With the broad instrumentation of baritone guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, organ, piano, drums, violin, flute and English whistle just to name a few, there was no doubting that the sound and performance of Erik Scott’s latest creation Spirits was going to be an organic experience. Adding in his stunning fretless bass only adds credence to the album title resulting in a fluid and moving performance despite the at times moody atmosphere.

This is not your typical instrumental album as along with the organic instrumentation Erik Scott’s musical past experience is grounded in the rock genre. This has included stints with Flo & Eddie, the very brief Carl Palmer’s PM (of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame), Alice Cooper and the eclectic Sonia Dada. As a result Scott’s instrumental work has a submissive underlying progressive feel to it.

Spirits is an understated beauty that represents Scott’s third solo recording. Be aware that there are some repeated performances from his prior albums And The Earth Bleeds and Other Planet. However they have been re-recorded and remixed and thankfully Scott was kind enough to advise us of this on the back of the album cover. Keep this in mind if you plan on catching up with his recording category as after one listen to Spirits you will be moved to do so. Hopefully next time around it will be all new material.