Right, so, Reinis Jaunais. Latvian, guitar-slinger, world-wanderer… makes sense that his new album, “Nest,” feels like opening a suitcase overflowing with… things. Not junk, mind you. More like… carefully curated curiosities. Eleven songs, eleven postcards from somewhere just beyond the familiar.
It’s world music, yes, but not in the dusty, anthropological sense. Think more… progressive fusion. A touch of the acoustic guitar played in that percussive almost dancing style, you see it in every track, a base for the other players. Erna Daugaviete’s cello weaves in and out like a ribbon caught in a gentle breeze, while Andris Buiķis on drums and Jānis Rubiks on double bass are, I don’t know. doing that job that bass and drums are made to do, lay the groundwork and do it well! And then you have Harijs Ločmelis, who knows? Possibly he knows his trumpet and the music that should come out, or perhaps someone whispered to him.
EIII, is also present adding electronic flourish. Because of course there’s an electronic music producer. Why not? This album asks “why not?” a lot, I think.
The theme? Sentimental fusion, drawn from travel, it appears. Isn’t it all, at some level? We gather, we collect, we carry, we return. Are we, perhaps, like those migrating birds, building our own “Nests” of sound and memory? Or, you know, maybe it’s a nice tune to put when you are bored of that weird jazz album that your friend said was genious.
The relaxing, calming, acoustic plays sound pretty, even surprisingly, soothing.
It’s genuinely a pleasant experience, listening to “Nest.” Beautiful is not really, I use too many words I tend not to be keen on. But yes, at the risk of using a “horrible” word. It is, beautiful!
Ultimately, “Nest” doesn’t quite demand your undivided attention, and paradoxically, that’s part of its charm. Is Reinis Jaunais onto something, or is something onto him? Perhaps both are true.
Follow Reinis Jaunais on Website, Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, YouTube and Instagram.
