Himalayas
Soundly, 2018
8/10
A Nashville singer-songwriter armed with an upright bass, Scott Mulvahill is quite versed in Americana, pop, rock, country, jazz and even chamber sounds, as evidenced by this very meticulous debut solo album.
“Begin Againers” starts the listen with soothing vocals as stand up bass helps cultivate the graceful mood that’s got plenty of soul, and “Top Of The Stairs” follows with a bouncy delivery as Mulvahill’s smooth vocals guide the playful, harmonica friendly setting.
Near the middle, “The Lord Is Coming” brings a spiritual angle to the nearly R&B climate that’s full of emotive singing, while “20/20 Vision” tugs on the heartstrings with traces of county in the sublime atmosphere. “1000 Feet”, a particularly strong track, then showcases Mulvahill’s exceptional and expressive vocals amid bare but gorgeous instrumentation.
As we get towards the end, “Move And Shake” glides with a warm rhythm that benefits from inviting vocal harmonies, and the title track exits the listen with deft plucked bass and plenty of mature texturing.
Mulvahill cut his teeth playing with Ricky Skaggs in Kentucky Thunder, who he toured with for 5+ years, and he takes that experience and parlays it into a very impressive start to his solo career.
Travels well with: Dawson Rutledge- Monsters; Radio Receiver- Radio Receiver