjoyable because of previously released tracks such as "A Sky About to Rain" and "Every Step I Take" from 2007's A Time of Day, "The War Is Over" from 2003's Gravity, "Wheel" from 1993's Vemod, and the title track of 1999's From Within. Anekdoten have always been derivative, but they're pleasingly derivative -- and the Swedes' strong sense of musical craftsmanship is evident throughout this two-disc collection. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1-1    Ricochet 5:45
Drums, Percussion – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Nicklas Barker
Mellotron, Organ [Farfisa] – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
1-2    The Great Unknown 6:22
Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Drums, Percussion – Peter Nordins
Flute – Gunnar Bergsten
Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Vocals, Electric Guitar [6-String Electric Guitar], Twelve-String Guitar [12-String Electric Guitar], Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron – Nicklas Barker
1-3    From Within 7:25
Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Drums, Percussion, Vibraphone – Peter Nordins
Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Producer, Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Mellotron – Nicklas Barker
1-4    In For A Ride 6:47
Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Drums, Percussion, Vibraphone – Peter Nordins
Mellotron, Organ [Hammond], Synthesizer [Moog], Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Nicklas Barker
1-5    The War Is Over 4:39
Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Drums, Congas, Percussion, Mellotron – Peter Nordins
Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Nicklas Barker
1-6    Monolith 6:08
Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Drums, Percussion, Vibraphone – Peter Nordins
Mellotron, Organ [Farfisa] – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Nicklas Barker
1-7    A Sky About To Rain 6:30
Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Drums, Percussion, Vibraphone – Peter Nordins
Mellotron, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Organ, Synthesizer [Moog] – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron – Nicklas Barker
1-8    Every Step I Take 3:07
Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Drums, Percussion, Vibraphone – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron – Nicklas Barker
Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Producer – Anekdoten
1-9    Groundbound 5:23
Drums – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar – Nicklas Barker
Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Producer, Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
1-10    Gravity 8:23
Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Drums, Vibraphone – Peter Nordins
Mellotron, Organ [Farfisa] – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Simon Nordberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer [Moog] – Nicklas Barker
1-11    When I Turn 3:43
Mixed By – Hans Fredriksson
Piano – Per Wiberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Vibraphone, Xylophone – Peter Nordins
Vocals, Mellotron, Organ [Pumporgan] – Nicklas Barker
2-1    Sad Rain 10:16
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar [6-String Electric Guitar], Twelve-String Guitar [12-String Electric Guitar], Mellotron – Nicklas Barker
Drums, Percussion – Peter Nordins
Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Producer, Mixed By – Tommy Andersson
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
2-2    Wheel 7:54
Drums, Percussion – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Mellotron – Nicklas Barker
Flugelhorn, Cornet – Pär Ekström
Piano – Per Wiberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Producer, Mixed By – Roger Skogh, Simon Nordberg
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
Vocals, Cello – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
2-3    The Old Man & The Sea 7:52
Cello, Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Drums, Percussion – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Mellotron – Nicklas Barker
Piano – Per Wiberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Producer, Mixed By – Roger Skogh, Simon Nordberg
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
2-4    Nucleus (Demo) 5:46
Cello, Mellotron, Vocals – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Drums – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Mellotron, Clavinet – Nicklas Barker
Producer – Anekdoten
Producer, Mixed By – Tommy Andersson
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
2-5    Book Of Hours (Demo) 9:36
Drums – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Mellotron, Vocals – Nicklas Barker
Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Producer, Mixed By – Tommy Andersson
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
2-6    This Far From The Sky (Demo) 9:17
Drums – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Mellotron, Clavinet – Nicklas Barker
Mellotron – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Producer – Anekdoten
Producer, Mixed By – Tommy Andersson
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
2-7    30 Pieces (Demo) 6:58
Drums, Percussion – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron, Bass – Nicklas Barker
Mellotron, Organ – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Hans Fredriksson
Producer, Mixed By – Anekdoten
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström
2-8    Prince Of The Ocean (Demo) 5:41
Drums – Peter Nordins
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron, Vocals – Nicklas Barker
Mellotron, Synthesizer [Moog], Vocals – Anna Sofi Dahlberg
Mixed By – Hans Fredriksson
Producer, Mixed By – Anekdoten
Vocals, Bass – Jan Erik Liljeström