Anathema discuss their distant destination

Anathema’s Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh have revealed some behind-the-scened moments that led to the making of tenth album Distant Satellites.

Speaking to Prog editor Jerry Ewing in the video below, Daniel speaks about the influences and dynamics that came to bear on the follow-up to 2012’s Weather Systems, which is due for release on June 9.

And he explains the background to three-part composition The Lost Song, saying: “I’d recorded a riff and I was jumping around my flat, freaking out – I thought it was the best thing we’d done in years. I was like, ‘This is it! This is the one!’

“It disappeared off the recorder. I could never ever remember it for the life of me. I checked through everybody’s computer – ‘Did I do another demo of this? Somebody tell me this riff is somewhere.’

“And John Douglas was like: ‘Just tell yourself it was crap!’ That worked for a while…”

In the clip below the Cavanaghs also discuss how they let their compositions flow, why it was time to introduce more electronic elements into their songs – and how they often take their lead from Douglas’ facial expressions as they work.

The full interview appears in the current edition of Prog, on sale now. Anathema appear at the last-ever Celebr8 festival this weekend followed by five more UK shows. Distant Satellites is available for pre-order now.

May 31: Celebr8.3 festival (acoustic)

Jun 12: Leamington Spa Assembly (acoustic)

Jun 13: Download festival

Jun 15: Gloucester Cathedral (acoustic)

Sep 18: Belfast Limelight

Sep 19: Dublin Button Factory

Jerry Ewing interviews Anathema

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.