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Affinity (Haken) - Extended Play Lounge, Ep. 35 (Patreon)

Published:
2023-01-06 00:44:29
Imported:
2023-05

Content

For our first Extended Play Lounge of 2023, we're listening to Affinity, the fourth album from Haken. This is the third time Haken has been in the lounge, and I've become quite a fan. Although this album isn't a concept album, the themes are consistent and coherent. And, after listening to this album, I have a new favorite Haken song. :)

Files

Affinity - Haken (Extended Play Lounge Ep. 35)

This is "Affinity - Haken (Extended Play Lounge Ep. 35)" by Doug Helvering on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Comments

Andrew Clark

I’m a bit late to the party here (had to drop the subscription while between jobs) but thank you for finally getting to this! Affinity is one of my favorite albums of all time. I had the absolute privilege of seeing them perform it in its entirety in March of 2020. That show was the first of two times Bound By Gravity has ever been played, and it somehow manages to hit even harder live. The show was in a relatively small bar, there couldn’t have been more than 150 people in the room. It was an incredibly intimate experience for such a huge album, and it was genuinely the greatest show I have seen or will ever see in my life. I’m glad you connected with it as hard as I did, although I’m a little shocked you didn’t catch all the little reprises sprinkled throughout (like the architect’s ending being a reprise of initiate).

Zoe winters

not him talking over the bass solo :/

Anonymous

I love this album. Looking forward to watching this. Bound by Gravity is by far my favorite Haken track. And I don't think it gets enough praise.

j z

This is by far my favorite haken record and probably in my top 10 of all time. I agree bound by gravity does not get enough love. I also love the atmosphere of red giant

Arrow2theACL

If you are a believer that all of Haken's albums can be put into one concept story, then Affinity is a satellite that has been put into orbit by the evil Dr. Ectobius Rex or The Cockroach King. There is an AI housed in a satellite that was launched into orbit around the Earth. Affinity’s purpose is to observe humanity from afar, detect problems early on, and generate solutions. There is a huge write up on theories in detail out there. However in short, Each track is her going through the process with Bound By Gravity being the conclusion.

Frank Katzenberger

Yes! This reminds me that we some. Novena, The Eleventh Hour. This side project with Ross is awesome too.

Frank Katzenberger

I also forgot how awesome the sound scape is in Red Giant.

Nemesis Enforcer

Can't wait to check this with some bourbon

Nick

Ah, my favourite Haken album. I love it all: the shamelessly, gloriously bombastic exuberance of 1985; the brooding intensity of The Architect; the fist-in-the-air anthemic power of Earthrise; the hypnotic groove of Red Giant... So diverse, yet simultaneously so well-integrated and coherent. If Fauna is half as good, it'll be a frickin' masterpiece.

Anthony Taylor

Thanks Doug! Fantastic reaction/analysis! Haken is a true original!

bobj

Well Dr. Doug, I have listened to many albums and bands in the last 45 years of all genres, but I believe you have just introduced me to my new favorite band!!! I love contrast in music. The surprising changes within a single track, and from track to track. Haken are masters at this. Love the dramatic tightness right along with their melodic softness. Vocals are righteous! I was right there with you at the emotional ending. I’m not sure who suggested it (probably Arrow), but thanks for adding your take on this album. You’re like the session musician sitting in on these albums to help give them a stronger meaning. Thanks Doc!

doughelvering
>>99098846

Thanks Bob. As someone who enjoys fusion, I'm glad you enjoyed this. They occasionally get a little hard-edged for my personal taste, but their eclectic sounds and song construction really is fun to experience. Cheers!

bobj
>>99098846

Btw, with all that you have going on and all that you try to remember, I’m quite impressed that you remembered that I’m a fusion dude! Which means, I’ll take this opportunity to mention that I’ve been waiting patiently for you to cue up my EPL suggestion of Return to Forever’s Romantic Warrior. Reaction to the title track a couple of weeks ago has kept me hopeful to hear your take on the whole LP! In the meantime, cheers with a glass of Blanton’s!

Arrow2theACL
>>99098846

I love this community. I have come to love classical stuff like Return to Forever, Gentle Giant and King Crimson because of this community. Also got introduced to unknown bands like Altesia just by hanging out on Discord. Bob, as a fusion guy, have you taken a listen to Nova Collective yet? It's 2 of Haken's members along with other modern progressive heavy weights and created a Jazz Fusion album. Great stuff.

Arrow2theACL
>>99098846

Also try Richard Henshall's solo album the Cocoon. You will definitely hear some contrasts within the songs.

bobj
>>99098846

Altesia is another one that this community has also turned me onto. And yes, I have listened to Nova Collective. I dig them, but didn’t realize 2 Haken members were part of them. In fact, I heard NC before Haken. Go figure.

Einaras Sipavičius

I agree, sound design on Affinity is miles better than on Mountain or Aquarius. Maybe that's the reason why Affinity is by far my favourite Haken record. I would probably include it in my top5 albums of 2010s. Affinity has a perfect balance between heaviness, chaos and melody and harmony. Later albums (Vector, Virus) lost that, they are much too complex for me. Still have high hopes for Fauna. After 1985, Doug said that he is still surprised and finds new things after third listen. That's certainly true, I have this record on CD and listened to it at least 50 times in my lifetime. And today, watching your reaction, I heard Lapse in a much different way than before. I called Lapse one of the weaker tracks before, but I'm unsure now. Same thing happened a few years ago with Red Giant – now it's probably my favourite track on the album. Rhythmic perfection and very appealing soundscape. The Architect, 1985 are also among my favorites. And I really dig Bound By Gravity as well, I think it's the purest and warmest Haken ballad. For Doug, only Visions, Vector and Virus left. I like Visions, hold some sympathies for Vector and I'm indifferent towards Virus. But I think now a break is needed. 50% studio discography coverage makes Haken first in the channel by that statistic. Really waiting for EPLs of bands that haven't been covered in EPLs before