by Brian Rill
ELM – Darkness Made Light Known
2014 elmtunes.com
In the damp, waterlogged hills of rural Scotland sits an old house in autumn. Vines ascend its austere stone walls, escaping an abundant landscape. Over dozens of miles a proud and majestic river known by the name of Orchy weaves under a verdant green glen, fast flowing and alive with growth. Meeting with a country road near Kilchurm Castle, the Orchy spills into Loch Awe. There are ghosts of the 15th century still roaming over this countryside, manifesting in the form of traditional songs. Elisha McArthur captures these sprites within her new concept album, Darkness Made Light Known.
Elisha, performing under the stage name of ELM, is a Salida native. For years she has been playing, teaching and rafting the upper Arkansas River, as well as waterways across the world. She has produced an opulent work of instrumental fiddle-playing with a tympanic acoustic guitar while her sweet vocals softly accompany many of the 13 traditional, tribute and originally composed songs. The recordings, from Evergroove Studio, in Evergreen, Colorado, recreate the timbre of instruments resonating among wet stone walls, and vocals that dance around a dry campfire.
The majority of songs and tunes on Darkness Made Light Known are lucid reclamations of ancient traditional melodies, inspiring the listener to peer into rich, primordial landscapes of Irish and Scottish origin. Included also are two tribute songs where Elisha, in her own style, honors the work of artists such as Sting, with her cover of his 1993 Billboard hit, Fields Of Gold. She enlists the help of local mandolin player Mike Rosso on the river-running anthem Rio Grande, from songwriting duo Dave Alvin and Tom Russell.
Among the three originally composed songs, River Lullaby includes natural sounds of a southwestern brook and backup vocals from Elisha’s daughter, Charlotte. A Single Mom’s Lament is a striking tribute to single parents and an encouraging score that helps one push through frustrations of modern life. Serendipitous is a soulful ballad that suggests our struggles are willing to give way to a universal flow conspiring on our behalf.
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Darkness Made Light Known is a CD for album lovers old and new. The hard copy includes full color photography illuminating the concept and spotlighting the performer while showcasing the instruments used to create this masterwork. Lyrics to all songs are supplied on fold-outs within the CD cover. As a bonus, 20 percent of all digital download sales from her website, elmtunes.com, benefit river conservation group American Whitewater. From traditional songs like Hills Of Glen Orchy and Bedlam Boys to The Fair City/ Da Full Rigged Ship, the concept of this collection flows like a rivulet into the sea. Closing with a spoken-word bonus track where Elisha describes the adventure of a lifetime as cataloged on this independently produced CD. For it is only through experiencing darkness that we can better know the light. g
Brian Rill is a troubadour, composer and poet.
