Antimatter - Alternative Matter

When I first got to listen to Antimatter back in 2002, I did so knowing that ex-Anathema members Duncan Patterson and Danny Cavanaugh (who has since, rejoined Anathema) were contributing to the project.  My first impressions of the debut album Saviour were not so favorable and I gave up on the project.  Fast forward to today, and the project has since, released quite a few albums and now has a best of album in Alternative Matter.  Times have changed, and so have my tastes, so I decided to give Antimatter another try.

As you would expect from a best of album, Antimatter has their best foot forward on this compilation.  However, where this compilation differs is that the project has many variations of songs to choose from and in this instance, there are a few songs that have more than one variation on the album such as “Flowers” and “The Art of a Soft Landing.”  As for the music of Antimatter, if the newer Anathema is your kind of music, then Antimatter is a project to look into.  More along the lines of the shoegaze subgenre that bands such as Alcest and Klimt 1918 have made recognizable, Antimatter was one of the very first groups to tap into this unusual subgenre of metal, if you even consider Antimatter metal at all.  In fact, the group is experimental in how it showcases its music and is proud of it, as evidenced by the many ways in which the songs on the compilation are presented.  Newcomers, or those who are rediscovering the band, will find much to garner from the compilation while long time Antimatter fans will find even more to garner.  In short, the listener will find something new, one way or the other.  Above everything else, however, the listener’s mood will be a major factor in determining whether the listener will get into the music.

Overall, Alternative Matter is a nice retrospective for anyone who has followed Antimatter, even offering some different views of their songs.  Obviously, if the group was never your idea of good music, then this compilation will do little to change that view.  However, the compilation is good for the many variations on the songs alone.  Bigger fans of Antimatter should seek the special edition of this compilation that features three CDs and DVD.

Release Date: November 29, 2010
Label: Prophecy Productions

TRACK LISTING

1.  Black Sun
     (Dead Can Dance Tribute)
2.  The Art of a Soft Landing
     (Acoustic, Enhanced)
3.  Far Away (live)
4.  Saviour (Reel to Reel demo)
5.  Landlocked (Mick Moss remix)
6.  In Stone (Acoustic, enhanced)
7.  Epitaph (new version)
8.  Terminal
     (Duncan Patterson remix)
9.  Mr. White (live)
10.  Flowers (new version)
11.  Expire (Lackluster remix)
12.  God is Coming
        (Duncan Patterson remix)
13.  Everything You Know is Wrong
       (acoustic, enhanced)
14.  A Portrait of the Young Man
       (enhanced)
15.  Flowers (acoustic)
16.  Holocaust (Reel to Reel demo)
17.  The Art of a Soft Landing
        (4 track demo)
18.  Expire (Atrabilis Sunrise remix)
19.  Over Your Shoulder (acoustic)
20.  Dream (4 track demo)
21.  Lost Control
        (acoustic, enhanced)
22.  Epitaph (orchestral mix)

Total playing time:  106:00

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*Comments:

Reviewer: Peter

January 3, 2011