OUGENWEIDE

1. "Nieman Kan Mit Gerten" (2:26) some engineering issues with track levels diminish this nice song a bit. (8.6667/10)

2. "Es Stunt Ein Frouwe Alleine" (4:50) uptempo and aggressive with great guitar play from Wolfgang Henko. The sound engineering on this one is a little better than the opener but still an issue. Nice palette of harmonic distribution. (8.75/10)

3. "Ouwe" (2:29) gently picked acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, percussives, and recorders accompany and mirror the melody carried by the vocal choir. Harmonium joins in during the final verse. (8.6667/10)

4. "Der Fuchs" (5:25) proceeds like a chorus' stage song filling in details with their choral narration. I have to admit that the performers are all really skilled and very tight with their presentation. (8.5/10)

5. "Eilenau" (1:28) a reel-like instrumental that sounds like the soundtrack to a chase or a race. (4.25/5)

6. "Ougenweide" (6:08) I like the male and female vocalists taking turns on this rollicking song--as if they're having a courtship conversation. Percussion and recorders are the showpieces here, bass and guitars driving the cart forward from beneath. (8.75/10)

7. "Swa Gouter Hande Wurzen Sint" (3:19) another astonishingly complex arrangement that the band (and vocalists) deliver perfectly! Great breathy IAN ANDERSON-like flute soloing. (9/10)

8. "Der Sohn Der Näherin" (3:10) like "Ouwe" this one starts out with simple instrumental palette as Olaf introduces the topic and melody. Hand percussives and wind instruments join in to add a little more fill to the soundscape as Olaf continues the storytelling. Unfortunately, it never really gets out of "children rock" school mode, remaining quite simplistic. (8.6667/10)

9. "Sarod" (2:45) as the title indicates, somebody's idea to incorporate Indian instruments into the album. It's okay for a first time. (8/10)

10. "Statement Zur Lage Der Ganzen Musica" (1:05) more sitar within an almost-Celtic dittie. (4.333/5)

11. "Es Fur Ein Pawr Gen Holcz" (1:36) Pagan Punk Krautrock? (4.125/5)

Total time 34:41

A smorgasbord of German and English-style folk songs rendered sonically inferior by poor engineering still I am impressed--I have high hopes for this band's future due to the high skill level of the musicians, their stunning ability to pull off very tightly delivered compositions that often display surprisingly complex and nuanced layers. I greatly look forward to the next albums.

86.01 on the Fishscales = B-/3.5 stars; an excellent entry-level display of tightly performed Prog Folk.

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