October Falls - Marras: Eight Hymns for Scheol and Nature
Band URL: http://koti.welho.com/mlehto4/
Label URL: http://corvusrecords.com/
Mikko Lehto returns from his initial self-release of Tuoni to deliver the second part of his trilogy with Marras, another set of 8 instrumentals flowing seamlessly together to conjure a single concept of dying autumn mist, slow drifting streams, and the melancholic nature of the nighttime woodland. Having signed with Corvus Records (also home to NEST) just before writing Marras, OCTOBER FALLS are elevated somewhat to stand alongside their peers and hopefully obtain some well deserved recognition.
As near perfect as Tuoni was, Marras manages to improve the formula just slightly. First of all, the production is a tad more crisp with brighter sounding instrumentation, thanks to new studio equipment and instruments. Secondly, there are plenty of subtle nuances to add to the overall nocturnal effect, such as blowing winds, woodland creatures, the crackling of wood fire, and most eerily, underlying male chant choirs (these hymns heard alongside the pounding of kettle drums in the distance).
The most significant change from Tuoni is perhaps the song structuring. Marras tends to offer less complex music enveloped around the core melody, and this of course makes each track both memorable and unique. This song writing style is witnessed immediately on track 2, Marras II, probably my favourite track on the album. With that said, listening to Marras in its entirety as a concept conjures such vivid imagery across an entire landscape. Not just the forest, but also the fields surrounding it, leading to the hills, valleys, and remote lit villages on the evening horizon. Honestly, its all really rather stunning whilst remaining entirely melancholic.
Of course, what remains consistent with OCTOBER FALLS is the appreciation for how each instrument co-exists with the other. The production quality manages this perfectly, with Lehto having recorded this entirely on his own, knowing exactly how much prominence to add to the guitars over the piano over the strings, and so forth. This is the art of composition over musicianship, and something Lehto excels at.
I eagerly await the warmth from the upcoming vinyl edition (with extra track included).
9/10
Band URL: http://koti.welho.com/mlehto4/
Label URL: http://corvusrecords.com/
Mikko Lehto returns from his initial self-release of Tuoni to deliver the second part of his trilogy with Marras, another set of 8 instrumentals flowing seamlessly together to conjure a single concept of dying autumn mist, slow drifting streams, and the melancholic nature of the nighttime woodland. Having signed with Corvus Records (also home to NEST) just before writing Marras, OCTOBER FALLS are elevated somewhat to stand alongside their peers and hopefully obtain some well deserved recognition.
As near perfect as Tuoni was, Marras manages to improve the formula just slightly. First of all, the production is a tad more crisp with brighter sounding instrumentation, thanks to new studio equipment and instruments. Secondly, there are plenty of subtle nuances to add to the overall nocturnal effect, such as blowing winds, woodland creatures, the crackling of wood fire, and most eerily, underlying male chant choirs (these hymns heard alongside the pounding of kettle drums in the distance).
The most significant change from Tuoni is perhaps the song structuring. Marras tends to offer less complex music enveloped around the core melody, and this of course makes each track both memorable and unique. This song writing style is witnessed immediately on track 2, Marras II, probably my favourite track on the album. With that said, listening to Marras in its entirety as a concept conjures such vivid imagery across an entire landscape. Not just the forest, but also the fields surrounding it, leading to the hills, valleys, and remote lit villages on the evening horizon. Honestly, its all really rather stunning whilst remaining entirely melancholic.
Of course, what remains consistent with OCTOBER FALLS is the appreciation for how each instrument co-exists with the other. The production quality manages this perfectly, with Lehto having recorded this entirely on his own, knowing exactly how much prominence to add to the guitars over the piano over the strings, and so forth. This is the art of composition over musicianship, and something Lehto excels at.
I eagerly await the warmth from the upcoming vinyl edition (with extra track included).
9/10
