Paul Forrest
This artist (and it is his real name) is a UK musician who has tried to represent,
as closely as possible in musical form, the feeling and spirit (or energy)
of trees. Each piece on this album is named and themed around a type of tree.
It originally came to us just for review but upon hearing it here was one
of those albums we really wanted to share as widely as possible. So we got
in touch and here we are.
Musically it is structured around delicate melodic guitar figures which are
set amongst forest recordings, woodwind instruments and bass. There is a light
folk quality to the music with playful melodies that evoke the beauty and
mystery of the woods.
The music has an optimism and innocence that harks back to the psychedelic
era of the late Sixties although the music is a mixture of folk, medieval
and classical. It reminds of Bert Jansch's 'Avocet' instrumental album or
John Renbourn's late 1970s and early 1980s pieces such as 'Nine Maidens'.
Without being twee or over whimsical the pieces have their air of joy found
in Vashti Bunyan's songs. Although there is a deliberate simplicity to the
music, it is full of inventive melodic arrangements and instrumental variation.
There is clearly reading the sleeve notes a strong intent in the music, to
express something greater than merely melody, but to connect in some unknowable
way with the trees themselves. If they speak in these pieces, if we cannot
understand them we can at least luxuriate in the tranquil beauty of pieces
like 'aspen' with its glinting acoustic guitars and lazy countryside flute.
'Spruce' is set near a stream and has a spritely quality whereas 'Beech'
has a languid afternoon reverie. 'Pear' is set amongst a chorus of birds and
'Apple' has a poised Tudor feeling. 'Chestnut' is a little darker at first
with a cold wind then marvellous integration of bird calls into the guitars.
'Oak' sounds a little like a Nick Drake instrumental and then the album is
over.
It is a set which works as both active listening and a calm place of music
to sit in the background. Without ever becoming merely just ambience, this
does set and develop a mood that does not require the listeners full attention
(but certainly rewards it). It's rural idyll evokes John Cameron's 'Kes' soundtrack
or his work with Donovan and the guitar work has touches of Adrian Legg's
and his superlative 'Guitars and other Cathedrals'.
For more information visit the artists website at www.musicofthetrees.com
To purchase visit http://www.musicofthetrees.com/purchase.html
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