It's been eight years since the release of Iron Stone, and Scottish singer/songwriter/harpist/guitarist Robin Williamson finally follows that album up with Trusting in the Rising Light, his latest for ECM Records. Joining Williamson on this rustic recording are violist Mat Maneri & percussionist Ches Smith. Together the trio offer sparse instrumentation over which Williamson lays down his charming delivery, which is part narrative and part singing, almost as if he is telling campfire stories in front of a glued audience who are hanging on is every word. Each song here has a real earthy feel, a seemingly perfect soundtrack to your next tranquil walk through vast meadows or deep forests. It's not quite jazz, not quite folk, but somewhere in between. Maneri's viola is simply gorgeous throughout, weaving in and out of Williamson's vocal passages on the stunning "Our Evening Walk" and tugging at your heart on the haunting title track.
The problem I see for some listeners is that the minimalist nature of much of Trusting in the Rising Light might cause them to lose interest about mid -way through the CD. There's not a lot that changes from track to track, and Williamson's voice is so calming that he can almost lull you to sleep, as he does on the dreamy narrative "Just West of Monmouth". "Night Comes Quick in LA" might be the closest thing to actual jazz here, as Smith's tricky be-bop drum fills propels the song into a more upbeat tempo. "These Hands" is the albums pure folk number, and wispy tune filled with soaring viola & acoustic guitar, while the calming "Falling Snow" brings up images that the title indicates. The album ends on a real high note with the chilling "The Islands of the Inner Firth", as haunting vibraphone & viola support Williamson's alluring spoken word narration.
Trusting in the Rising Light is not going to be for everyone, but there's a certain charm and underlying beauty that's hard to deny. If you are in the mood for something completely different, give this one a try.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. Trusting in the Rising Light
2. Roads
3. Our Evening Walk
4. The Cards
5. Just West of Monmouth
6. Night Comes Quick in LA
7. Alive Today
8. These Hands
9. Swan
10. Your Kisses
11. Falling Snow
12. The Islands of the Inner Firth
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