A Forest

Naming their band after a thirty year old song by The Cure, A Forest didn’t seem to be the band I would take a liking to. Fortunately their music which the three-piece from Leipzig and Berlin describes as chamber pop and loop jazz doesn’t really have much in common with the British wave pioneers. The ten songs on A Forest’s debut album Leaves Leaves Fall Fall Rain Fall are anything but easy listening, and it takes a lot of time and attention to unlock the secrets of their sonic universe. But once you have found a way inside, there is no turning back anymore.

Already the opener Stereotype unveils a panoply of sounds, from sampled orchestration, mellotron to backwards played synthesizers and clicking beats, strangely united in a very unpreposterous whole led by the male and female vocalists of the band. From here on, A Forest prove that they are certainly not trying to sound like anybody else, instead weaving their own musical vision that combines the heady indietronica of The Notwist with the gloomy premonition of Portishead. Another highlight is the eight minute long My Kite where A Forest prove that they know no stylistic boundaries.

In a time where many people unfortunately don’t have the time to really get acquainted with a new artist, A Forest may run the risk of being shamefully overlooked. But those that eventually decide to invest their time and energy will be rewarded by this magical debut album of this young and very promising band. - Disagreement

Ein blass-graues Pappcover mit Magnetverschluss, geschmackvoll und dennoch unscheinbar. In Pastell. A Forest und “Leaves Leaves Fall Fall Rain Fall”. Kaum zu vermuten, das sich hier eine Handvoll kleiner knisternde und blinkender Schätze verborgen hält. Wunderlich. Versponnen. Zwischen vertrackten Beats und Pianoklänge, die wie Kieselsteine übers Wasser springen, Mann und Frau im Duett. Im Wechsel. Erzählend, singend, schluchzend, raunend, wispernd. Leise. Schön.
Drei Bäume sind ein Wald, drei Bäume sind eine Lichtung. Drei Musiker sind Franziska, Fabian und Florian. Sie nennen sich A Forest und wagen auf “Leaves Leaves Fall Fall Rain Fall” Grosses, Kleines, Leises und Zartes. Zwischen Pop, Kammermusik, Electronica, Minimalismus und Jazz gibt es 10 Songs, 10 Geschichten und 10 Gründe, diese Band und ihre Musik ins Herz zu schliessen. Und wäre ich im Wald, würde auf dieser Lichtung stehen, ich würde ihnen zurufen: Ihr habt Zukunft. - Schallgrenzen Blog