MUSIC REVIEW: A TRICK OF THE WIND

            Erik Scott has taken full reigns of his creativity and showcased the extent of his abilities on his latest release A Trick of the Wind. Celebrating ten years of a positively successful career in the New Age music universe, Scott’s latest album resonates with the sounds of a man sure of himself and his creative vision. With his last release In the Company of Clouds winning two ZMR awards, it seems he used that success to fuel his next work and take it to the next level.

            The thing that I most admire about this collection of songs is that they are unpredictable. They keep a similar theme throughout but fearlessly mix things up to keep the listener intrigued. Right off the bat, the opening track, “Wings,” flows in gracefully with the use of delayed fretless bass and soft percussion. As the song progresses, the layers of synthesizers, added percussion, and female vocalizations start to fill in the blanks until a gust of wind welcomes in a sitar and additional male vocalizations. Just like that, the song goes from a jam to a full-on celebration of various sounds. “Ghosts of Storyville” is another piece that takes unexpected turns. Starting off with a simple pulse and some understated vocalizations, the song transforms into something much more jazzy. It’s reminiscent of something that would be in an old noir movie but with Erik’s New Age twist.

            The title track, “A Trick of the Wind” is a song that incorporates a lot of traditionally New Age elements yet still remains entirely unique to Scott’s style. The tinkling synthesizer and his use of delay emanate a feeling of projecting through the astral plane while his masterful work on the bass provides a grounding element. Though it is one of the more straightforward songs on the record, it still succeeds in conveying a strong mood. “The Invisible Wand” focuses on flow and feels more so like a jam between a group of kindred spirits. The breezy structure of the song is reminiscent of gentle waves, accented by a beautiful female voice. Keeping the same spirit, “Born Dreaming” is another beautifully flowy song that progresses into a dramatic crescendo. The album closes with a very playful track titled “A Child Remains.” Erik introduces new sounds such as synthetic wind and string instruments that help to guide the element of lightheartedness into the final track.

            Without a doubt, Erik Scott is a truly creative soul who has managed to produce yet another uniquely-individual contribution to music. With his trademark vision and dedication to the craft, one can only imagine what he will dream up next. For more information on Erik, visit his website at www.erikscottbass.com, and enjoy the video for "Salooka" on YouTube.

Samantha Garcia, Being