I was introduced to Anathema a few years back with their 2001 album Fine Day To Exit. Then I purchased their next album, Natural Disaster (2004). I’m not too familiar with their earlier work so when the DVD, A Moment In Time, was released I was thrilled to see them in a live setting.

In research I found that about half the tracks on A Moment in Time were included on the previous DVD, Were You There. I haven’t seen that one so I can’t make a comparison but if you like how some recent bands add a symphonic touch, then watching the band with the Bacchus String Quartet adds an added dimension to their music.

Anathema covers two songs on the DVD: Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" and Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross.” The version of “Comfortably Numb” remains faithful to the original but the band puts their own stamp on it. I haven’t heard the Fleetwood Mac song but the version Anathema does is quite enjoyable.

There’s a special edition of this release which offers a CD of this concert. If you are new to Anathema or a long time fan, this is a great addition to your music collection. For new fans, this would be an excellent starting point – highly recommended!

Originally published at Prognaut.com

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2010  Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.