Anekdoten

Anekdoten resolves one of art-rock’s most tantalizing hypotheticals by imagining how King Crimson might have continued if the band had not dissolved in the mid-seventies. The group’s close resemblance to the Red-era lineup is unsurprising, given that its members first came together as a tribute act. Viola, distorted Rickenbacker bass, highly pitched drums, Frippy guitar, and mellotron recreate that period’s distinctive palette, while the smoky English vocals heighten the period authenticity. It remains striking, therefore, that the musicians actually emerged from 1990s Sweden. In the town of Borlänge that year, bassist and vocalist Jan Erik Liljestrom joined guitarist and keyboardist Nicklas Berg and drummer Peter Nordin to perform Crimson staples such as “Cirkus,” “Mars,” and “Starless.” Cellist Anna Sofi Dahlberg, whose background spans folk and classical traditions, entered the lineup the following year. The quartet self-released its debut album, Vemod, in 1993; the initial pressing vanished within a month and drew positive notices. While the King Crimson lineage stood out immediately, critics also detected affinities with Anglagard, Ruins, Il Balleto di Bronzo, and Magma. Electric piano, mellotron, and melancholy lead vocals simultaneously allow the band to recall late-model Radiohead. Following European and American tours in 1994, the musicians issued their second album, Nucleus, in 1995. Although the record has encountered resistance in the United States, its overall caliber has reinforced the group’s standing within progressive-rock circles, where a modest yet loyal audience continues to support it.