AFTER THE RAIN

I consider myself a huge Rypdal fan but this album would be the first going chronologically that I couldn't get into. It's unusual as well for this to be Terje by himself without anybody helping him instrumentally, his wife does add some vocal melodies on a couple of tracks though. The followup to this called "Waves" released in 1978 is another one I gave 3 stars to, I'm just not into this period of his music I suppose. Terje plays electric and acoustic guitars, sax, flute, electric piano, bells and something called string ensemble piano which is where the string sounds come from. I can't get over how much Terje's electric guitar sounds like a violin, very much crying out mournfully much of the time. The music is very ambient and pleasant fitting well with the ECM label.

"Autumn Breeze" is my favourite and like many of these tracks it opens with piano before strings and acoustic guitar join in. Vocal melodies 1 1/2 minutes in as it becomes haunting. This is my favourite part on the whole album. The piano is back leading before 3 minutes as the vocals have stopped, then the electric guitar and strings return for the final minute. "Air" is the only other song I can get into. Electric piano and electric guitar lead the way in this beautiful but mournful piece. "Now And Then" is laid back with acoustic guitar melodies throughout while "Wind" is also relaxed but with flute throughout.

"After The Rain" is slow moving with electric guitar and strings. We do get some vocal melodies 3 1/2 minutes in as well as bells. "Kjare Maren" features electric guitar and piano with atmosphere. "Little Bell" opens with piano as the flute joins in before a minute. "Vintage Year" begins with piano as the electric guitar starts to cry out. "Multer" has strummed guitar to start but then the guitar turns classical sounding. "Like A Child, Like A Song" starts with piano then the electric guitar arrives a minute in as it cries out in a reserved manner as piano continues. It actually brightens 2 minutes in. Piano only 3 1/2 minutes in.

Apparently after the rain we should all have a little nap, or is that during the rain?