Dovenest is billed as a series of "electric guitar trios" which, as a student of classical composition, intrigues me right off the bat. And from the opening bars of Starling Dodd, Maurice delivers - clear chords, familiar yet precise rhythms, and a contrapuntal nature that slowly reveals itself as you tease out in your mind what each voice of the trio is doing. But instead of leaning into prog snobbery as many guitarist instrumentalists veer (which isn't always a bad thing), Rickard opts instead for a cleaner and more straightforward take which results in something reminiscent of "stripped down" versions of rock songs but without words you know.
While there is an improvised quality, it is clearly the work of a skilled player who has no issues flitting about the frets to suit their needs. Because of the emphasis on the physical sound of the hands meeting the strings, the whole album takes on a gentle, plaintive quality - an offering of humble excellence to those who would take the time to listen. This also has the added benefit of making Rickard's guitar work recall the stylings of guitar greats like Mark Knopfler, Ben Howard, and Stanley Jordan and sometimes, like on Little Bend, as if all three were noodling together.
The titles themselves are excellently evocative, giving you an idea of what each track will bring in terms of mood and ambiance: Yewbarrow has a bass-heavy thickness and intertwining melody lines as if you were trudging through a thick forest grove while Lost River meanders casually. Massage therapists as well as enjoyers of folk, classical, classic rock, jazz, blues, and more will adore this soothing collection of thoughtful compositions.