The single is heavily influenced by large cityscapes, most significantly New York. Bleecker Street is a vibrant passage in the centre of Manhattan full of interesting music and art. This first melody features an unusual 5/4 time signature which continues to develop as the track progresses. We then transition into The Busker using polyrhythmic footsteps. […]
Queen of Argyll by Silly Wizard
The Queen of Argyll was always a hugely popular live song for Silly Wizard, one of Scotland’s all-time most influential folk bands. This version was recorded in front of a sell out crowd in Cambridge, Massachusetts during the band’s 1983 North American tour. The recording was originally released as 2 LPs. A repackaged and re-mastered […]
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi (O love, let me home to my mother) by Julie Fowlis
Taken from Julie’s fourth studio album, this hypnotic and mysterious song tells the tale of a young girls’ encounter with the ‘each-uisge’ or water-horse. Featuring award winning Scottish ensemble RANT, with strings arranged by flautist and composer Tom Doorley. Brought up on North Uist in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, Fowlis has been a proud standard bearer […]
Bagpipe Music by Battlefield Band
The opening track from Battlefield Band’s ‘Room Enough For All’ album, ‘Bagpipe Music’ sets to music the words of a famous poem written by Irish born Louis MacNeice in the 1930s after a visit to Scotland’s Western Isles. The superficially ‘nonsense’ poem actually passes deeper comment on what MacNeice perceived as the decline of the […]
Hi Ho Ro Tha Mi Duilich by Breabach
Ùrlar is the fourth instalment from the Scottish folk band Breabach. The name translates as ground and the music on this album was collected and composed by the band from friends, family and local musicians that have had an impact on their lives and music. Hi Ho Ro Tha Mi Duilich A 19th century emigrants […]
The Naughty Step by Peatbog Faeries
Recorded in 2011 and released on the bands 7th album that year. Based on the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog Faeries are one of Scotlands the best known names in contemporary folk music. In 2012 they were a nominee for “Best Live Act” at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, having already twice won “Live […]
The Rut by Skerryvore
‘The Rut’ is an instrumental track written by Skerryvore piper Martin Gillespie from the bands latest album ‘Chasing The Sun’ Inspired by sun-filled summers spent on Tiree that were the springboard for the band forming, ‘Chasing The Sun’ is the fifth and arguably most mature sounding Skerryvore album. Skerryvore first formed on the tiny lsle […]
Seer and the Lord by Salt House
Taken from the album ‘Lay Your Dark Low’, an original song based on the legend of the Brahan Seer, words and music by Ewan MacPherson. Acoustic four-piece Salt House is the meeting of four distinct musical minds on the Scottish scene. Their highly current sound is earthy, deep-rooted, yet eagerly progressive, built from grassroots folk […]
Queen of Elfan’s Nourice by Rachel Newton
From Rachel Newton’s album ‘Changeling’. Words taken from Child Ballad no.40, music written by Rachel Newton Rachel Newton is a singer, harpist and composer from Edinburgh. Member of The Shee, The Emily Portman Trio and The Furrow Collective as well as releasing solo albums ‘The Shadow Side’ and ‘Changeling’. Artist website: http://www.rachelnewtonmusic.com Single title: Queen […]
Baker Street by Barbara Dickson
This album was released by Barbara Dickson to keep alive the memory and awareness of the prodigious talent that was Gerry Rafferty’; the fundamental motivation behind this album and the hope that it would come to fruition. Barbara says, ‘Gerry Rafferty, was, for me, amongst the best songwriters of his generation. This is subjective of […]
