From: "Carsten Busch" <>
> It's nice to see that someone else considers The Gathering to be prog!
>> The Gathering - for their musical textures. Somehow they mix metal with
prog and never really settle on one or the other. Absolutely the most beautiful
female voice on CD. Haunting vocal lines over driving music creates a very deceptive
listening! There is a lot more going on than meets the ear. I've got to see
this band somehow.
Any thoughts on their latest release? "How to measure a planet" surely
isn't the easiest album...
From: "Carsten Busch" <>
> >3). Gathering, The _How To Measure A Planet_
> >Number 3) was a surprise for me as I mostly like my prog instrumental, The
Gathering is a band from Holland with a lady on voice, she sounds heavenly beatifull, so
much that this double CD has not come out of my player for the last week, of course the
mighty mellotron washes have something to do with it, I just wished it was used a bit
more.>
> I read in FILE UNDER SYMFO (Guide to Dutch Progressive Rock...) that THE GATHERING is
quite popular in Europe with album sales of well over 100,000. It says they started as a
"primitive deathmetal band" but with the addition of Anneke van Giersbergen in
1994 have evolved into a more Pink Floyd/Dead Can Dance type sound. HOW TO MEASURE A
PLANET is not reviewed in the book, but it sounds intriguing.
It took me a day longer than intended, but let me have a few word on The Gathering's
latest. First of all, please check out the review at the FUS website. Secondly, let's say
some additional words: thanks to Anneke joining the band, The Gathering have moved away
from their metal roots into a more progressive direction. "Mandylion" was also
their commercial breakthrough containing great music. The successor "Nighttime
birds" proved to be a good continuation of "Mandylion"s style although it
contained even more proggy influences (like some KC and Dead Can Dance). For "How to
measure..." The Gathering decided to take a new direction. Partly because they wanted
to experiment, partly because their second guitarist decided to call it a day (just didn't
feel like it anymore), partly because they decided to take a new producer and an entirely
different studio. Well, all this resulted in yet another step away from metal (although
there's some heavy songs) towards (prog)pop including more varied influences (modern
rhythms, psychedelic parts, improvisations). The first CD of the 2 CD set contains the
more standard work: good songs, some surprisingly 'light' (which shouldn't be taken as a
negative remark!), some with a rockier edge. The second CD contains 5 more experimental
track including 2 instrumentals (great stuff) and the really trippy titletrack, which runs
over almost 30 minutes!!! Unfortunately, this megatrack is a bit too far out for my
personal taste and runs just too long, I can only hold my attention for 12 minutes or so,
after that they swoosh away in outer space... I believe the above mentioned mellotron is
NOT present on the CD. These sounds are actually a theremin (another cult-instrument with
a terrifying great sound!). Anneke sings better than ever (well, maybe he contribution to
Ayreon's last masterpiece is just a tad better, but then...) so only her voice is worth
the purchase. Reactions in the press were divided. Some (mainly metal zines) regretted the
turn away from the band's roots. Others praised it highly being innovative and great music
(10 out of 10 points in german Rock Hard, Cd of the month in Progressive Newsletter, etc
etc). I can only recommend the CD to everyone, but please take care: you''ll need some
time to get used to it!
From: Salmacis <>
Picked up a CD from "The Gathering" today, called "Nighttime Birds" -
anyone into these guys? A wonderful sound, I think. Very different. A bit on the harder
side, with kind of metal guitar chords, but a female singer with a gorgeous voice. I am
really enjoying this one. The outer edges of prog, I guess, but still fits nicely in
my collection somewhere! :o)
From: "Robertson, Scott" <>
It just so happens that I'm listening to that CD right now! What a wonderful work of
music/voice. The release prior, Mandylion, is slightly harder than Nighttime Birds,
but just as enjoyable. I just picked up the newest from the Gathering, How to
Measure a Planet. It's a bit different...maybe even just a bit closer to real prog.
They have a new guitarist, but the sound is pretty close to the last two releases.
From: Salmacis <>
Great! I'll have to look for that one! And "How to measure a planet"... I
really dig "Nighttime Birds" - such a great mood to the album, I like the hard
guitar mixed with the keyboards and the beautiful singing. For those of you who have not
heard them, allow me to illustrate the opening track, "On Most Surfaces":
Picture the dark sound of hard guitar chords, with a sort of Mark Kelly-"Slainte
Mhath" keyboard feel, solid and melodic rock drumming and a female singer who
surpasses any of the popular female singers right now. More along the lines of the
Cranberries singer, but far superior in range and power, and without the whining.Worth
checking out!
From: "Carsten Busch" <>
Actually one of the two guitarists has left. Just a little detail. Further more check the
FUS website for a review on their new CD.