The world of UK folk has been rocked by the immense vocal talents of JULIE FOWLIS, who sings songs from her native Uist in the Outer Hebrides in her native Scottish Gaelic language.
Fowlis possesses an immense singing voice, and her vocal dexterity at times defies gravity – but it is the close proximity of many of these songs to her heart that seems to give her second album its unique and spellbinding resonance.
‘Cuilidh’ means many things: treasury, sanctuary, retreat, or secret hiding-place. It’s the only possible one-word description of a collection that’s not just of the heart, but in the soul
With blood ties that are interwoven in generations of Hebrides’ folk tradition, it’s easy to understand how the magic works, but at the same time Julie’s vocal talent illuminates the collection song for song.
Opening with ‘Hug air a’ Bhonad Moir’ an upbeat arrangement of two mouth music songs from Uist, the dexterity of Julie’s singing voice amazes in an intense delivery that loses none of the melody despite the high speed delivery amidst an entrancing and harmonic maze of strings.
This is followed by a North Uist love song, ‘Mo Ghruagagh Dhonn’ (My Brown-haired Lass), which is enough to make the body hair stand on end.
Family ties aren’t long in adding to the mystique. The piano-led ballad ‘’Ille Dhuinn, ‘S Toigh Leam Thu’ is quite simply enchanting – a song that was originally composed by Mairead nighean Ailein, (Great aunt of Domhnall Ruadh Choruna, one of North Uist’s most famous wordsmiths), for the man who would eventually become her husband, Iain na Carnaich (Julie’s Great-Great-Grandfather’s brother, no less)!
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‘Mo Dhomhnallan Fhein’ is a Neil MacLeod song, given new life in an eyes-closed interpretation that stirs the senses
‘Turas san Lochmor’ is another that’s close to Julie’s heart. The work of a friend’s father, it tells the story of a boat that once made frequent journeys between the islands.
‘Oran nan Raiders’ is a Finlay Morrison song about the men of Uist, promised land in return for their part in the fighting during WW1. Subsequently cheated, they were forced to raid the very land they were promised. Julie learned the song from Alick Macaulay, who taught it to her in the house on the very croft his father had secured, after disputes with the landlord had led to a jail sentence.
Instrumentation, as well as guitar, mandolin and bhodran includes pipes, whistles piano, flute, violin, viola and various percussion, all of which does the rich sense of history and tradition full justice. If any album has the power to convert you where folk’s hypnotic powers are concerned, it is this one, without doubt.
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