by Carol Wright
Songbirds bid farewell to the day to begin this relaxing album of free-form music and nature sounds. Brothers Steve and David Gordon play guitar, flute, and piano, lyrical improvisations based on the rhythms of bird songs, crickets, and owls rather than standard beats. It's easy to let go and enjoy the resonant tones, the echoes of sound, and the carefree symphony of nature. The eight pieces have names -- "Circle of Warmth," "Nightflyer" -- but they flow together with ease. The synthesizer delay/echo on the flute on "Evenglow" is enchanting. The brothers record all their own nature sounds; this 1984 album predates the availability of most sampled sounds by several years.