Date: 25 Sep 2004 From: "Andrew J. Rozsa" Subject:
Re: Faun "Wondrous End" - A true gem!
Despite some pretty intensive exposure to Prog Rock through our list here and
through various outstanding Prog Rock Web sites, occasionally, I still get an
utterly pleasant surprise. Somebody recommends a group or an album that has no
reviews that I am aware of, no promotion or pre-release information, and nobody
talks about it. I start listening to it and within 2 minutes I am hooked. So, I
say " Anyone can produce a good track," but then track after track is just as
good. So is my experience with a German group named FAUN that released a single
double-CD live album in 1998. A friend from Munich told me to get it, I asked a
friend from Scandinavia who said, "Yeah, it?s marvelous." I went looking for
info about them/it and first I found nothing, then, digging a bit deeper I got
several reviews in German, which I understand marginally. Unequivocally, they
all loved it.
Some of the critics refer to Faun?s style as Neoprog?. I?ll be damned if I know
what that means anymore ? I think when some people don?t like some music they
refer to it as neoprog. Hey, chill.. I am kidding. Well, Faun?s music is at
times blatantly melodious bordering on romantic, at other times it borders on
prog metal, but never gets stuck in either, remaining deliciously (or is it ?
devilishly?) indefinable. Just the way I like my music. Although Brigitte
Groll?s flutes and Marko Brenzinger?s guitars seem to be most prominent, four
different people (Ulrich Miksa, Christoph Roth, Brigitte & Marko) play
keyboards, all in impeccable manner and taste. These musicians are, without
exception, refined, cultured, well trained, and with their hearts up front, for
the careful listeners to hear. I say this because it?s the only way I can
explain their incredible dynamic range from lyrical to (very seldom) almost
harshly dissonant. I also say "almost" because they never linger too long in any
specific mood (except Track 6 on Disk 2, which should be listened to with only
candle lights on), preferring instead to take us with them on wonderfully
imaginative sound journeys. One would think that a title like "Born Bad II"
would have to be punkish or at least Death Metal, but with Faun it becomes
almost a Spanish elegy. Serious goose pimples time, guys and gals. But only for
the first 2 minutes of the 9+ minute track?. because just as unexpectedly as a
summer thunderstorm 9+ it turns into borderline disorder (aha, the neo part I
guess), but not before a couple of phrases that remind me of Corea?s "My Spanish
Heart." This dissolves into Track 2?s piano solo that is as good as anything I
have heard in recent months. I dare you not to dream when listening to these
musicians. If "Lady Banshee" doesn't melt your heart, your heart is stone. Soon
after that, "Mr. Industry" would give any hard-edge prog band a run for its
money. At some point my wife detected a Mike Oldfield (track "Wondrous End")
phrase?. then a Floydesque tune? hmmm?maybe. If I had to compare, which I loathe
to do, I would think early Marillion or Saga, but even that is a stretch.
The tunes are interesting, varied, melodic, and harmonious (as opposed to
dissonant, like, say, DEM), and charmingly beautiful. I detect some Eastern and
Medieval themes. Superb songwriting! Brigitte?s flute is the best I have heard
since Kollar Attila and the guitars can wail, stomp, or "talk" to another
instrument or the voice of Christoph Roth, whose (occasionally) plaintive voice
is engaging and adds color to the music, just like any other excellent
instrumentalist?s contribution would. One of the best voices for rock I have
heard, and this is coming from a listener who prefers his prog sans vocals. I
mentioned earlier that flute, voice, and guitar are prominent, but I hasten to
add that for us keyboard lovers the piano solos in "On A Magician's Flight" and
"Warm September Rain" will provide delightful satisfaction. I promise.
The title track "Wondrous End" is both a dedication to Blade Runner and, IMHO,
also a good-bye to the fans who have followed this "wondrous" band throughout
their short-lived career of live concerts. About the only question that I have
in my mind is why would a regional band from Wuerzburg that never wandered too
far from home choose to write the lyrics and sing in English. The meaning of the
lyrics leaves me wondering, although, the visual images they invoke smack of
surrealism.
This is a tight-playing cohesive group who sounds like they have been playing
together for many years. After nearly two and half hours of Faun, I wanted more.
Unfortunately, as Uli (Ulrich Miksa) writes, "So we decided to end Faun, because
two members were already leaving Wuerzburg due to jobs and "Wondrous End" should
be the farewell gift for our fans." Uli is still writing songs (he is Laughing
Tears <http://www.laughingtear.de/dokumente/laughingtear.htm> but he says, "I
don't think it sounds quite like Faun (as you can here on the demo downloads of
"Feelings" there), but perhaps Marko from Faun will play some guitar parts to
get a little bit of the Faun vibes. :) [I hope he doesn?t mind my cut & pasting
from his email]. Download the samples of complete tracks from "Feelings" and
judge for yourself. Considering that Uli?s live-mixing is so good that you
cannot tell that "wondrous End" is a live album until the audience claps, I
would think he can?t do anything but beautiful music. He is also a terrific
keyboard player.
Uli is the person who can direct you to how to obtain the album if you are not
in the States. Write to him at: <"Ulrich Miksa" laughingtear@gmx.de> he is a
pleasure to "talk to" and, despite his modesty, his English is quite good. Also,
if you do hear the album and love it as much as I do, please visit Faun?s
GuestBook and leave a note. Just click on the link "Zum Gaestebuch" at <http://www.laughingtear.de/dokumente/frameset.htm>.
They really deserve much more recognition they have gotten so far, especially
from the International prog community.
What a true TREASURE this album is! Faun?s "Wondrous Ending" is, thus far, the
best music I have heard this year. If you are in the States, do yourself a favor
and get this gem from Greg <http://synphonic.8m.com/ordering.htm> or write to
him at <progregwalker@sprynet.com>. It will be the best $22 you spend this year
on music.
Wondrous End (dedicated to "Blade Runner")
Lyrics: Steffen Schuerkens
-------------------------------------------
All he said was "Time to die"
He bowed his head and closed his eyes
Seemed as if he fell asleep
I knew his rest is endless deep
I stayed there in the pouring rain
Forgot the hurts, forgot my pain
Oh Lord, how hard I tried
To hate this artificial guy
Conditioned to shine
Bright but short
He could not understand his god
At least I could not help being weary
Understanding his urgent queries
The sadness in his clear blue eyes
Exposes all our human lies
Conditioned to shine
Bright but short
He could not understand his god.
FAUN
---------
Wondrous End (1998) - Live 2-CD, self-produced Lyrics are by: Christoph Roth and
Steffen Schuerkens
Disc 1
--------------
01. Sylving Moons 5:51
02. Wondrous End 8:51
03. A Flute In The Fog 8:00
04. Thousand Days Before 12:10
05. In Vain 3:32
06. Micemakers 5:40
07. Weaponless 5:08
08. The Stone 7:35
09. Warm September Rain 3:30
10. Born Bad I 13:53
------------------------
Total play time - 74:10
Disc 2
--------
01. Born Bad II 9:11
02. On A Magician's Flight 4:59
03. Lady Banshee 11:26
04. Great Is The Empire 5:18
05. Mr. Industry 12:44
06. La Selva/Micemakers (Studioaufnahme) 11:28
07. Lady Banshee (Studioaufnahme) 11:01
08. Shrovetide (Demo) 5:39
-----------------------------
Total playtime - 71:46
Tracks 6 & 7 on Disk 2 are studio tracks; track 8 is a demo.
Musicians
------------------
Christoph Roth.................vocals, keyboards, percussion
Steffen Schuerkens.............drums, vocals, guitar
Helmut Weinlaeder..............bass, guitars
Brigitte Groll.................flutes, keyboards
Marko Brenzinger...............guitars, keyboards
Ulrich Miksa...................Live-Mix, Arrangement, Effects, Keyboards
Web site: http://www.laughingtear.de/index.htm
Contact: laughingtear@gmx.de