Funeral Folk, CD-R
2006, VBR, 40MB
When I first heard the phrase "Funeral Folk," I imagined something along the lines of Dead Raven Choir. It turns out the Funeralk Folk guys are big fan's of Smolken's hellish project, and one can hear a very slight influence on "De Vrije Beyaerdiers." That influence is more in spirit, however. There is a loose, archaic feeling the underlies this entire album, weaving a metallic thread throughout the proceedings. Once you get in deep, you find that it truly lives up to the aural sounds promised by a name like Funeral Folk.
The centerpiece of "De Vrije Beyaerdiers" is unquestionably the 11-minute somber epic "Lange Verneukte Drone pt 1." It pulsates with gloom and doom, all the while keeping a ritualistic seance quality to it that stops the insular walls from falling in on itself. There is a lot of space between the cathartic outbursts on this piece - it is handled with care. This brings up another comparison that is apt: Davenport. Shambolic junkets of percussion and organic instrumentation bring this, and other tracks, to life. "Anfang Ritueel," for example, is highlithed with sparse cymbal splashes and flute exercises. The minimal rhythm and overall feel of the percussion is reminiscent of Keijo's best work. While I don't speak Dutch, ritueel is an obvious word. And that is just what this track is: a ritual, from another world or time entirely. I am constantly reminded of Davenport's blissed-out stoned jams, which isn't surprising considering Clay Ruby is one of Funeral Folk's biggest supporters.
For me, Silvester Anfang is the flagship of the budding Funeral Folk empire. These primitive explorations are a near-perfect dichotomy of gloom and fun. And that is how it should be. That is what the phrase "Funeral Folk" implies. It's death, with a sense of humor. In the end, Silvester Anfang are more interested in drinking beers and having fun than they are in mourning some lost souls. Be that as it may, this is serious music in that it is dense and it is damn good. Silvester Anfang are proof that Funeral Folk is a label to stay aware of. 8/10
- Brad Rose, Foxy Digitalis
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