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Our Review

Joy to the World is clearly one of the most restful and soothing CDs I've heard this season. Acoustic Eidolon--Joe Scott and Hannah Alkire-presents a pleasing combination of styles. Drawing heavily from the contemporary acoustic folk genre, the music also retains a classical chamber orchestra sensibility. When mixed with occasional Celtic and New Age arrangements, this chamber-folk blend cuts across many classifications. This gives the CD broad appeal (and gives me many exciting options as I catalog this selection on the site--Woohoo!).

Joy to the World never tries to overpower; its effect is not achieved through complex techniques or studio production. Acoustic Eidolon's approach is informal, even-tempered, and light. The understatement inherent in their mostly duet arrangements makes the sound powerful. Hannah Alkire plays her cello with a smooth touch that lends the music its delicate, yet stately, quality. The deep cello voice comfortably contrasts with the staccato resonance of Joe Scott's double-neck guitjo, an ususual 14-stringed instrument with a discrete crystal clarity. The distinctive cello-guitjo mix creates striking harmonies and conjures an image of a fine-restaurant, first-date, candle-lit evening.

This is a good all-around CD from early season through Christmas Day. Joy to the World is good for parties, shopping, or drive-time; good for Republicans, Democrats, or Greens; and good for what ails you when you get the wintertime blues.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2003)

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From a letter dated September 15, 2003 -

"Joe plays a one-of-a-kind double neck (7 strings on each neck which he plays simultaneously), which adds a great visual to their music. Hannah is a classically trained cellist who studied with G. Magyar of the Hungarian String Quartet. They have shared the stage with Alex de Grassi and Michael Manring to name several and are featured on nationally syndicated "Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour", "Echoes" and NPR's "All Things Considered"."

Acoustic Eidolon is Hannah Alkire, cello and wind chimes, and Joe Scott, double-neck guitjo, guitar, mandolin, and guitar synth. Also appearing on Joy to the World are Christian Teele, percussion, Ed Contreras, percussion, and Zach Damberger, vocals.

"Eidolon" means "ideal"; it also means "an insubstantial image".

Acoustic Eidolon

Joy to the World

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Track List