Press Reviews and Interviews
MUEN Magazine Interview; July 2008
Analog Missionary is a band brimming with talent and I feel honored to have the chance to interview such an interesting band who are not afraid to experiment with different sounds and put everything they have into each and every song they've created. ~Cerys (READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW HERE)
Prog Archives,com Review by Uwe Zickel (07/08)
Review: Transmitter
Here we have the debut of an Alabama based band which has a lot to offer. First of all female vocalist Anstrom is to mention, not only an eye catcher but also provided with a sensitive and emotional voice which remembers me at Kate Bush sometimes. Her abilities are rounded up with the use of the mysterious theremin and belly dancing (mainly interesting for the live performances of course). Tony Novak plays the conventional bass instrument but is also a master of the chapman stick and Kevin Kaiser knows to handle such an atypical guitar like the banjitar.
So it's not a problem to realize that this band is influenced by diverse music styles. Besides the regular rocking elements their songs are combined with some trip hop, ambient and even a lot of psychedelic guitar contributions. The video version of the opener Lilith reaped an award in 2003. Four minutes in a trippy mood with adept bass and interesting electronic drum work - excellent one!
The following songs are solid, headed by Anstrom's vocals - somewhat balladesque and floating with ambient key patterns in the background similar to the band 'All About Eve' but also equipped with heavier moments. The long track Dirty Road is outstanding offering a complex well-performing structure, provided with some kind of magical vocals plus jamming moments and convincing guitar work - definetely another album highlight for me. The melancholic Signals is opening the album showdown, immediately followed by the heavy rocking killer song Transmitter with an excellent drive, a memorable refrain and a psychedelic touch once more brought up by Kevin Kaiser's guitar.
A good listenable album in the whole and I recommend to check it out ...
Lagniappe Magazine, July 29 2008
Positioned to please
Analog Missionary remains one of the area’s most enigmatic and eclectic musical groups. Their brand of “art-rock” has amazed audiences across the nation, and they continue to tour and record in the process.
As far as their live performance, the members of Analog have made a habit out of trying to make each show special. From Anstrom’s belly-dancing to the addition of instruments such as the Theremin and the Chapman’s Stick, each performance is truly a unique experience.
And now they are taking it to a whole new level
With their upcoming performance in Ocean Springs, Analog plans on immersing their audience in art. As the crowds enter the theater, various artists from sculptors to painters will be creating and displaying art associated with the show. Not only will they bombard the audience with multimedia, but Analog is also planning to perform several numbers with a Middle Eastern theme as Anstrom dances.
COAST OBSERVER MAGAZINE, october 2007
Nominated for Favorite Local Band; Alternative and Rock categories:
Analog Missionary- now here is a band without fear. Not only do they create dark, melodic songs with a trance that would make Dracula blush; their fans are some of the most devoted. I have never met a fair-weather AM fan. It shouldn't be a surprise that the foursome has a huge following, but are they of the undead? Analog Missionary is playing the Anne Rice Ball @ the Howling Wolf in NOLA. The band is not letting up. A music video was recently released you can view online.
MUSIC
STREET JOURNAL, JULY '06
Without question this music nearly completely defies categorization. I suppose
you could say that it's alternative rock, but that's such an overused label.
This music does challenge all limits and create purely unique soundscapes.
This is one of the criteria for progressive rock. Whatever your personal views
on the issue, if you want to hear a band that is very different from other
groups, but still quite accessible, you need to check out Analog Missionary.
to read the reviews, you may have to go to the main page first, then to 'current issue', then to 'New Progressive Rock Reviews.' Something to do with the page coding~
read the full track-by-track TRANSMITTER REVIEW here
read the full track-by-track VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER REVIEW here
www.blackangelpromotions.com, reviewd by Boris April '06
Analog Missionary is a group with an easy to swallow sound. Easy going, lazy, pretty, atmospheric, and good! Think of a nice mix between Morrissey, The Cranberries, and Mazzy Star.....complete with a female vocal. The band sites influences such as Rush, Yes, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, and the Police to name a few. And Transmitter is every bit as well rounded as their list of influences.
Vocalist, Anstrom, has a great voice that she multi-layers here and there at times, and other times leaves it right out front, all alone. Kevin Kaiser takes care of the guitar work, which is very good. The type of playing the Johnny Marr or Robert Smith would be proud of. And if you don't know who THEY are, then stop reading this right now!!!! Tony Novak offers bass and keyboard and does it well. This is the type of band where there isn't an over-saturation of anything. Everything is perfectly written, mixed, and played off of each other. These guys (and one girl) got the formula right.
Transmitter is a subtle, at times lazy, experience. And a good one at that. Like laying under a tree on a warm breezy day with not a care in the world. This album plays through in a non-offensive, non-intrusive manner. It aims to please with a beautiful production, mix, and nice packaging. This is no surpise coming from a group with a busy work schedule.
Transmitter was released in 2002 and followed in 2003 with Voyage Of The Demeter and the DVD release of Lilith. They have won awards for best music video, been on a few television shows, numerous tv broadcasts, and recorded and performed a live soundtrack to the silent film Nosferatu. 2006 finds them touring with Dramarama and currently working on their next release. Whew!
Analog Missionary's "Transmitter" is recieved loud and clear! Great music, great musicians! Pick it up, folks.
THE
INDIE REVIEW MAGAZINE - APRIL/MAY 2006
The sometimes otherworldly, sometimes hard-hitting quartet is chock-full of
talent, both in the knowledge of their specific roles, as well as their sense
of arrangement and songwriting. Welcome to the Indie A-List, lady and gentlemen...
read the full article here
timesPICKS:
March 28-April 4
Our
choices of the best of this week's entertainment;
Club Sin has made it's one-year mark. Complicating matters is its direction -- in the land of Cajun and zydeco and radio friendly rock, Sin books underground rock to metal bands. Analog Missionary returns to the club with a CD release party for 61 Cygni. The signal broadcast from Analog Missionary is of ambient rock with new prog leanings and a head for effects. At the helm is Anstrom, a belly-dancing girl with the voice of Tori Amos that blends well into the atmosphere they create.
the Mausoleum (interview (in Portuguese!)) March '06
Apresentamos agora uma entrevista com a banda Analog Missionarie com sólidas inflluências de Ethno e Ethereal e que de certo há de agradar fãs de Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, Siouxsie, Tori Amos...
read it in English (sort of) here...
the edge magazine, Austin TX, feb '06
The progressive multi-layered ambient progart rockers Analog Missionary are touring with Dramarama. Led by a female vocalist whose voice is said to melt polar ice caps, this avant-garde collective of progressive rock virtuosos include middle-eastern music and belly dancing in their show.
INsite Magazine, Austin TX; feb '06
Since the self-release of their debut album Transmitter, Analog Missionary has been on a mission to move listeners with a sound that has not been easy to categorize or define by fans and critics alike. The quartet produces a sound reminiscent of Pink Floyd, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Kate Bush, and U2. If this description has moved you so far, the music itself may have a similar effect.
the Vermillion, Author: Rachel Worthy, Music Critic 02/07/06
Analog Missionary is like no band you've ever seen in Lafayette-or Club Sin for that matter – say goodbye to screamo and hello to orchestral/progressive rock that doesn't blow your eardrums but blows your mind with music rich in substance, complete with belly dancing to keep all of your senses alive. click here for the rest
GLASSWERK.CO.UK REVIEWS
THE DOMINANT ALLELE MAGAZINE
Gothic
Beauty Magazine, Issue 18, Fall 2005
When
you first hear Analog Missionary, take note, you are NOT listening to Kate Bush
on the lead vocal track. In a genre all their own (ambient Prog-Rock),
this band has pieces of U2, Rush, Peter Gabriel, and Kate Bush written all over
them. It’s one of the best albums I’ve heard in a long, long time.
The pieces are so brilliant and diverse there is something for absolutely everyone.
It only took one pass through the album to make me an instant fan, and it will
probably be the same for you. Check them out. (Poseidon)
My Analog Missionary position.
Candy- DJ, TK101; 101.5 fm, Pensacola FL.
I finally saw them live. The "them" in question is
Analog Missionary and I've heard about them for years.
Quick back story: all of my friends like them.
All of my friends have varied musical tastes. Literally - my friends taste run the gamut of preferred musical stylings. BUT they all love Analog Missionary. After Saturday night, I can see why.
Analog Missionary is a female fronted progressive rock foursome with a side of middle eastern flair and very eclectic.
That's a horribly literal description - but they're hard to describe. The band is made up of really good musicians. Really good musicians - like Primus, Tool, and Rush. Musicians that make it look effortless, but not to the point where you think they're showing off like Tool, Rush and Primus. And just for the record: I like Tool, Rush and Primus.
Also - just for the record I don't like Tori Amos - but I love Analog Missionary - and the lead singer's vocals may remind you of her at times, but it's different. Everything is different with Analog. They are ethereal in every sense of the word. Seeing them will make you wish you never used the word transcindiary before - so you can solely use that word to describe their performance.
The drummer is an amazing percussionist. Face it: with drummers, local and regional: there's good and there's Neil-Peart-good. This guy is Neil-Peart-good and from here on out, Mark will always make my Top-10 lists of drummers alongside Neil Peart, Danny Carey and Bill Bruford.
The guitarist is also amazing. I hate using the word 'amazing' to describe these musicians - because our language has dulled the description by over use. The literal definition is to astound and cause awe and wonder - and that's exactly what happens while watching Kevin play. I can easily say that he is one of the best guitarists I've ever seen live - and those are big words coming from me - I've seen hundreds of shows.
The bassist/guitarist is in a class by himself - he plays a bass and a Chapman Stick, which I've never seen before. While watching them perform Saturday, we were trying to figure out what it was. To the best of my knowledge - it's a bass and a guitar without a body - it looks like a standup fret board. Whatever it is, Tony plays it well. He also plays a bass ... and keyboards ... and foot keyboards (I think) - the guy is a one man band - and by band, I mean like a one-man King Crimson. He, again, like his fellow band mates, will astound you at how (here we go) amazing he is.
The vocalist is one I never would have paired with this power trio. In my head, it doesn't make sense that a sweet girl - who could pass for Sissy Spacek's daughter - could front a band made of progressive rock virtuosos. That is to say, until I saw it - and heard it - for myself. Her voice could melt the ice caps - it's beautiful in every sense of the word. BUT she has more than one voice. I was at first reminded of the Diva Plavalaguna on the Fifth Element.
Anstrom's voice flirts with opera on one tune and then slides in to these transcendental, perfect tones that grab you and hold your attention - marinating your head and body and soul to the point where you just wish she'd start a religion, so that you could worship her and not have it be weird ... and then: surprise - she starts dancing. She moves with the music and it's hypnotic..again. She stops to sing again and then plays the theremin - and she does that beautifully. I would have never thought that I could use the phrase "with grace" referring to a theremin player, but she does. And her voice blends beautiful with every note coming from every musician in the band. I truly think that Analog Missionary is the reason cavemen began searching for sounds with wood and animal hide. Seeing them live is an ear (and eye) opening experience.
Everyone uses the word 'eclectic' to describe them - because they draw from so many sources and influences. I agree - they have their own sound - even when it comes to covers. Saturday night, they played The National Anthem by Radiohead, I am the Walrus by the Beatles and No Quarter by Zeppelin/Tool - all - and I stand by this statement - better than Radiohead, the Beatles and Zeppelin/Tool. In my mind - this wouldn't have worked with a female.
Trust me: it worked and it worked well.
For once, all of my friends were right about one thing at the same time - which has never happened before.
I should have known that any band that would rent out a venue to score "Nosferatu" would be the band to listen to and they are.
This is their myspace page - http://www.myspace.com/analogmissionary please add them and feel free to fall in love with them like I did. I'm actually secure enough to share my crush.
For
now. Candy
INDEPENDANT
NEWS, PENSACOLA, FL
FRIDAY 5.20
Best band in town?ANALOG MISSIONARY One of the region's most original and impressive
bands, they play what they describe as "progressive/ambient/art-rock." AM plays
a complex layer of sounds that can sound fragile or ferocious. The Mobile-area
rock band includes, Anstrom (vocals/Theremin), who besides her sultry vocals
is likely to belly dance, Tony Novak (bass/Chapman Stick/keyboards), Kevin Kaiser
(guitars), and the Mark (drums/percussion). Among the group's many accomplishments
is creating an original score for the classic vampire movie, "Nosferatu." Analog
Missionary debuted in 2002 with the album, "Transmitter," and followed with
2003's "Voyage of the Demeter," which contains songs from "Nosferatu." Currently
in the works is a DVD, "Live in 2005." Forget those mainstream hacks at SpringFest.
Don't miss AM.
Transmitter
Blurring
the lines between Tori Amos, Kate Bush, The Sundays, and U2, Analog Missionary's
Transmitter offers sprawling, intricate rock with moody, intimate lulls and
anthemic rock highs. Marked by immaculate and impressive musicianship, the
album is a beautifully produced slice of rock that revels in intricacy. There's
almost always something going on that will likely catch your attention, whether
it be a well fleshed out bass line, an interesting lead guitar accent, or
a spectacular drum fill. Yet, the music highlights and incorporates each musician's
talents, from the sometimes Tori Amos-esque timbre and breathy delivery of
vocalist Anstrom to the powerful, seemingly U2-influenced guitar work of Kevin
Kaiser, without becoming a showcase of sorts.
The entire album is simply amazing...consistently good enough, in fact, that
it's actually fairly difficult to highlight specific tracks. Still, "Chaser"
and "Dirty Road" probably prove to be the standouts of the album's first half,
albeit by a fairly narrow margin. The latter is a spectacular 9-minute moody
rock epic with a killer chorus that later explodes into an amazing all-out
rhythmic jam, while the former is an emotional, powerful rock number with
another great anthemic chorus and a killer guitar solo. Of the disc's second
half, the lovely-albeit-more-formulaic ballad "Interference" and the disc's
title track, with an intense, almost PJ Harvey-esque chorus, prove to be the
most memorable.
As a whole, Transmitter is a spectacular, exceptionally memorable rock epic
with remarkably strong songwriting, performances, and production. Powerful,
emotional, and intense, it's immediately accessible but also deep. Likely
to appeal to a very wide array of music lovers, from those with mellower tastes
that prefer artists like Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, and Cocteau Twins to
those interested in more up-tempo stadium rock a la U2, Analog Missionary's
Transmitter shouldn't be missed.
Voyage of the Demeter
Containing
14 tracks of music written for the classic 1922 silent film Nosferatu, Analog
Missionary's Voyage of the Demeter is, understandably, a bit different from
the band's previous album, Transmitter. Mainly instrumental, it falls a little
closer to the ethereal/orchestral soundtrack realm with rock elements and
a few rock numbers included for good measure, even occasionally throwing a
little atmospheric theremin into the mix. While they actually aren't the first
alternative band to write an original soundtrack to that particular film,
their take on the film is an excellent 14-track foray into lovely ethereal/orchestral
rock territory.
Whether it be orchestral/ethereal instrumentals ("Oceans of Sorrow", "Belltower",
"Arrival", "River Pass", "Passage to Bremen", "Zeit", "The Plague"), moody
rock ("Mina's Letter", "Harpoon", "The Secret Race", "From flight to capture",
"Son of the Dragon"), or a hybrid of the two ("The Black Carriage"), Voyage
of the Demeter is a spectacular album in its own right. From the lovely cascading
piano of "River Pass" to the beautiful operatic vocals and ambience of "Oceans
of Sorrow", the disc's ethereal material is excellent, as is its rock material,
from the spectacular moody piano-centered "Mina's Letter" to the downright
heavy "The secret Race".
While apparently written as a soundtrack, Analog Missionary's Voyage of the
Demeter actually works rather well as a standalone album. It's well performed
and produced with impressive arrangements and an appropriate sense of drama
and emotion. Instrumental ethereal/rock fans, especially those with a penchant
for film scores, should certainly give this album a listen.
Band
Analog Missionary back in town
But that’s what bassist Tony Novak said: “We finally decided we’re going to
do what we want to do and play where we can.”
My impression was that Analog Missionary has followed its own path from the
beginning. After all, this is
a group that unabashedly embraces progressive rock; has the talents and the
studio to deliver sparkling production quality on its own recordings; makes
prominent use of two exotic instruments, the Chapman Stick and the Theremin;
and has created an original score for the classic vampire movie “Nosferatu,”
which it presented twice at the Mobile Saenger Theatre, playing live alongside
the film.
In other words, the chances they’d ever take a request for “Brown-Eyed Girl”
were never great to start with.
But apparently, in their heart of hearts, they still felt they were making
unacceptable compromises. Thus
Novak’s explanation for why one of the
Instead they’ve roamed along the coast, finding particularly fertile ground
in Ocean Springs and
This
weekend they come home. Analog
Missionary plays tonight and Saturday at Red’s Outback,
“It’s been a long time since we played in
“It’s pretty much a different band and a different approach since then,” said
“the” Mark, one of two single-named band members.
The other is vocalist Anstrom, who wasn’t present at the interview
because she was teaching a belly-dancing class in the group’s studio – but
more on that in a minute.
So, for those who haven’t caught an AM show in a while, what’s new?
“We’re putting more art in our art rock,” said Mark
There’s more original music, Novak said, and the covers are more eclectic:
Don’t be surprised to hear a Yes medley, some King Crimson, some Rush, and
quite likely a little Siouxsie and the Banshees.
And yes, Anstrom’s explorations have led to the inclusion of a belly-dancing
segment in most shows, complete with music custom-made to fit.
“She’s become quite the scholar of authentic cultural music,” Mark said.
He said that while the rest of the band don’t claim to be experts,
they do strive to bring some authenticity to the ethnic music the play behind
the dancing.
For those enamored of the group’s recordings- the 2002 debut album, “Transmitter,” and 2003’s “Voyage of the Demeter,” which contains songs from the “Nosferatu” soundtrack- there is one downside.
“We keep a lot of irons in the fire,” said Kaiser.
They’re producing other people’s albums, for example.
And being in demand elsewhere means more time spent traveling.
“It feels like we’re wanted, and we don’t want to turn that down,” said Mark.
“But the unfortunate side effect
is that the album languishes.”
So, sadly, there’s no telling when a true follow-up to “Transmitter” will
emerge.
But maybe that’s a small price to pay, when a band that already was among
our most original is striving to be more original still.
“It’s more of an adventure,” Mark said.
From Myspace reviews:
Finally,
ANALOG MISSIONARY.... holy %^&... these guys (and girl) totally blew me
away.. Roy, bass player for Atomship, has been talking to me about this band
for what seemed like ever.. and i kept missing shows because we had one's of
our own to attend to.. but never the less.. this band is in the top 5 favorite
bands on the coast.. if you don't know who analog missionary is.. you need to
... they FREAKIN' ROCK!!! The tunes are awesome.. the band sounded extreme..
and the singer was heavenly... i don't think there is a better band out there..
( and i don't say that very much).. this band is by far.. the shiznit o' bam..
slip slap sam... fo shizzle... all ten fingers and toes.. WAY WAY UP!!!!
-SpaZ- (Overburden)
(GreenLabeL Productions)
Marc Ramey, Gulf Coast Bands.com
The
ethereal music of Analog Missionary portrays the ectophilic (a wide subgenre
of music featuring predominantly
female vocals--) influences of this ambient-progressive, art-rock style band.
The band consists of Anstrom, Tony, Kevin, and
Mark. This band crosses a wide variety of genres throughout their music. Sometimes
they can be calm and mind-blowing while
pulling off a deceitfully earth-shattering, unpredictable style that leaves
the listener begging for more.
More @ COAST NIGHTLIFE OBSERVER
Analog Missionary, an instrumentally complex band, will play tonight and Saturday at BLVD Martini in Ocean Springs...
see the rest @ the Mississippi Press
Cnet/Downloads.com Editor's Review:
This Alabama-based quartet gives U2 a run for their money in the epic soundscapes category. Analog Missionary has a pristine, multilayered sound which is anchored by the sultry vocals of Anstrom, a female vocalist of remarkable range and clarity. All together, they form a roiling musical concoction, full of depth and emotional vitality.
"...That's
true of "Transmitter," whose songs are full of contrasts. Melody often
emerges from a sheet of distorted sound, seeming all the
more pure by contrast. The best songs, like "Chaser" and the nearly
nine-minute epic "Satellite," run across vast swaths of territory,
returning to themes without ever seeming to repeat them.."
"...Haunting vocals, bold rhythm, inventive lyrics and musical mastery all combine for one of the best albums I have heard in a long time, and one that enjoys a prime spot in my personal album rotation..."
"...Sometimes
calm and contemplative, other times shattering and strident, Analog Missionary's
unpredictable style will make you eagerly
anticipate each new beat............" Read the full review
"...woolen
warmth, touched with guitar teeth, iron teeth in the mouths of wolves, and with
the inclusion of Anstrom's
voice you find a flight. A grace overlays the machine pristine. Illusory chaos..."
"...when you listen a few times and hear what is said, and how the music “says” it, you’ll be hooked...."
COLLECTED SOUNDS A Swedish website
ORIGINAL
SIN MAGAZINE
A Belgian magazine
"You know, the moment at where you receive something unexpected while realising
it will play some part in your life. That's what happened to me when I got the
cd from this American..." read
it here
