Way back in 1992, I heard Paradise Lost for the first time. As any music geek would do, I set off trying to find bands like them. I got a few. One was My Dying Bride, who are still making icy blasts of doom, the other wasn’t from West Yorkshire, but across The Pennines in Liverpool.
Over the years, loving Anathema was great because by the time I’d discovered prog, they were a prog band (and a phenomenal live one at that).
Anyway, fast forward a few years and their frontman, Vinny Cavanagh, is back with The Radicant.
Now (for this bit I’m indebted to the press pack that came with the EP), Radicant is an organism that forms its roots as it advances, which I wouldn’t normally care less about that, but the roots of this band can surely be traced to what Cavanagh has been doing since Anathema ended.
Long story short, he collaborates with artists to make audio visuals (amongst many other things) and “We Ascend” feels like an extension of that.
I’ll be honest at this point: I put this on because I am a huge fan of Cavanagh, and my first reaction was, “What the hell is this?”
But you persevere, don’t you? And my goodness, when this gets in—and to use another botanical term—almost by osmosis, it is astonishingly compelling.
And the reason is right there in the opener.
““We Ascend.” It is not merely a song; it is a piece of art, a soundscape. The unmistakable voice of Cavanagh resonates throughout, complemented by the lush harmonies that are used so well throughout, all set against a sparse background that lets each element breathe.
“Zero Blue” ventures into the outer edges of this new universe. Trip-hop drums, pulsing electronics, and hypnotic looping vocals create a track that feels both expansive and intimate.
“Anchor” floats in a maelstrom, seemingly anchored nowhere, embodying the “anything goes” spirit of the album. It’s a track that defies conventional structure, embracing fluidity and unpredictability.
“Wilde Steppe” is perhaps the finest example of their approach. The stunning vocals and gentle, ambient arrangements are sophisticated and evocative, making it a standout piece.
“Stowaway” builds with lush pianos, drawing listeners in with a gradual crescendo that becomes irresistible by the end.
It’s a world away from Anathema’s beginnings, but oddly not completely out of the realm of their endings, but in a way, “We Ascend” merely transcends.
It needs time, but it’s time that rewards superbly.
Rating: 9/10
