Julie Fowlis:
Gach Sgeul:
Machair Records:
CD / download:
Out Now:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
For someone whose grasp of Gaelic rarely extends beyond 'do dheagh slainte' or 'failte', I find Julie Fowlis' playful vocals rather engaging. This, her fourth album, showcases the language perfectly, comes drenched in simple yet appealing arrangements and proffers a real sense of the other-worldly and derived from a historical place of origin, in Fowlis' case, North Uist (hence the apt Machair label I surmise).
Don't be fooled by the Joss Stone-esque artwork and photo - Every Story remains firmly rooted in the traditional with a cursory glance at contemporary folk styles throughout. And while this singer is capable of hopscotch vocalising (the repetitive Danns A Luideagan Odhar for example), Fowlis' forte is in creating an atmosphere and shaping moods with crystal-clear balladry. Listen to the delightfully sanguine Do Chalum or the mesmerising opener A Ghaoil Leig Dhachaigh Gum Mhathair Mi and you might see what I mean - regardless of the language, Julie Fowlis' unpretentious delivery ensures a captive audience. Well, with me at least. It's a form of mouth-music that launched the likes of Clannad and Runrig a few decades ago so why not this lady's career. She's already soundtracked a Pixar movie (Brave), earned herself BBC Folk Singer Of The Year and become something of a major export from her beloved Hebridean community.
Musically, Fowlis remains refreshingly grounded and long may she stay that way. Gach Sgeul might change her fortunes somewhat though - it's a terrific album that might take some patience for non-Gaelic listeners to comprehend but is so musically pure, the words become part of the package, rather than an extra. I suspect another award might be joining her previous one on the mantlepiece pretty soon. Recommended.
Gach Sgeul:
Machair Records:
CD / download:
Out Now:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Don't be fooled by the Joss Stone-esque artwork and photo - Every Story remains firmly rooted in the traditional with a cursory glance at contemporary folk styles throughout. And while this singer is capable of hopscotch vocalising (the repetitive Danns A Luideagan Odhar for example), Fowlis' forte is in creating an atmosphere and shaping moods with crystal-clear balladry. Listen to the delightfully sanguine Do Chalum or the mesmerising opener A Ghaoil Leig Dhachaigh Gum Mhathair Mi and you might see what I mean - regardless of the language, Julie Fowlis' unpretentious delivery ensures a captive audience. Well, with me at least. It's a form of mouth-music that launched the likes of Clannad and Runrig a few decades ago so why not this lady's career. She's already soundtracked a Pixar movie (Brave), earned herself BBC Folk Singer Of The Year and become something of a major export from her beloved Hebridean community.
Musically, Fowlis remains refreshingly grounded and long may she stay that way. Gach Sgeul might change her fortunes somewhat though - it's a terrific album that might take some patience for non-Gaelic listeners to comprehend but is so musically pure, the words become part of the package, rather than an extra. I suspect another award might be joining her previous one on the mantlepiece pretty soon. Recommended.