ERDE

FORSETI's second and final full length album sacrifices none of the acoustic melancholy of their debut, but here they actually sound ALIVE. The melodies are far more engaging and the martial rhythms seethe and churn beneath a deceptively pastoral veneer. The change is apparent from the introduction of the strings in the caressing "Korn" through to what sounds like a mellotron choir in"Das Abendland"

Perhaps the most appealingly proggy cut is "Empfindsamkeit", which is more than a little reminiscent of PERERIN once again, with a hypnotic guitar figure, somber vocals, including some harmony, and delicate woodwinds. One senses it is building up to something, but it appears to wallow in a pleasant if eerie range until a seemingly full stop. The passage that follows is as close as FORSETI gets to a full folk band sound, as conventional drums and accordion infuse the mix for a relatively rousing final minute. "Der graue konig" is similar throughout its length but excavates some of the genre's post punk and industrial roots while remaining within the scope of Ritter's vision. "Muder Wanderer" is another lovely but mellower piece in the style of very early STRAWBS.

The significant improvement over "Windzeit" makes me wish "Erde" was not the final offering by FORSETI, but given the public disappearance by Andreas Ritter since a serious health issue surfaced in 2005, it might have to suffice. 3.5 stars for this earthy work.