FAUNUS

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Their debut-CD "Brennende drommer" was one of my favorite albums in 2001, what a wonderful symphonic sound, loaded with the Mighty Tron. So I was very curious to their next CD, again released on the French progrock label Musea. Within a few minutes I'm blown away by Mikromidas new album: a short acoustic guitar intro, then a bombastic climate featuring Hammond organ and wonderful Mellotron play (evoking Gracious), followed by harder-edged electric guitar duelling with the Hammond organ (Emerson- inspired) and frequently supported by splendid Mellotron waves (violin-brass-choir), SUPERB! The other eight tracks delivers more beautiful and compelling progrock, based upon creating a lush symphonic sound featuring lots of Hammond and Mellotron and many musical surprises: a moving violin-Mellotron and acoustic guitar duet, heavy electric guitar riffs with wah-wah and violin-Mellotron, an acoustic guitar/violin-Mellotron intro, a catchy rhythm and slide-guitar and sensitive twanging electric guitar in combination with slide guitar and-choir-Mellotron. It all sounds so wonderful and comepelling, these Norwegians (they sing in their native language, to non-Skandinavian it sounds like the Swedish cook from the Muppets Show!) deserve worldwide recognition, A SPLENDID EFFORT!!!

3.5 stars. MIKROMIDAS' second album is more modern, more mainstream then their very seventies sounding debut. That of course doesn't mean that seventies feel is gone or anything as mellotron is still delivered on every track, and there's lots of Hammond organ as well. To my ears the debut is not only much better than this one, but one of the best albums i've heard in a while.

"Den Dagen Jeg Forsvant" opens with acoustic guitar, but that's quickly replaced by a full sound. The guitar is prominant 2 minutes in. Vocal melodies 2 1/2 minutes in followed by vocals. Organ and drums lead the way 4 minutes in.This middle part of the song is some of the best music on the record. "Virveldans" opens with organ leading the way with vocals joining in quickly. I really like the sound of the organ on this laid back tune.The guitar becomes prominant before 4 minutes. "Sjaelernes Evige Baeven" is led by vocals and organ. It's ok. "Trollmann" is another one that seems uninspired to me, even with the mellotron. It gets better 4 minutes in, and I like the laid back guitar solo 5 minutes in.

"Sultekunstneren" opens with a piano/drum melody. Mellotron before a minute.Vocals follow and strummed guitar. Organ then takes the lead. Mellotron before 7 1/2 minutes. Swirling organ and marching-like drums end it. "Den Gjengrodde Sti" is a short mellotron / piano instrumental. "Englisangen" opens with acoustic guitar as mellotron joins in followed by a full sound then vocals. "Fomle Rundt" is a little more aggressive and heavier. I like the final minute as guitar plays over top of mellotron and drums. "Krigsmann" is pastoral to open as reserved vocals come in. It's building. It calms right down as contrast continues. Nice guitar 3 1/2 minutes in. Mellotron 5 minutes in.

I'm so surprised that this one didn't impress me like the debut did. I think i'm in the minority with this opinion though.

Decent music, good musicians, little originality.

That's for the background. In terms of music, this sounds at times as a heavy ELP like during the opener "Den Dagen Jeg Forsvant". Loads of pompous keys and unfortunately weak vocals.

As usual, this Nordic band is playing some good chunk of mellotron lines which are of course extremely pleasant to my old ears. But these ones sound as déjà vu some tens of times. Not unpleasant though ("Sjærlernes Evige Bæren") even if a bit heavy at times.

Some more melody can be heard through "Trollman", but these keys definitely sound borrowed. Again, nothing wrong in here, just that there is nothing original to discover while listening to this "Faunus".

Most of this album sounds as a pastiche of the old days of the Scandinavian scene (and beyond).

Decent music, good musicians, little originality. Nothing more to write about it. Three stars (rounded up really) for a third tier.