Acoustic performances can either go terribly wrong or turn out to be something incredibly beautiful. When it comes to my favorite bands, there have actually been a few "mixed bag" acoustic releases; however, the end result usually fits under one of the two extremes. Some songs just aren't meant to be turned into something acoustic, while other songs performed in a quiet, acoustic environment sound disappointingly exactly the same as what fans are given on a near-and-dear studio release.

In my mind, the experimental Dutch rock band The Gathering has done little wrong (except for astounding vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen leaving last year, BUT let's not get into that). Sleepy Buildings - A Semi-Acoustic Evening was recorded in 2003, containing selections from each release in The Gathering's discography up until that point. It's admirable that they went back that far, even to the pre-Anneke van Giersbergen days -- much too often, bands neglect important albums within acoustic performances, which can make things considerably less interesting and obviously less versatile.

Sleepy Buildings pairs high-quality sound with an intimate environment that can be felt and easily visualized. A haunting adaptation of one of How to Measure a Planet?'s most overlooked songs, "Locked Away," opens the experience appropriately with gentle guitars galore, while if_then_else's emotional hit "Saturnine" proves to work in a much more striking way as an acoustic song due to the absence of the slightly aggravating electronic feel. Anneke sings with such passion here that it's difficult not to be moved, and I strongly urge anyone who enjoys the album version to upgrade to this version, as it's an entirely new experience.

"The Mirror Waters" was a song from the earliest years of The Gathering, and on Sleepy Buildings it's noted as the '2003 version.' Anneke was not in the band back in those days, but most listeners wouldn't know it. She really turns this into something all her own. Keyboardist Frank Boeijen creates an eerie backdrop with oh-so-slow, delicate melodies, while Anneke quietly sings:

Couldn't resist looking in her eyes
I saw myself, and tears were falling
The seas of her eyes reflected my old age
Youth grows old, like winter follows spring...

As I mentioned earlier, some songs follow a near-identical format as their original version. There are times when that proves to be a complete bore, but that's not always the case on Sleepy Buildings. The piano/vocal wonder known as "Shrink" is mellow as can be, but Anneke sings it in a slightly different way here, emphasizing certain words differently for an even more hypnotic effect.

One of the songs I was most curious about when I first got Sleepy Buildings was "Eleanor." Originally found on Mandylion, this song is originally loud, heavy on the guitars and with a frantic double-bass drumming section that simply makes the song. How this song could be convincingly turned into something peaceful and acoustic was beyond me. Regardless, the dynamics of the song are kept intact while generously taking the volume down, and it really works! The hammering of the dueling guitars are long gone, replaced by simmering acoustics, and while I still don't see "Eleanor" as one of Sleepy Buildings' finest offerings, it's certainly interesting for all die-hard fans of The Gathering.

Sleepy Buildings also contains favorites such as the dainty "Amity" and the hollow, rhythmically quirky "Marooned." Even though I can't deny the loveliness of these renditions, I see little difference between these and the respective album versions except for the fact that there's applause and whistling at the end of these, which I could frankly do without, so these Sleepy Buildings tracks don't get much play from me.

The great thing about Sleepy Buildings is the fact that it holds strong appeal for both the most devoted legions of Gathering fans and for the random consumer who wants to try The Gathering for the first time. Why for the latter? It contains quite a variety, showcasing songs from each of the band's transitions through musical styles. Anneke van Giersbergen's voice is simply divine and can appeal to fans of many different genres, which makes Sleepy Buildings a fine purchase for anyone up for the soothing, sonic bliss of a 'semi-acoustic evening.'





Recommended: Yes