Scatter The Light
Musical Bridge, 2020
8/10
A Grammy winning and Emmy nominated fiddle sensation, Eileen Ivers brings us 9 originals and 2 covers on this varied and heartfelt album, where her husband and collaborator Brian Mulligan contributes much to the affair, effectively highlighting its organic energy and timeless appeal.
“Shine” starts the listen with graceful keys and soothing strings alongside smooth and expressive dual gender vocals that guide the sophisticated opener, and “Chase The Blues” follows with upbeat violin prowess that touches on many influences and emotions.
Elsewhere, “Leap Of Faith (Dream On)” brings harmonic vocals in the highly swift and memorable setting, while “Go Tell It On The Mountain” recruits horns into the bluegrassy tinted landscape. “Children Go”, one of the album’s best, then showcases multiple vocalists into a gritty, buzzing display of varied skill.
Closer to the end, “Hold On” is a pretty, gospel tune with soaring female vocals, and “You Are Strong (A Fried’s Story)” brings stirring storytelling/rapping to a very powerful exit based on a real life sexual assault.
There’s a reason why Ivers has been called ‘the Jimi Hendrix of the violin’, and her incredible performance here only further cements her as a luminary with her craft, as she retains her folk and Celtic influences but also touches on countless other ideas with the poetic and flowing Scatter The Light.
Travels well with: Seamus Egan- Early Bright; Moira Smiley- Unzip The Horizon