Nest - Fabled Lore and Hidden Stream

Fabled Lore

1. Land Behind The Mist
2. Mink Twins
3. The Elk King's Daughter
4. An Oaken Citadel


Hidden Stream

5. Enchantment For Few
6. Hideout
7. Harbinger Of A Greater Winter
8. Land Behind The Mist
9. An Oaken Citadel

The tracks Land Behind The Mist and An Oaken Citadel are included on both CDs, so for this reason I will only list the reviews for those tracks once.

A solitary flute begins to play, and the listener is taken along a journey into a separate, hidden world of mystery and beauty, as the kantele strums and a chilling voice whispers of an ancient mist from times long past. Thunderous percussion echoes around us as the flute continues to play, giving us a mental picture of the world that A. Tolonen and T. Saxell, the musicians behind Nest, have created.

Much of Nest's unique and captivating sound comes from their use of said kantele: a traditional Finnish instrument that has been used in folk music for centuries. Consisting (in this case) of 15 plucked strings; it gives the music a great deal of atmosphere and ambience, as well as a sound that reminds the listener of ancient times and mythical places.

The same voice from before begins to speak again, in a lower tone, talking again about the ancient mist. What really impresses me about Nest's music is not just the fantastic sounds, but the ability of those sounds to create vivid, imaginative worlds in which the listener travels to when they hear the music. This is the only song with speech on the Fabled Lore CD; it begins the story and explains the world of Nest, then leaves us to dwell on our own thoughts and imagination as the music takes us further away from ourselves, and into a realm of folklore and beauty, created by two brilliant musicians.

More lighthearted than Land Behind The Mist, Mink Twins further expands upon the atmosphere that was introduced previously, with many different melodies playing one after the other. The percussion in this song is particularly good here, as it is present at precise moments in the music and really completes the band's sound, but without dominating the background completely, and leaving room for the listener to focus on the other sounds that are playing. From the almost lilting kantele passages to the synthesizers that layer the song, helping to form the visual world in our imaginations, Mink Twins is an enjoyable and memorable tune.

The Elk King's Daughter is my favorite song on Fabled Lore, undoubtedly. Moving at a fairly slow pace, yet carrying more power and imagery in the notes than most musicians could hope to achieve, this song exemplifies all of the reasons why Nest is such a good band. The bass guitar by T. Saxell is noticeable here, and the notes flow very well with the kantele and the percussion. The flute from Land Behind The Mist returns here, bringing a spellbinding melody with it that gives the song an even more captivating sound. With the tune bringing to mind the stories of faerie tales and old legends, it is clear where the men behind Nest draw their inspiration from. Through music like this, these stories are spread to the corners of the world; inspiring others to create works of their own, just as Nest has. All in all, The Elk King's Daughter is a perfect song.

A slightly darker tone pervades this track, as if we, the listeners, have reached a forbidden place in the world of Nest; full of hidden secrets and mysteries. Bells, keyboards and kantele are all in harmony here, weaving more of this fantastic world before our eyes (or ears, to be more accurate). Once again, the imagery in the music astounds me..In the later parts of the song there are sections where a distorted kantele plays. I thought that while it added more variety to the song, it sounded a bit strange against the softer instruments and tunes that accompanied it. The song fades out with a gentle melody as we conclude our journey through the soundscapes of Fabled Lore, with fond memories and a desire to return.

Beginning with a chorus dark synthesizers, the first song on Hidden Stream takes us back to the wonderful, otherworldly place we had left at the end of Fabled Lore. The voices here whisper and creak, as if the ancient trees and the howling wind have been given speech so that they can tell their story..Poetic lyrics outline a man..s view of the forest surrounding him as he sits at a campfire, waiting for the night to turn to day. Although the title of this song is Enchantment For Few, the reader may be assured that the music of Nest will bring enjoyment to anyone, and is indeed enchanting for all..

The sound of flowing water is present in this song, breathing life into the memorable and peaceful melody, and making it sound as much a part of the world as the water itself. This is my favorite song on Hidden Stream, and I think of it every time I see the artwork on the CD cover (which is very good as well; A. Tolonen also does the visual art for Nest). If you want a truly immersive experience, try taking the music of Nest with you on a hike or walk through the woods; I am certain that you will enjoy it. You will find that the music further enriches the already pleasant journey, giving the listener new thoughts and even insight into the nature around them. Hideout is a wonderful song, and is masterfully composed.

Harbinger Of A Greater Winter is an intense song, far from the peaceful melodies that take up the majority of the album. That is not to say that it does not contain a great deal of beauty as well, as the instrumentation here is very well done and the kantele puts into mind the cold climate, and illustrates the lyrics perfectly..The song tells the story of a dreadful winter approaching to Northern lands, one that will swallow everything, and the attempts of the wind to warn people to flee. As the lyrics state: "My voice, so calm before, now thunders across the land; calling you to take heed, delivering news of hard times ahead". Vocals in this song are more rough than before, similar to black metal style at times, but still retain the whisper that we..ve come to know them by. A distorted kantele appears once again; adding more urgency and ferocity to the song. All of the above make this a truly good song, and presents a new side of Nest to the listener.

All of the songs have incredible atmosphere and instrumentation. The music is unique and interesting, as well as relaxing.

In some places on An Oaken Citadel the distorted kantele seemed out of place with the rest of the music.

Overall: As a blend of acoustic and ambient music with some folk touches, Nest is a unique and very enjoyable listening experience, and one that I encourage everyone to hear. A. Tolonen is involved in other projects as well, playing in bands such as The Mist and the Morning Dew and Doomsquirrel. Nest is working on a new album called Trail Of The Unwary, which, I have read, should be released before the year is up. Judging from Fabled Lore and Hidden Stream, chances are good that this one will be worth picking up as well!