Heave Media

Anathallo Blooms Yet Again

Another fantastic album from a reliably creative and inventive group

Anathallo

Canopy Glow

Released on Nov 18, 2008

At the end of the day, it’s all about the music. Band names, song titles, and album monikers don’t matter as long as the music inspires something in the listener, right? Unfortunately, I’ve always placed a lot of importance on those three things—judging a book by its cover is necessary when there are so many great ones to read. When you first hear about Anathallo, you’ve got to give this band credit without even hearing their dreamy melodies. Their name comes from a Greek word meaning “to refresh, renew, or bloom again.” One listen to any of their albums, and you realize it’s one of the more fitting band names out there.

Listening to Canopy Glow can be described by any number of clichés. It’s got the refreshing quality of a rain storm and the calming properties of sitting by a fireplace. However, it’s got enough creativity to make you want to go out and start your own band. This album deserves a better description than that, though. One of the best aspects of this album is their ability to shift moods from one measure to the next. The opening bells and clear vocals of “John J. Audobon” gear the listener up for an ethereal track, but within seconds, it’s brought back down to earth by stronger vocals and drums.

When it comes to more instrumental bands, the catchiness of the songs is questionable. With “Italo” though, Anathallo has crafted a catchy song that still manages to be full of the substance that they are known for. The female vocals float over the track, but also become the focus with the refrain of “when you get up, when you wake up, oh.”

It’s a fact—the use of piano on any track improves it exponentially. Add a muted trumpet and some strings, and the track becomes an outstanding one. Such is the case with “The River.” The play of intertwining male and female voices is still wonderfully present, but the focus on strings is an entirely welcome one. They evoke a classical sense that would otherwise would be missing from this song, and they serve to provide an interesting contrast to the driving percussion near the end of the track.

What makes Canopy Glow—as well as other Anathallo albums—so rewarding is the band’s integration of unconventional instruments. I say unconventional because few bands utilize strings, bells and brass in every one of their songs. This variety turns decent songs into remarkable ones that showcase the band’s immense creativity. Whether you’re a longtime fan or have never heard of them, you’ll want to make room for this stellar album.

Posted by Alyssa Vincent on Nov 26, 2008 @ 9:00 am