Great things are expected of Luke Abbott’s second album – and providing you give it the time it deserves, ‘Wysing Forest’ shows itself to be an enchanting and mesmerising piece of work. There are some mysterious sounds here, Abbott somehow capturing the effects of too much sunshine (or something else!) in sounds that are compelling but also elusive. The album is carefully structured, despite initially seeming like a long improvisation – so while there are some playful, instinctive sounds from the analogue synths, there is a more rigorous plan working in the background. Initially there are no beats, but there is always the feeling that we are headed towards a big release of energy, which duly arrives with ‘Free Migration’ and ultimately ‘High Rising’. However the main part of the album is the sprawling ‘Amphis’, which Abbott reprises at the end – an unusual and quite unsettling chord progression that casts a spell. Throughout Abbott evokes a mixture of natural sounds and mechanical workings, evoking both the Norfolk countryside from where he hails, with its rich natural history, and the sound of machines and buzzing white noise. At times the inner eye processes these as dazzling reflections, or ripples in a sonic pool. If that all sounds a bit weird it’s proof of what Abbott’s music can inspire – an otherworldly but somehow deeply human piece of work that keeps on giving with each hearing. In reality the best thing to do is stop reading this and go and listen! Then you’ll see what all the fuss is about.
