Alterum

Alterum

by Julie Fowlis
Alterum

Alterum

by Julie Fowlis

CD

$17.99 
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Overview

Having single-handedly raised the worldwide profile of Scottish Gaelic and established herself as the world's foremost interpreter of its traditional song, Julie Fowlis has perhaps surmised that she has nothing left to prove in that regard, and so has decided to do something a bit different with this, her fifth studio album. Fans need not fear that she is going to crack out an electric guitar and a laptop, however; this is still very much a traditional folk album, with just a few subtle yet undeniable differences from what has come before. Probably the most obvious is the inclusion of songs in languages other than Gaelic, notably English. Fowlis has sung in English before, most visibly on the two songs she recorded for the soundtrack of Disney's Brave, but has never before recorded a song with lyrics completely in English on any of her own albums. Here there are two: Annie Briggs' bittersweet "Go Your Way" (on which Fowlis accompanies herself on the ukulele -- another first) and the proto-feminist "Windward Away" by Archie Fisher, on which she is backed by the great Mary Chapin Carpenter. The latter is stunningly beautiful, sweeping away any possible reservations on the part of her fans; she sings just as sublimely in English as in Gaelic. The third language sung on the record is Galician, on the lovely, bilingual "Camarinas," which sees Julie joined by Gillebride MacMillan, who has translated the song's lyrics into Gaelic. In addition to the aforementioned ukulele, there are a couple of other instrumental surprises. The haunting "Oran an Roin" prominently features the shruti box, a drone instrument more commonly heard in Indian classical music, and "Dh'eirich Mi Moch Madainn Cheothar" has almost a pop sensibility, with multi-tracked, overdubbed vocals strongly reminiscent of Enya. Elsewhere it's largely business as usual, though of course, because it's Fowlis and her band, that means work a significant cut above the rest of the pack. Other highlights include album opener "A Phiuthrag 's a Phiuthar" (boasting a lush, sweeping string arrangement) and the two lively puirt a beul sets, "Theid Mi do Loch Alainn" and "Fear a' Bhrochain/Domhnall Binn." The album is themed around "the otherworld" and as a result some of the subject matter is quite eerie and dark, but this is a more upbeat album in general than its predecessor, Gach Sgeul, and more varied, resulting in a more immediate listen. The only slight disappointment is the omission of lyrics and sleeve notes (though they are available online). Ultimately, this is another seemingly effortless triumph for Fowlis, sending her career to new and previously uncharted heights. ~ John D. Buchanan

Product Details

Release Date: 12/08/2017
Label: Machair Records
UPC: 0692264689604
Rank: 117814

Tracks

  1. A Phiuthrag 's a Phiuthar [O Sister, Beloved Sister]
  2. Camari¿¿as
  3. Fear a' Bhrochain/D¿¿mhnall Binn [The Porridge Man/Sweet-Voiced Donald]
  4. Dh'¿¿irich Mi Moch, B'Fhe¿¿rr Nach do Dh¿¿irich [I Rose Early, Would That I Hadn't]
  5. Go Your Way
  6. Dh¿¿irich Mi Moch Madainn Che¿¿thar [I Arose Early on a Misty Morning]
  7. Windward Away
  8. Th¿¿id Mi do Loch ¿¿lainn [I'll Go to Lochaline]
  9. ¿¿ran an R¿¿in [Seal Song]
  10. An Aghaidh F¿¿ilte na M¿¿r-Th¿¿r [Response to F¿¿ilte na M¿¿r-Th¿¿r]
  11. Cearcall mun Ghealaich [Circle About the Moon]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Julie Fowlis   Primary Artist,Vocals,Ukulele,Shruti Box,Low Whistle
Greg Lawson   Violin
Su-a Lee   Cello
Duncan Chisholm   Fiddle
Donal Lunny   Bodhran
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh   Vocals
Michael McGoldrick   Flute
Ewen Vernal   Double Bass
Kobus Frick   Violin
Fiona Stephen   Violin
Donald Shaw   Piano,Harmonium
Eamon Doorley   Viola,Guitar,Bouzouki,Percussion
Mary Chapin Carpenter   Vocals
Gillebride MacMillan   Vocals
Aoife Ni Bhriain   Viola,Fiddle
Rhoslyn Lawton   Viola
Tony Byrne   Guitar

Technical Credits

Alex Hawley   Engineer
Paul Gray   Design
Traditional   Composer
Donogh Hennessy   Engineer
Donald Shaw   Arranger,String Arrangements
Eamon Doorley   Arranger,Producer,String Arrangements
Julie Fowlis   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement,String Arrangements
Archie Fisher   Composer
Calum Malcolm   Mixing,Engineer,Mastering
Ciaran Byrne   Engineer
Craig MacKay   Photography
Annie Briggs   Composer
Gillebride MacMillan   Translation
Aoife Ni Bhriain   Harmony
Catriona Montgomery   Poetry
Tony Byrne   Arranger
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