Scattered Into Light

Victor Ferreira has a way with evocative names: his moniker Sun Glitters embodies his music's delicate, fleeting beauty perfectly, and his second full-length, Scattered into Light, expands on its "nothing gold can stay" poignancy. Despite the album's title, this is some of Ferreira's most focused work, thanks in part to his collaboration with Sara Cappai, vocalist for the Italian dream pop outfit Diverting Duo. Cappai's vocals are lovely but unobtrusive, with her mantra-like intonations giving Ferreira's blissful atmospheres a little more shape and heft without calling too much attention to themselves. On songs such as "Only You," the duo seems perfectly content to drift along in a euphoric haze, and that's more than enough. Elsewhere, Ferreira's ambitions surface on the more complex, structured title track and "And the Sun Goes Down," which reveals a darker, more beat-driven side to Sun Glitters' music. Ferreira's ethereal, hip-hop-tinged sound isn't exactly unfamiliar -- he's in good company with Bibio, Teebs, Slow Magic, and many more -- but Scattered into Light is a welcome reminder of the unique presence he brings to this ever-growing style. ~ Heather Phares|