SÜNDENFALL II

Christoph Maubach the leader of this six piece German band had been in a Jazz group called SUNDENFALL but when he saw JETHRO TULL in a concert he decided to make a new band playing music more in the TULL style and so they called themselves SUNDENFALL II. The name by the way was an attack against the ultra Catholic authorities and it was their way of overcoming the past as they had experienced much unpleasantness in a Catholic boarding school. While they could never afford to record their own music they were fortunate enough to be asked by a recording studio(that had recently moved and added lots of new equipment) to test the new studio out free of charge. I should also mention that this band played electric instruments in concert and improvized a lot singing in German, but also would play acoustically with English vocals. For this studio album they went the acoustic way with the English vocals. For not being big on Prog-Folk I really enjoyed this album. The lyrics are very good for a German band and there is some variety as well. We get three tracks called "Prae" which were simply short intros to the songs that followed and were performed by Christoph.

Up first is "Warning" and I have to say the male singer here reminds me somewhat of THE STRAWBS Dave Cousins. We do get some female vocals as well. It opens with harmonica and some beautiful acoustic guitar before the flute then vocals arrive. A melancholic beauty right here. Great track ! "Suddenly Sun" is more lively opening with flute and a TULL vibe before the female vocals with acoustic guitar take over. Male vocals do help her out. Lots of flute on the instrumental breaks. The first "Prae" is a piano solo then we kick into "Montpellier" where we hear horns for the first time. Trumpet is used here but we also get sax on this album. Harmonica and dual vocals are prominant on this one. "We had to drink wine every morning every day" as they sing about their partying ways.

"Dusty Road" is led by acoutic guitar and bongos early as the reserved male vocals join in. A second male vocalist joins in singing after the first singer but the same lines. A horn takes over when the vocals stop as bongos and guitar continue. Good song. "Duftes Ding" opens with flute before a jazzy melody takes over quickly. This is a catchy and more uptempo jazz instrumental. Sax joins in after 1 1/2 minutes and leads the way as the flute stops. "How To Get On" opens with piano as harmonica helps out. Vocals a minute in. So good ! A laid back and melancholic tune. "Prae" is a flute solo before we get into "She Lives In A Gang". Strummed guitar and male vocals in this bright and humerous track. "Bloody Birds" is one of my favourites with the flute, male vocals and intricate guitar standing out. "Prae" is an acoustic guitar solo before the final song "Soldier Of The North" a fairly fast moving tune with the focus on the male vocals and guitar.

Like Michael says in his review this is a charming release, and if your a fan of Prog-Folk I would dare say this is essential.