6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Gaelic group Sian hit the road ahead of new album launch
Originally brought together by the Blas festival in 2016, to celebrate the work of female bards, Sian comprises three of today's most exquisitely gifted Gaelic singers – Ceitlin Lilidh, Eilidh Cormack and Ellen MacDonald – accompanied by in-demand multi-instrumentalist Innes White.
With direct connections among the singers to Lewis, Skye and North Uist, their arrangements match deep feeling for tradition with stunning, boldly imaginative harmony work, which has seen them likened to The Staves and even Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
The first single from the album, Seo a' Bhliadhna, was released on Friday – a traditional lament with connections to the Isle of Skye and Raasay, and particularly the MacLean family.
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Seo a' Bhliadhna features guest musicians James Lindsay and Charlie Stewart.
The album is produced by Sian's Innes White and Innes Strachan (Niteworks, LUSA), and was recorded and mixed by Iain Hutchison at GloWorm Recording. The release date for the full album is yet to be announced.
Cormack said: 'Seo a' Bhliadhna is a beautiful lament, closely connected to the Isle of Skye and Raasay song tradition.
'The composer tells of love and loss in a terrible year – grieving not only her brother and sister, but the man she loves, the golden-haired hunter.
'We wanted to approach the song with respect and care, and I hope listeners can feel that in the arrangement.'
MacDonald added: 'The reason I love Sian so much is that you can do so much with just voices.
'You can come up with really cool sounds with just voices.'
Ahead of the album release, Sian will tour Scotland throughout this month, performing new material live for the first time.
The tour begins tomorrow night in Arisaig's Astley Hall.
Tour dates: June 2, Arisaig, Astley Hall; June 3, Inverness, Eden Court; June 4, Isle of Skye, An Crùbh; June 5, Isle of Raasay, Isle of Raasay Distillery; June 6, Glasgow, The Reeling; June 11, Edinburgh, Traverse Theatre.
Click here for tickets.
