Produced by: Carl Allocco and Parker Scott Meanwhile Records MWR 04162000

The listener is hooked from the outset as the singer kicks off with an unaccompanied chant that segues into a bright and fresh sounding ‘Let it Sing’ from ‘Violet’. This song represents one of three basic styles that are intermingled on the CD. ‘Backfield in Motion’ and ‘Boundless Faith’ have a similarly ‘pop’ feel with a crisp, very ‘radio-friendly’ sound. These are all good fun, very listenable, though ultimately perhaps rather undistinguished. A second, stronger, aspect is exemplified by ‘River Man’ and ‘Waiting for My Heart to Stop’, both imbued with a more folk-like ambiance. This offers the listener the chance to appreciate the warmth of Scott’s singing and his deceptively straightforward way of allowing the songs to speak to the audience in a way that marks out the best folk singing.

Lying between the pop and folk tracks is a diamond layer of ballads sung with a beautiful lack of artifice and a heartfelt commitment to the lyrics. Jimmy Webb’s ‘Shattered’ and Janis Ian’s ‘She Must be Beautiful’ receive gentle and expressive renditions that are stunning in their simplicity. Underpinning each performance is a sure technique that supports the songs and allows the singer to highlight the words he wants to and move smoothly between phrases. The production values are well-judged, too, with just enough reverb to fill out the sound and bring the singer to the foreground of the recording.

Only one standard features on the recording, Scott offering an interesting take on ‘My Funny Valentine’ with its staccato acoustic guitar accompaniment supporting a well-focused vocal performance. This is a clever track to finish with, hinting at what else might suit Parker Scott and, with only eight other songs on the album, definitely leaving the listener wanting more.