I remember being not too impressed with If_Then_Else when I first heard it back in 2000. After their wildly successful (both musically and commercially) albums Mandylion and Nighttime Birds, The Gathering certainly hinted that they were on the verge of starting a new chapter in their career, which was signalled with the release of How to Measure a Planet.
If_Then_Else came across as a confusing album at first, but each passing year has attested to the depth and richness it actually has to offer. This might quite possibly one of their most mature and melodically powerful releases in their history. The songs are captured with deep wall-of-sound production that recalls Radiohead's OK Computer. Anneke van Giersbergen's beautiful and irresistible voice is delicately doubled in some pieces, such as the poignant "Rollercoaster", a song with thick guitar textures and slightly electronic keyboards. Anneke's voice comes at you from all different directions, overlapping and harmonising with itself and creating a dreamy atmosphere. The same technique is utilised on the minimalist "Analog Park"; clever doubling is added to the piano-driven piece to help build sections amidst throbbing bass and guitar feedback. It took me several years to see how complex some of these songs actually are -- far more complex and thought-out than the albums preceding it (speaking of this, you must give Souvenirs another careful listen if you thought it wasn't as strong as their mid-90's stuff). The band explores the parameters of post-rock combined with exceptional vocals and acoustic guitars on "Bad Movie Scene" and the more sampled, somewhat industrial "Herbal Movement", where waves of distorted synth sounds marry soaring vocals and serene atmospheres.
"Shot to Pieces" and "Colorado Incident" are more upbeat tracks with heavier rhythm guitars playing a bigger role. The string arrangements and lush organ sounds serve to thicken the infinitely layered soundscapes, while "Saturnine" is the ear-candy pop lament where Anneke's voice is worth dying for. Actually her control and pitch on this album quite possibly surpass anything she did before, if listened with an open mind. Another incredible tune is "Amity", highlighted by great percussion work, intense synth blanketing, sad violin melodies, and deep, Ulverian guitars. The band's short instrumental piece "Beautiful War" is a hybrid of rocking guitar and bass, cello, trombon, and French horn. How all these instruments come together and form such a cohesive piece in only 2:31 is beyond me.
Zlaya Hadzich deserves a medal for his production on this disc. I've always been fond of the sonic quality of The Gathering's music, but Hadzich truly outdid himself with If_Then_Else reaching his peak with the much overlooked Souvenirs. Not only did he help The Gathering find their new, fresh sound, but he also rendered the songs impeccably transparent and fluid during the recording process.
At any rate, this is very highly recommended and one of their most rewarding albums in the long run.
Track Listing
- Rollercoaster
- Shot to Pieces
- Amity
- Bad Movie Scene
- Colorado Incident
- Beautiful War
- Analog Park
- Herbal Movement
- Saturnine
- Morphia's Waltz
- Pathfinder
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