Anathema
with Danny Cavanagh on Dec 09, 2003


Your new album A Natural Disaster is out now. First of all, compliments. How difficult was it to fulfill the level of quality you achieved during the years, with A Nice Day To Exit as a high point?
Hello there. I guess the new album is a bit like a side step and a step forwards at the same time. It was made as a catharsis for me to get things out of my system, in order that I could move on, musically and personally. I think there are some fresh ideas on it, and although on the whole maybe it could have been better, its pretty good and I think the songs are working out well in concert. We have a lot of other songs waiting to go and look forward to doing another album pretty soon

I am what you could call a "new" fan. "A Fine Day To Exit" completely blew me away. It took me however a lot of effort to "understand" A Natural Disaster.

I am now on key with the album and I must say it touched me deeply. Does your work challenge you likewise, both in listening as in playing?
This album takes a while to get into, it`s a bit like film music I guess. There is no instant hit and no obvious single on it. This album is darker than recent ones and reflects certain atmospheres quite well. It is a challenge to become a better songwriter and I still have a long way to go...as we all do I guess. That`s my biggest challenge at the moment. That, and trying to live and be well.

  I read that Danny went through a lot of personal stuff prior to writing the album. How difficult would it be for Anathema to write songs if everything was peachy and blissful?
I can`t even imagine it...I suppose the best stuff comes from "The Other Side" and the other side can sometimes be a dark place. I think Beethoven was not very happy but he wrote the Moonlight Sonata so who`s arguing?


Your drummer’s sister sings the title track, a stunning song. Will she join you live and more important could female vocals be an asset to your sound in the future?
Yes and yes. Very easy to work with and a great singer. she is "one of us" you might say. It`s a good thing to have a female singer to help broaden the sound, we have always done this even on our very first EP. Lee is basically as good a singer as Vinny and 3 part harmonies between us could be great.

There are less rock elements on A Natural Disaster and more ‘soundtrack’ type elements. Overall the album stands out, feels different in some ways. The rock fan in me fears the dissapearence of guitar distortion in Anathema.

Should I worry and more important, can we still call you a ‘rock band’?
Oh definitely a rock band. Anyway, most distorted riffs have been done before. I write a lot on acoustic guitar and keyboards these days, as does John too. It`s just how we feel. we still like rocking out though. This album could have been softer you know! there will always be guitars in Anathema but we`d like to look at new ways to approach them.need to push back the boundaries if we can.

  Less rock or not, after listening to A Natural Disaster it feels as if Anathema have reached a destination. This is the sound, the atmosphere, the place the band is at its best. Do you agree or do you still see ways to travel into musically?
I definitely see the future as being better, more versatile music... I certainly do not think we have reached our peak yet and do not look forward to the day we do because we will have to quit afterwards...

  You produced the album yourselves. Personally I think it sounds a bit more raw than for instance A Fine Day: an album more polished. Is there anything you would do differently next time?
Oh yes, lots of things and hopefully on the next album you will be able to hear what we have changed for the better. I will certainly be more of a team player next time...

  The sound on A Natural Disaster is more direct, there are less studio tricks and effects on the songs. The songs are however less direct, less verse chorus verse.


"A Fine Day ..." was overcooked


 Is this because you felt the songs didn’t need to be fancied up or do you also feel that the fans are ready for the next step in Anathema’s evolution?
I just thought simplicity might be the best approach. "A Fine Day ..." was overcooked in my opinion, although its a long time since I heard the original mixes before the remix. I wanted this one to be the kind of thing where every element of the music is there for a reason and is audible. Maybe as a result, this album might be slightly `undercooked` but it`s done now so fuck it. The songs will be better live anyway.

  Where would you position Anathema in the broad music spectrum of today?
On its own in the corner of a field drinking scrumpy jack cider and shouting abuse at the cows.

  Does your record company support Anathema enough? With fans as devote as yours, do you actually need a record company?
MFN try their best with Anathema I would say. They have supported us a lot. I guess they can`t do things that EMI could do but I doubt we would be better off on a major label anyway. Some of the staff at MFN are decent folk and are honest with us.

  Any tour plans in the near future? Shows in Holland?
Yeah we start a tour at the last week of January and goes to 013, Tilburg and maybe somewhere else. I may be doing free gigs in pubs over Christmas also! Ozzy, Apeldoorn and maybe Altstadt, Eindhoven if I can get it. That will be between X-mas and New Year.

  Thanks for the interview. Any last words you would like to share?
Thanks and best wishes to our Dutch mates. I love the place and look forward to going back there soon!

(Marc Lochs)

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