Band : Anta
Album Title : The Tree That Bears The Equine Fruit
Label : Own release
Distributor :
Release Date : 2011
Review : CD

Anta, no idea what the name means but it is the chosen moniker for a fresh band that features bassist Joe Garcia and drummer James King, who are members of Rose Kemp. (read review Golden Shroud 02/02/2011). I met disoriented James King at Duna Jam last year and he told me about his other band. So i am very glad to receive their debut album!

Although Anta are not yet reinventing the genre, they are moving sure-footedly in prog/post rock territory, delivering five songs in 35minutes, and that's where I would have wished for at least ten minutes more music, as this still young band already has the potential to entertain for a longer time.  The music employs a degree of subtlety that is wrapped in dramatic highs and plaintive lows giving an overall sound that, at times, sounds as if they are jamming around a repetitive lead. With its interesting contrast between fuzzed-out guitars, especially the bass, and the organs on this album (is it prog? I'm not sure...) it will appeal to many post rock/prog fans.I love the bombastic, somewhat church sounding keyboard lines on the three nine minute tracks “Abyssal ibis”, “Needling seemaw” and “Apical dominance”. The two shorter tracks “Firn” and “Abtenaur oak” havea weird drone sound that creates a bizarre, surreal atmosphere. At times Anta remind me of Guapo, although there is a less zeuhl (Univers Zero, Magma, Present) side to this UK foursome,

All taken, this is one excellent album, especially considering it's their first, giving already a more than just good look at the talents of this band, letting us hope that there will be many more releases in the future. Fans of Soft Machine, King Crimson, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Isis and Guapo will most certainly enjoy this one.

85/100

Cosmicmasseur.