THE WINTER'S TALE

A Winter's Tale is the 5th release by Red Jasper and successor of their best album A Midsummernight's Dream. I always considered this one somewhat less than the predecessor but it's still a good album.

Overture is an instrumental short track with some different instruments than on their previous album which was dominated by the mandolin and the tin whistle. Here amongst others an organ is detectable. Very interesting. 2,75*.

Introductia is the first vocal track sounding a bit darkish and gloomy, still no true folk sounds so far. 3*.

With The Shamen's Song the album really starts off. On the other hand also this song starts gloomy and slow but after some 2,5 minutes the tempo goes up and the melodies get more substance. Interesting song though still not outstanding. 3,5*.

The Night Visitor is one of my favourites of this album with good guitar and it's compositional impressive. Not strange because it appears to be Dreamscape part III and in my previous review (A Midsummernight's Dream) I already proclaimed the first two parts compositional highlights. 3,5*.

In The Scent of Something the mandolin finally returns. Finally because I believe it is an essential instrument in this band. Another good track but no more than good. The electric guitar at the end stands out. 3,25*.

Ship on the Sea is a very folky track (also here: finally because this album is not as folk loaded as the predecessor. So this one is for the real fans I guess. Nice track. 3,25*.

Bread & Circus's is the longest track of the album but this time it's not my favourite and that's because of the too repititive singing of the title track (over 10 times in a row !). This already annoyed me 15 years ago and it still does. Alas ... 3*.

Shepherds Revels is back on track for the real folk feel sounding somewhat celtic as in a Scottish or Irish folk-dance. Nice up tempo tune. 3,25*.

Dark Room is on itself an average song but the lyrics are mystic and intriguing but what do you expect with such a title ? Nice guitarsolo towards the end. 3*.

Sonnet III is again nice and folky but same as the sonnets on Midsummernight's Dream it is not an outstanding track. 3*.

It reaches an average of just below 3,25 making this a lesser album than the predecessor. Still a pretty nice one if you like prog folk. 3 stars.