Looper Levin

[patrick@his.com (Patrick Smith)]

Hey Loop Heads,

One of us got a break this past weekend. That other stick player also named
Levin, namely our very own Adam Levin. The following review was in the
weekend section of the Washington Post.

ANEKDOTEN: "Live"; Jasrac
THE DARK AETHER PROJECT: "The Dark Aether Project"; DAP

By Mark Jenkins

Friday, July 3, 1998; Page N22

Many contemporary offspring of the '70s prog-rock movement have moved in
the direction of jazz or electronica, but Anekdoten keeps the faith. The 
four
five-to-eight-minute pieces on the Swedish quartet's "Live" have their
abstract and even ambient moments, but they also feature vocals, 
classically
derived embellishments and driving hard-rock passages, all characteristics 
of
prog's glory days. It's hardly surprising to learn that the band's 
repertoire
includes "Larks' Tongues in Aspic II," which dates from King Crimson's 
first
reign.

Niklas Berg is credited with clarinet, organ and mellotron, but it's his
guitar that dominates such tracks as "Nucleus" and "Karelia," which recall
the days when prog and metal were cousins. "A Way of Life" is more
delicate, highlighting Anna Sofi Dahlberg's cello at first, but Berg's
guitar eventually comes to the fore. These pieces aren't songs exactly,
but their more assertive passages wouldn't surprise Led Zeppelin fans.

The Dark Aether Project also recalls King Crimson, but sounds more like the
stripped-down '80s edition of that band. This Baltimore trio's self-titled,
seven-track disc features only guitar, drums and "stick," although guest
vocalist Jason Wilson appears on three tracks, including a slightly
melodramatic acoustic-guitar ballad, "Bitter Harvest." Guitarist Yaman Aksu
has a jaunty, percussive style that recalls Crimson's Robert Fripp; his 
playing
gives such pieces as the aptly titled "Drive Time" an easygoing propulsion.

Both appearing Thursday at Phantasmagoria. To hear a free Sound Bite from
Anekdoten, call Post-Haste at 202/334-9000 and press 8122. For a Sound
Bite from the Dark Aether Project, press 8123. (Prince William residents, 
call
690-4110.)

         © Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company


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