One of the all-time great psych-folk albums
Ray Stockton | 05/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first of 2 albums that forest recorded, this their debut, is full of timeless psychedelic folk songs that you feel would have sounded great 300 years ago and will sound great in another 300.
Instrumentally, Forest are all acoustic and encompass pipes, organs, 6 and 12 string guitars, mandolin, cello and many more unusual combinations that mean on repeated listenings there is always something new to discover.
Lyrically pastoral and arcane with strong harmonies, they conjure up a netherworld of glades, mists and smoke that leave you feeling unsettled but somehow fulfilled.
Musically, the songwriting is very strong throughout with interesting time-shifts, clever structures and classic British melodies. Perhaps The Incredible String Band are the only other band of this ilk that managed to combine such structures; mixing psychedelia with folk but without conforming to standard folk modes. All three members of Forest wrote songs on the LP yet it still sounds unified and exciting to listen to.
A must have album for fans of psych-folk that, along with Forest's follow up 'Full Circle', have become genuine classics."
Hey, RADIOACTIVE!
Mark C. | Seattle, WA United States | 07/02/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"...is'nt it about time you released FULL CIRCLE, the rarer and better of the 2 FOREST LPs?
The first one came out March 2005-over a year ago-I dont know what this "March 31, 2006" is all about-I have it.
FOREST #1 is very good, but FULL CIRCLE is excellent.
The songs evoke memories of shared joy, sadness, strangeness and beauty all in one. THAT was the psychedelic experience-the sharing of in time, when we were all a family and we allowed somthing strange, wonderfull, magic and idescribably beautiful to enter our lives.
The words "Feeling on the edge of forever" come close."
