Album Review: Anyone - Echoes Of Man
Reviewed by Tim Finch
For those not familiar with Anyone, they are a progressive outfit that surfaced in the greater public eye back in 2001 when their self-titled debut was released via Roadrunner Records. However, their backstory goes even further to their original line up when the band was named Blash Meth and included Taylor Hawkins (later of the Foo Fighters) and Jon Davison (Yes). That’s quite the impressive starting point.
Whilst the band were described as “the most innovative band of the new millennium” back around their debut, they quietly slipped away and you could be forgiven for missing out on them completely. Only to re-emerge in 2014 and have since had a string of new releases leading to this point, where the double concept album ‘Echoes of Man’ is set to be revealed.
As the album starts the lead character is awoken by ‘Eve’ an AI assistant who features throughout the storyline. The throb of a bass and a hypnotic drum beat then takes us into ‘If Your World Should Fall’ the expansive sixteen minute introduction to the story itself.
Band mastermind Riz Story has created not only a story, but a world where this album exists with the main character - Archon - seeing out the last days of life on earth accompanied by the aforementioned Eve.
The use of keys intertwined with guitars works magically to help paint the picture of this tale. Riz’ storytelling unique yet impressive; letting the album soak in will allow the listener to be taken away to this world as the lyrics paint a picture in your mind.
Musically throughout the album the changes in tempo work to heighten the tension of the story, and just when the story line needs little push Eve pops up to help it along, not an interruption to the music but more cinematically edited sequences the slot perfectly in.
Potentially one of the best progressive albums of the last ten years, Anyone’s double album ‘Echoes of Man’ not only lives up to its billing musically but Riz’s imagination elevates the whole package to a full blown cinematic experience. Anyone is a modern day Rush in the making.
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