One step back, yet forward

With "Luna" now is the second album of the group Faun appeared that was developed in cooperation with Valicon and was released by Universal. The first album of this collaboration "Von den Elben" asked many old Faun fans on a hard Affection to sample their favorite band. Criticism album was numerous and hard: "to bad lyrics", "too much pop", "too little Faun", one can summarize it to you. While the old fans shook with terror and the great Pan, they begged of the disease "Universal" to redeem, to contaminated their favorite music, thousands could shake of New FAUN fans in disbelief and his head and wondered what in the wonderful music of "Out of the same" because was suspended. This short introduction describes my dilemma in the evaluation of "Luna" - because I know that my opinion as an old Faun fan is not necessarily spend more representative of the potential buyers Luna, but of course you can and above all I really want Faun only judge of this ancient emotional connectedness out.

As Anticipated conclusion it can be said to "Luna", that on the one hand again rather Faun than the last album, but at the same time this album the influence - and in my opinion the weakness - retains the new cooperation.

As with "Out of the same" can be stated here as well that the sound a clear album came out. I would like to Rate positive auußerdem that the voices of the many singers seem to be less distorted. Especially Katja Moslehner as "new" Faun-singer must here finally prove their skills and impress with their great voice.

Overall, the album has clearly hit-explanatory lost:
- Compared to the "Out of the same", the instrumental parts have increased significantly in the pieces and are especially fauniger. Finally, there were again a number of passages in the pieces where I close my eyes and lose myself in the instruments. Especially the playing techniques of each musician (insgebesondere Stefan on the hurdy-gurdy), you can very clearly hear. Unfortunately, however, can not convince each Instrimentalpassage with his rhythm. Here is missing in some songs yet clear the sophistication of the old albums, it shows simply that the work on "Luna" does not - has taken 3 years - as with other albums. The length of the instrumental parts is still very limited compared to older albums. It works by sometimes pinched and hectic.
- The lyrics are significantly improved. Gaffe as "Dance with me" you can no longer find on "Luna" fortunately. However, I must hold on here as well, that this improvement has to be in relative terms. Like its predecessor album, it too fails to meet the linguistic diversity that could have even the other albums: It remains at the German and Latin. Faun is here to be a part of their intercultural identity lost. The self-written pieces can sometimes convince "Wild Hunt" but in some cases they have also again passages on in which a curl the toenails "And now you're my anchor / in noise this situation / and your name is my prayer" (Hecate) , When selecting the lyrical musical settings probably the ghosts: I Eichendorff bit too cheesy, while others are here on surely pleased
- When it comes to rhythm / melody / chorus is most clearly the ambivalence of the development since the last album. On the one hand still have a lot of songs typical pop / pop choruses. These destroy for me most of the listening pleasure, especially in the first half of the songs. The lyrics of the chorus are little succeeded in most cases, the melodies too catchy. Too much dominated by a pushy metronome. The songs follow an overall fairly simple structure and the transition between verse and chorus is just too strong for Faun. The music you lose mytisch schwebenes and degenerates into a simple pop music. On the other hand, however, to recognize a significant return to the old faun music. Thus, the choruses are no longer as dominant as in "Out of the same". Overall, there are many more pieces in which one is reminded right at the beginning of the old albums. Away from the chorus many songs are about that are really faunig: Stronger instrumental accompaniment, beautiful transitions, clearer voices.

Now I want to come to a really very pleasing topic: In "From the same" there was not a new song (Andro and elves therefore excluded), that could really excite me. In "Luna" there are at least 3:
1. Finally there is a studio version of "Cuncti Simus". One of my favorite songs, and the version is, by and large also very well done. The beautiful instrumental and vocal part of Sonja has been preserved. Criticism is that, unfortunately, the frame drum is too low.
2. "The" Wild Hunt "is a really nice Faun song. A ballad-like song, music of a piece with beautiful symbolism
3. In "Era Escuro" Katja may show their full vocal potential. The first song of Faun with her that the acoustic setup can be assigned to and will. I'm looking here already on the first live version in a church

What is my conclusion as an old Faun fan? Unlike "Von den Elben" There are very many positive reflections on the old faun music. Apart from the above three Außnahmen there but unfortunately in most songs little things that unfortunately rip out me from the dreamy mood again. Sometimes it's a chorus, a text passage or an intrusive choral singing. Too often, I realized that the music altogether too shallow (!) Is me lyrics and music too banal to any (!) Are. There are those moments in which I not more to hit but just discover the pop in the album and me prevents me fully involved with the album. Just as often, but I experience beautiful places, the striking Drehleiherspiel of Stefan, the beautiful flute playing of Fioana, the quiet harp playing of Oliver. The purchase of the album, however, has already paid off alone for the pieces above.

From the perspective of a "New Faun fans" it is for me, unfortunately, this time hardly possible to judge the album. It remains that Faun a wonderful band that beherschen their instruments and voices masterfully. Is this album now on but for many a new fan again to folky? Scare the instrumental parts of the pieces but rather, or can be enjoyed straight on this? If the one or the other now horrified found that the love pop band "freaky" Music makes all at once or you can enjoy the variety of instruments? Faun tries with "Luna" the balancing act between folk and pop better hinzubekommen than in "Out of the same". Whether they have succeeded, or whether it has now disappointed both sides of the music lovers will enjoy the next months show.

Overall, the album gets 4 stars from me. It is definitely musically and shoulders above "From the same" why I would like to evaluate it better. On the other hand, it is still far from a masterpiece like "Eden" and there is little pieces on the album, which can really wanting more.

I personally would like to see a lot of new fans can find joy in the return, the faun with "Luna" aims which only the first step and is then expected us to the next Faun album a perfect masterpiece this album.