FULL CIRCLE

FOREST were a two-album Psych-Folk trio from the fishing town of Grimsby, Lincolnshire on the east coast of England. They released their first self-titled album in 1969 and the album reviewed here, "Full Circle", followed in 1970. Forest's particular brand of acoustic Folk music was a little bit off the beaten track and they never managed to achieve commercial success during their brief time in the spotlight. Their superior second album was listed as one of the Guardian newspaper's "1000 albums to hear before you die". Let's have a listen to the "Full Circle" album now then before it's too late.

The first song "Hawk The Hawker" is a country-tinged tune, which is probably not surprising, considering it's the only song on the album to feature the sound of a steel guitar. There's also a harmonica to be heard too, giving the song the feel of a typical Folk-Rock song that Bob Dylan might have recorded back in his heyday. It's a jolly good bright and happy twangy tune to open the album in buoyant optimistic style. Blossoming into view next is "Bluebell", a pretty Psych-Folk song in the psychedelic garden of earthly delights. The acoustic guitar sounds somewhat akin to a jangling Greek bouzouki, conjuring up images of a traditional plate-smashing spree in a Greek restaurant, although the restaurant owner might be none too pleased. Serf's Up now for "The Midnight Hanging Of A Runaway Serf", a pleasant Folk song that jollies merrily along despite the dark and dismal subject matter of the song. Maybe all the serf wanted to do was runaway and listen to some feudal serf music down at the beach. The next piece of music is dedicated "To Julie", whoever the mysterious Julie is, because it's a jingly-jangly acoustic guitar instrumental. "Gypsy Girl & Rambleway" is next, so you can expect to hear a lively burst of traditional Romany gypsy dance music, and that's exactly what you get. It's a liberating orgy of free-spirited music for cavorting and carousing around the campfire together in a slightly drunken and hedonistic fashion. This chirpy charming tune represents freedom, passion and playfulness.

It's time to put the brolly up now for the Side Two opener: "Do Not Walk In The Rain", a lively piano number that sounds just like a train trundling rhythmically down the tracks, which seems fitting, as the lyrics reveal the song is all about getting on the train to avoid the rain:- "So I'm gonna take you down to the station, And put you upon a train. So please, Do not walk in the rain." ..... All aboard! We're getting all Shakespearian now for "Much Ado About Nothing", which turns out to be a pleasant little ditty, featuring what sounds very much like a plucky mandolin, although a mandolin's not mentioned in the album credits, so maybe it's an electric harpsichord, which IS mentioned in the credits. Anyway, it's an insouciant song that's as blithe and carefree as the song title implies. There are creepy goings-on in the "Graveyard" now, a song that sounds pleasantly pastoral despite the bats in the belfry doom and gloom message contained within the lyrics:- "In a graveyard I have been, A body I have seen, From the sharp burn I have dreamed, That body was me." ..... Oh well, not to worry, it's nowhere near as scary as the dark and disturbing music of Comus, so there's no need to sleep with the lights on tonight. Let us pray for the harvest now, because the next brief tune "Famine Song" is an a capella devotional call to prayer, very much in the style of that well-known dirge "Gaudete" by Steeleye Span. Yes, it really IS that depressing. Never mind though, because the final 6-minute- long "Autumn Childhood" is a lovely sing-along song (despite the dismal lyrics), so rattle those tambourines, shake those tassels, and ring them bells!

This fairly traditional Psych-Folk album is unlikely to appeal to Prog-Rock fans generally because it's not in the remotest bit proggy and it's not rock either, but if you're a fan of the Incredible String Band and other acoustic English Folk bands of that ilk, then this might be just the album for you. "Full Circle" is just one album in a whole Forest of Psych-Folk albums, and there's really nothing new or original on offer here that you haven't heard before. It's not an outstanding album by any means, as there are no stand-out songs on the album. It's just a pleasantly pastoral acoustic Folk diversion to while away an afternoon. "Full Circle" is altogether easy-on-the-ears and it's a good solid three-star album, but no more than that. It's the kind of very agreeable easy listening Folk album that you could buy your dear old auntie for Christmas, safe in the knowledge that nothing's going to jump out of the album and give her a fright like a Comus album undoubtedly would.