Anonymous is CIAM’s first release. I only recently received it for review, although it’s apparently been out for about a year. It’s a crime that this CD hasn’t had more publicity, or should I say any publicity. It seems that CIAM (pronounced see-am) has had only what publicity they themselves have managed to scare up. They have managed to put in an appearance on KCRW, a West Coast US station which has a wide audience and influence across the US, as well as outside the US. They did about a 36-minute show that can be seen here.
CIAM has been tagged as alternative, emotronic and experimental, although I wouldn’t stop there. My first thought as soon as the CD started was, “The king is dead. Long live the king.” King Crimson, that is. On my first listen to this album — I didn’t look at anything beforehand to influence me, no liner notes, no Google, nothing — I decided after about 30 seconds that this band just might make a good successor to King Crimson, who’s been out of circulation far too long. Then, when the final cut came on, “Epitaph,” I knew for sure I’d found a worthy successor to the King. Actually, “Epitaph” was originally done by King Crimson close to 40 years ago, and I don’t think I’ve heard any other group even dare try it until now. King Crimson was one of the first groups of what is now termed prog rock, although Crimson was much more than just progressive rock. CIAM also have vestiges of art-rockers such as Brian Eno, at least one of the members is classically trained, and the group also cites Philip Glass as an influence.
Anonymous is an ambitious first release in many ways. First, it’s a CD and DVD together in one package, with the same music appearing on both formats. Yet, the DVD is a real video adventure, with extensive avant garde, art-rock influences which require your full attention to get full benefit. With successive viewings, I seemed to pick up new and different nuances each and every time.
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