Anathallo - Floating World (2006)

[DudeAsInCool]

Anathallo is an eclectic eight-piece pop band from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and The Floating World represents their most ambitious effort to date. The Floating World is operatic in scope, the highlight of which is a 4 song masterpiece devoted to the retelling of a a Japanese folk tale, "Hanasakajijii". They remind me of sort of a cross between Yes and Sigur Ros, but their sound is definitely uniquely their own, and features an interesting blend of trombones, trumpets, xylophones, various forms of percussion, and sophisticated vocal harmonies. Anathallo won't be for everyone, but at the very least, give these cuts a listen: Hanasakajijii (four: a great wind, more ash) & Hanasakajijii (one: an angry neighbor) - you won't be disappointed.

Incidentally, Pitchfork gave this album a 2.7 - which is more than I would give their reviewer.

1. Ame

2. Gennesarat (going out over 30,000 fathoms of water)

3. Hoodwink

4. By Number

5. Dokkoise House

6. Hanasakajijii (four: a great wind, more ash)

7. Hanasakajijii (one: an angry neighbor)

8. Inu (howling)

9. Hanasakajijii (two: floating world)

10. The Bruised Reed

11. Yuki! Yuki! Yuki!

12. Hanasakajijii (three: the man who made dead trees bloom)

13. Cuckoo Spitting Blood

14. Kasa no Hone

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