Nest - Woodsmoke.

This is a band I discovered by accident, whilst putting my entire music collection onto my new laptop.

Ages ago I had downloaded a few Agalloch CDs. Agalloch and Nest had recorded a split together at some stage, which I wasn't aware of then. In my downloading, I apparently acquired this Nest album without realising it. I'd never checked the folder until now, and I'm glad that I did, yet wish I had done so earlier.

Nest are a two piece Finnish outfit who create beautiful ambient/folk music, mostly featuring the kantele, a traditional Finnish instrument. The songs are truly beautiful, with sounds of nature and a spaced out feel. The musicianship is brilliant and simple, creating a relaxing, mellowed out musical style that is very easily comparable to Agalloch.

Woodsmoke is their first full length, full of themes and imagery of the wilderness. The Silvershade Lynx is a gentle start to the album, with flutes playing throughout, creating a soft haunting feel to the music. Each song seems to have a distinctive sound; The Call Of The Wild has a soft earthy drone that runs throughout the song, changing pitch on the odd occasion and By The Healing Waters living up to the name by including the calming sound of running streams.

Each song seems to fit its title perfectly. Summer Storm is about as erratic as this CD gets, as if it is reflecting an actual storm. Calmly Passing Monument features music that could easily be mistaken as a lost Enya track, with the exception of the male vocals that overlap. Courting is an airy, romantic track. Dainty little tunes from each instrument included in the song give the illusion that perhaps you are courting, or being courted, and engaging in a lovely dinner via candlelight on a balcony just after sundown.

It is not surprising if in listening to this CD, you feel like you are currently situated in the forest, perhaps roaming the woodland or foraging for food; setting up camp or merely exploring. This is one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard; the Finnish can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. I highly recommend this CD if you're looking for something different, or just wanting to relax and wind down.

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