Erin Ivey & Tosca String Quartet

In the galaxy of Austin songwriting stars, few, if any, have approached Erin Ivey's steady growth. Every time she enters the studio, the results are adventurous and stimulating. At seven songs, Whisper of the Moon straddles the line between LP and EP, yet feels lamentably brief. On an inspired set of lullabies and fairy tales, Ivey's translucent vocals hover over Tosca String Quartet's cushioning chamber music in an aural environment that's sweet without being syrupy. One song, "L.T.F.D." (Long Tall Fantastic Dream), with its stuttering rhythm and shady overtones, could pass for sexy. Meanwhile "Jack's Lullaby," a co-write with the equally venturesome Darden Smith, appropriates from Mother Goose in a novel way, and "Rest Your Head" no doubt will achieve its goal of inducing sleep in children. Ivey's packaging also remains inventive, noted illustrator Graham Franciose providing whimsical album art, and DVD visuals capturing all seven songs in the studio, although to these ears the CD mix sounds a bit deeper. Whisper of the Moon notches Ivey's second successful Kickstarter project in a year, and with the results so satisfying, her horizon seems endless.