DIE KNÖDEL

Die Knödel is an Austrian ensemble that can best be described as ''chamber-folk''. There are no electric instruments anywhere on the album nor are there drums/percussion of any kind. Before you go thinking that this is an ordinary folk band, the opening track ''Die Wurst'' throws a huge curveball with its tradeoff leads and a near RIO compositional process. Add that with the loads of dulcimer thrown in and you have yourself one unique experience.

Even though this is more folk than rock, Die Knödel can carry the energy that rock bands can have yet have those softer passages that are more folky. The only stuffy pieces I found were ''Chinese Lanterns'' and ''Seifenblasen Im Mondschein'', yet I'm certain the prog fans with a folk yearning will enjoy them. Another delicate feature about DIE, NOODLE is the vocal spots; they are few (only ''Chinese Lanterns'', ''Notiknotok'' and ''Dschungellied'' have any singing) and non-forceful, yet pleasing.

Some of the pieces are rather wild and scorching despite the absence of electricity. ''Big Rape'', ''Fast Food in A'' and the opener are rather crazy. Others like ''Es War Einmal Im Erdbeerland'' and ''Eine Kleine Zugabe'' have a slight prog tinge to them that makes them enjoyable. Sometimes, the instrumental interplay can be stunning like the violin leads and trumpet blares on the aforementioned ''Fast Food in A''. The underscoring bass and dulcimer lines are simply stunning.

DIE, NOODLE lacks the big IT factor that could send it to a masterpiece rating, but it's a fine album as is. There are plenty of pieces and structures that would make the folk fans happy, but the songs possess an ''off'' kind of sound that those in RIO fan clubs would enjoy. The diverse instrumentation and lack of conventional approaches make this album a nice fit to a prog collection in a ''dark horse'' sort of way.