Windy & Carl, "Forest Trails" (Assemble Sound)

As a native Detroiter, I'll always have a soft spot for music that comes out of Michigan. So please indulge me as I fawn over this track from cirrus-cloud-rock healers Windy & Carl, mainstays of the great Kranky label and owners of the superb Stormy Records shop in Dearborn.

"Forest Trails" appears on a comp titled Pure Sounds of Michigan (out May 22), which is affiliated with the Pure Michigan campaign to draw tourists to the Mitten State's beautiful natural environs. (Though I lived in Michigan for 32 years, I didn't explore said environs, because I'm urban to the core, but those so inclined should put it on their to-do list.) It's very unusual for a state government arm to curate a record that goes this deep into contemplative music, with little concern for accessibility. Respect is due.

Anyway, given this agenda, Windy & Carl—who last played Seattle in 2012 at Decibel Festival—come through with a serene drifter augmented by birdsong and burbling-water samples, recorded by executive producer Blair French and audio engineer Eddie Logix at Michigan State Parks. The resulting piece is as becalming as anything in Brian Eno's ambient oeuvre. "Forest Trails" is gentle minimalism taken to the heights of blissitude. I can't stress enough how badly you need to chill to this.