"Wood, Metal, and Wind" is the fantastic debut album by Luke Pickman. It consists of twelve beautifully written songs, each one telling its own little story. It is full of novel ideas, with diverse pieces that are deep and meaningful. In this song-by-song analysis, I present what I personally got out of each piece. If you don't want to read about all that, then skip to the end for a summation :P "Interrupted" opens the CD with a light, upbeat mood. It gave me the sense of being led into a sort of story or fairy tale, like when you read the first chapter of a book and are drawn into the plot. "Clockwork" is a very upbeat song with a great beat. It is fast-paced, and the underlying beat reminds me of a second hand ticking away (hence the clock). "Raindance" is my favorite piece on the album. The added effect of thunder creates a very realistic sense, adding a hauntingly beautiful aspect to the song. The tempo change indicating the start of the rain is perfectly executed. The four "Lands Movements" are each representative of a different terrain, and Pickman does a fantastic job creating a feel for each one. "Plains" is a very peaceful arrangement, giving one the sense of a large, quiet field, undisturbed by nothing but a calm breeze. The scales in "Mountains" flow in such a way that reminds the listener of scaling a mountain. Whereas one might expect a piece about mountains to be laden with bass and low sounds giving the mountains an intimidating feel, Pickman does quite the opposite and makes the task of scaling a mountain seem like a fun challenge. With "Forest", I got the sense of something a bit dark and mysterious in the beginning. However, as the movement continues, the tone switches to something of interest, tranquility, and wonder, as if one has advanced into the forest (though still with mysterious undertones). "Coast" delivers a more carefree, "fun" attitude. Shorter notes make one think of dancing waves and sunshine, the kind of coastline one would find at a beach. In all, the movements set a very relaxing mood. The compositions flow well and sound very natural (very effective, given the pieces are about nature). "Rising Sun" has a jazzier sound to it, making it stand out from the rest of the CD. Slower paced, it gives the tone of a lazy morning where life is still drowsily waking up. "Tropical Breeze" is similar in effect to "Coast". It as well gives off a carefree vibe. The underlying beat from the shakers creates a sense of palm tree leaves rustling in the light wind. "Moonlit Dances" is one of the most beautiful songs on the album. It flows very easily and gracefully, creating the image of shadows in the night. It changes tempo with the addition of the guitar at the end, bringing the piece to a faster-paced climax before peacefully ending the dance. "Electrik Airstream" is the most unique piece on the album. Unlike the rest of the songs, it incorporates a modern techno beat to it with electric guitar. This combined with the flute brings a very novel and eclectic sound, which Pickman put together brilliantly. "Jazz for a Clarinet Quartet" also stands out due to its lower sound, as it is performed with clarinets and not the flute. It provides an excellent finish, bringing "Wood, Metal, and Wind" to a relaxed but upbeat conclusion. All in all, Pickman's debut CD is not to miss. The titles he chose for each song could not be any more appropriate. The pieces are diverse, being both fast-paced and soothing, jazzy and techno. I really enjoyed what I could take away from the music, both in beauty and in symbolism. Just reading about it isn't enough; you have to listen to it to truly appreciate the work put into it and the beauty and creativity that came out. What may be the most amazing fact is that he arranged everything by himself, as well as played each instrument. Oh, and he's barely out of high school. That is some dedication, and tons of hard work! And for that reason, I would definitely say Pickman is an artist to follow. Pickman is one of the rare examples of a musician that shows true passion for what he does.