Album Review: Anchor & Burden – Sunken Fleet
Reviewed by Matthew Williams
There are moments in time that will always stay with me, like being at Wembley in 1988 to see Liverpool lose to Wimbledon, being at the NEC in Birmingham in 1990 for Clash of the Titans, and many other momentous occasions, but from this moment on, I shall always remember listening to Anchor & Burden for the first time.
I’ve written many times, that we are lucky to get access to so much music, and the variety of different genres, that it seems rude not to push myself into different realms, and “Sunken Fleet” has taken my new experiences up not only one, but several levels. Anchor & Burden play what is described as “progressive avant-garde doom-jazz post rock” which is quite something, but the truth is that it is this and so, so, so much more.
Upon listening to the 5 songs, which begin with “Sunken Caravan” it feels almost as if they are sprinkling the air with random sounds and noises to see what sticks together and then placing it all together, but the results are quite astonishing. It appears to be complex and all over the place, but the time and effort it must take to compose pieces like this is incredible. The intricacies of the music and the way it expands your mind will keep you awake for hours.
In Markus Reuter and Alexander Dowerk, they have two guitarists who want to blow your mind with their compositions, as they create moods and tensions unlike others. With Bernhard Wostheinrich adding his keyboard and sci fi/space synth wizardry to the canvas, the music goes beyond this universe and will travel beyond the outer rim. “Dagger Dances” is an extraordinary piece of artistry, that I’ve listened to several times, and still struggle to find words that do it justice.
Then there’s the more sinister feeling of “Abandoned Vessel” where you can hear the punchy and more dynamic rhythms emanating from the hands of drummer Asif Sirkis. It’s intertwined with the other instruments to create an eerie and spooky arrangement that lingers long in your mind. I sense that the jazz style drums lead this configuration, and the other musicians are working around it, but each time, I hear something different, and my mind goes off on another tangent.
And all this has happened before you get to the monster of a song that is “Floating Wreckage”. You’ll need to sit down when you listen to this one, and just concentrate, as it is quite spectacular. The hypnotic music moves like waves crashing against the sand as the quartet immerse you into their dark, mysterious world. The final song, “Pendulum”, is another where you’ll need several listens to understand the complexity, as the music leads you down several paths, with many twists and turns. The scintillating soundscapes, shine and dazzle throughout, and if you survive this album, then I applaud you, as we should all applaud Anchor & Burden for this compelling and intriguing album.
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