Nouse Luonto (Songs of Nordic Biodiversity) - a compilation of Finnish folk artists performing music around the theme of nature, is far better than such a dry title might hint. But in a country that still has so much wildness and caught in a changing world, it’s a topic close to everyone’s heart.

There’s always been a raw edge to much Finnish folk, and it’s demonstrated here with the raw scrape of Frigg’s “Vid Stormyren,” as strings evoke the long, barren landscape marshlands, then with Antti Paalanen's accordion and rasping voice – reminiscent of Sami joiking, on “Laula Luonolle.”

But it’s the collaborations that often prove to be the truly fertile ground. Akkajee, the pairing of Iida Savolainen and Meriheini Luoto, is breathlessly delicate and beautiful, at times so fragile that it’s easy to imagine the sound crumbling before it can reach the end.

The other outstanding combination is Ánnámarét and Maja Kauhanen (a woman who’s quietly become a real innovative force in her country’s music), with Ánnámarét’s voice sounding like a rescued archive recording framed by Kauhanen’s simple but imaginative instrumental arrangement to offer an ideal canvas.

There are a few surprises, notably avant-garde accordion player Kimmo Pohjonen, sounding astonishingly accessible and mainstream on “Unelma,” or the coming together of most of the participants for the final track, “Vaskilintu,” the album’s “We Are The World” moment, with a piece that sounds better than it has any right to do.

Albums supporting good causes can often be dutiful, tedious affairs. This, thankfully, is sprinkled with enough joys to be far from that.

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