Nominated for ambient album of 2018 by One World Music Radio and Included in Kathy's list of favorites for that year:

mainlypiano.com/favorites/kathys-favorites-2018

The death of my baby brother is something I never thought I'd live to endure, after all, it's not the natural order of things. It brings chaos of unspeakable proportions internally and shows itself externally in simple things like forgetting things I would usually remember or reacting emotionally to events or words which otherwise wouldn't have such an impact on me.

In this moment, I still feel like it's a bad dream, something that happened to someone else and yet, when I write these words, I am emotional so it must have really occurred on that Thursday night in November of 2017.

Grief is a strange animal, it comes and goes unexpectedly and unpredictably, one moment washing me to the depths of a bottomless ocean of unrelenting tears and then, a cognitive denial that says "this didn't happen because I wasn't in the same room he was in when he died after taking his last rasping breath".

This album then, is an album of grief and sorrow because I will never be the same after losing a part of myself. At the same time, it is a forward looking concept because The reality is that I have to create a new normal and know that there is healing after grief, and the healing comes in the memories, the times when I will be able to talk about Joe and not cry because of the emptiness but smile and look fondly on the memories I have of the life and legacy that he left for all of us, himself, his humor, his love, the great man that he was and the spirit of calm that he will always be, watching over all those who he held dear, knowing that he's just around the corner, on another plane of existence, waiting for the time when we will all be reunited in love when the afterlife is upon us and we all travel through the door of eternity to a new cosmic address.

There are few who understand the pain of grief other than those who go through it, and then arrive on the other side of the darkness of this most testing of emotions, this release entitled In a Dark Room, a Single Candle is Lit in Memoriam for Those Whose Lives Were Incomplete, is the continuing journey from that darkness of the loss of his younger brother for the artist, the healing grows with each minute that passes and this cathartic voyage of sound will most certainly help that process immensely.
The stillness and lack of linear time in the first, and quite emotional and breath taking opus of, If You Watch, You Will See the Hand of God Putting the Stars Back in Their Skies One By One, is outstanding. The deepness of this track must not be skimmed over; here is a sense of vastness that only the infinite universe can provide, the ethereal and mystical elements of Lawlor’s synths manifest something almost incalculable in terms of a dimensional musical infrastructure, when you listen to this, you are completely there, with no form, like we all must be at some stage, at one and within the all-encompassing nature of this vast continuum called the universe.
If Tears Could Build a Stairway has the energy of light and shadow about its overall construction. On one hand, the performance has a lighter mood about its essence, but the underlying juxtaposition of musical genius holds firm with such a deeply felt sense of sadness. This duel natured offering holds the reality of an imploring emotive truth, that if he could, he would build a river of musical tears, to bridge the void and change time itself.
We can now, with great respect move to the next piece entitled Your End, Which is Endless, Is As a Snowflake Dissolving In the Pure Air. The cleverness of arrangement and creation of composition is strong in this one, and if you listen closely you will indeed get a sense through the performance on keyboards, of that very snowflake disappearing into what appears to be a state of nothingness, but as we know there is more than a single snowflake, and when ones form changes, it then manifests itself into something new entirely, so listen to this track intently and feel what you hear.
On Tears Are the Natural Bleeding of An Emotional Wound, we have a strong and empowering long form composition, the process of feeling the pain grows with an intensity that is like nothing else you will ever feel. This near on twenty minute opus of reflection and emotion contains some of the most incredibly played synth work you may have heard in the ambient genre. The organ here is paramount to the power of the piece, the floating nature of the track partners that perfectly with an almost symbiotic level of musical attraction. This isn’t just an arrangement of a dark ambient nature; Scott Lawlor is literally opening up realms of sanctuary to heal within, one after the other.
We now arrive at the portal of Unable Are the Loved to Die. For love is Immortality. The title of this track is a statement of complete truth, but there are many weaves and corridor’s to navigate and travel within it before you find your own refuge. This dream like arrangement is a powerful safe harbour to reside in; its swirling synths create a determined sense of energy that is quite addictive to get lost within and manifests the energy of a latent feeling of hope.
Closed Eyes, Heart not Beating, But a Living Love, this is our last room of musical emotion that we will visit on this venture through grief. At just short of half an hour, we have a true long form symphony of the soul, perhaps even representing a journey of souls? Musically this is so very moving and quite heart rendering, but even through desperation we can get inspiration. The composition perhaps relays the reality of the ending of the physical body and the transition to that universal oneness I spoke of earlier. However those left behind; still have to deal with memory, the quietness of silence and feelings of regret. All this is within here for me, it is a most vast and lengthy arrangement, but trust me, you will not even notice the time at all, if you simply let go and allow the senses to bathe in this quite powerful opus of emotion.
In a Dark Room, a Single Candle is Lit in Memoriam for Those Whose Lives Were Incomplete, is Scott Lawlor’s continuing journey of healing, and music is the key to that door of emotional freedom; it is the panacea to cure all ills, and within this release Lawlor’s honesty and integrity shines powerfully, and his musical genius makes him the creator of six ambient realms and a myriad of musical dimensional sanctuary’s to take refuge within.
Review by Steve Sheppard, One World Music Radio

"In my review of Scott Lawlor’s previous work Transition, I introduced him and his unique artistry with an overall suggestion inspired when I realized he
has over 200 releases in the ambient music genre. I wrote: “If you are into soulful, thought provoking and consciousness expanding ambient music, Scott
Lawlor is a composer and artist who needs to be on your musical radar.” A casual visit to his bandcamp site (scottlawlor.bandcamp.com/music) can
be a bit overwhelming because of so much content that reaches back a long way. So where to begin immersing in these sounds, poetic titles and essays about
his inspiration? It’s wonderful when artists are so prolific, but everyone needs the perfect entry point.

For me, that point is the incredible trilogy (so far) which he has written in tribute to his beloved brother Joe, his struggle with stage 4 cancer, his
passing/transition and now the emotional struggle in the wake of losing a beloved soul far too soon. The first recording, the “open door” to the experience,
was Look Unto the Heavens, an expansive search for a meaning to suffering that sets up Transition.

Lawlor’s just released third recording in this series has a more elaborate title, perhaps indicative of the multiple levels of emotional upheaval the grieving
experience, followed by a generally sanguine acceptance of the reality of what has happened and an attempt to discover a place in his heart for creating
a new normal – even though nothing will ever be the same. In his general notes on “In a Dark Room, A Single Candle is Lit in Memoriam for Those Whose Lives
Were Incomplete,” the  artist writes that smiles propelled by wonderful memories that help fill the emptiness. Lawlor mentions Joe’s “humor, his love,
the great man he was and the spirit of calm that he will always be, watching over all those who he held dear.” As we listen to Lawlor’s emotional, sometimes
turbulent but ultimately soothing and healing outpouring, we can sense that his brother is not far off, guiding Lawlor’s hands over the synth and piano
and then easing away to wait for a heavenly reunion that faith will bring them one day.

Lawlor sets the stage for the 70+ minute journey with a nearly 11 minute, chorally enhanced piece that introduces his sense of faith and artful imagery
connected to his music: “if you watch, you will see the hand of God putting the stars back in their skies one by one.” I love how he provides such a gorgeous
visual for us as we close our eyes and listen in on a choir crying out reverently but also with questions (like the Psalmists of old) to the Almighty.
As the spacey ambience grows in intensity, those voices seem to rise to become part of a higher realm deeper universal truth. The voices likewise ease
from soft to loud and back as if trying to find their way between mourning and healing. It’s a beautiful tension.

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The voices are in a full embrace of our senses to help guide the way to the second track, “If tears could build a stairway,” a hypnotic, meditative peace
that moves from heavier dark droning tones (presumably, the heaviness of a heart in transition) to a lighter atmosphere underscored with the sense of darker,
lingering sadness. It’s as if a stairway is being constructed with sadness at its base, and with every step we rise higher into a slightly less burdened
future – all the while knowing that the sadness will be at the core of everything for a long time.

Just as I loved “The Last Goodbye” on Transition, I connect powerfully to track 3 because of Lawlor’s gorgeous piano melody, which brings all the light
and dark tones of universal contemplation down to a very tangible human level. “Your end, which is endless, is as a snowflake dissolving in the pure air”
is stark but thoughtful, offering a beautiful way to view the ephemeral nature of love. It’s here, its physical manifestation stays for a time, then dissipates
into a much larger and ultimately more meaningful realm. The shifting shades of darkness and light, divinity and humanity are stunning too behold here.

On “Tears are the natural bleeding of an Emotional Wound,” Lawlor introduces the sacred realm with dramatic long notes on an organ as transcendent harmonic
colors swirl around, pull back and re-emerge. As the 20 minute piece progresses, the organ takes powerful precedence then recedes and returns – implying
tension, wanting to be reverent in the presence of the divine, but still having doubts in its goodness and ability to heal and reconcile. Emotions are
messy, chaotic things sometimes and they get in the way of the peace we seek. But we are always striving.

The symphonic crescendo at the end of Track 4 bleeds into the beginning of the next piece, “Unable are the loved to die. For love  is immortality,” a louder,
brasher, bolder expression of love, hope, faith and all the struggles inherent in embodying the better angels of our nature in the light of what we have
lost. There is a clanging bell sound, prominent then distant, the perfect metaphor for the gathering then dissipating chaos. Lawlor takes his time with
the closing 27 minute track “Closed Eyes, heart not beating, but a living love,” a bright awakening full of horn sounds creating light above the swirl
of emotional ambience beneath it.

The title of this piece sums up everything about the transition of a loved one and our response to it. They’re at peace, eyes closed, heart not beating,
but yet they live, their love fills us endlessly and becomes part of the universe in ways it could never achieve in human form. Lawlor infuses this expansive
soundtrack to those powerful contemplations with moments of rising light and dark echoing emptiness, but ultimately fills that sense of loss with heavenly
infusions of energy that helps our hearts and love itself go on.

Ultimately, what anyone writes about a project like In a Dark Room…or its predecessors are simply words that point to an experience that cannot be quantified.
In losing a dear musician friend once, I wrote a whole book about him and our friendship, to celebrate a legacy and inspire. I was limited by language.
I feel a similar limitation in listening to so called healing songs with lyrics that are specific and don’t capture the whole experience. The incredible
thing about what Lawlor has done is opening a door to this dying/mourning/longing/healing realm that is beyond language and thus not subject to words trying
to capture what ultimately cannot be expressed with them. His music is a blessing to all who have been there, and all who will be – and all those who simply
want to discover what ambient new age music is all about."

review by Jonathan Widran
www.jwvibe.com

"In a Dark Room, a Single Candle is Lit in Memoriam for Those Whose Lives Were Incomplete is the third ambient album in a trilogy by Scott Lawlor. The series began when Scott’s younger brother, Joe, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and was at stage four of the disease. The music explores the search for answers and the strength to get through such a crisis. Look Unto the Heavens (the first album) was released in July 2017. The second album, Transition, was composed very shortly after Joe’s death and describes some of the feelings and experiences Scott had during that time. It was released in December 2017. This third album is an expression of the emotional aftermath that such a traumatic event has on those who remain - grief, disbelief that the event ever happened, and the long process of healing. It was released in May 2018. As I mentioned in my review of Transition, I sincerely hope that by putting such intense and personal experiences to music, Scott was and is able to derive some of the healing comfort that I’m sure many others will receive from this music.

Although this album contains six individual pieces, there are no breaks between them, offering 74 minutes of uninterrupted music. This album is much darker and more despairing than the previous two and reflects that the full impact of a loss such as this is often delayed for months or even years. In Scott’s words: “Grief is a strange animal, it comes and goes unexpectedly and unpredictably, one moment washing me to the depths of a bottomless ocean of unrelenting tears and then, a cognitive denial that says ‘this didn't happen because I wasn't in the same room he was in when he died after taking his last rasping breath.’”

The six tracks all have very descriptive titles and range in duration from just under five minutes to twenty-seven minutes. The album begins with “If you watch, you will see the hand of God putting the stars back in their skies one by one,” an expression of deep grief with choral voices (no lyrics) and ambient orchestral sounds. “If tears could build a stairway” expresses profound loss and a sense of unreality - the numbness that follows a crisis. “Your end, which is endless, is as a snowflake dissolving in the pure air” adds the piano to the ambient strings and voices, expressing a strong feeling of solitude. “Tears are the natural bleeding of an Emotional Wound” exchanges the piano for the organ, going into a pitch black expression of despair and loss. “Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality” offers fragile feelings of hope. “Closed eyes, heart not beating, but a living love” is the 27-minute sixth track and is a bit more orchestral, although still very ambient. Emotions gradually flow from one to another with subtle changes as healing begins ever so slowly.

Scott Lawlor has created a monumental work with these three albums. It is intensely personal and yet expresses feelings that are universal. Through this music, Joe Lawlor’s spirit and the love that his family and others had and have for him will live on and continue to touch many lives."
Kathy Parsons
MainlyPiano.com