The Last Star: Heidi Talbot

There are several quite lovely threads that weave through Heidi Talbot’s recording The Last Star. Talbot’s voice and her gifts as a musical storyteller form a bright skein bringing together songs from past and present, tales of humor and sorrow, and characters foolish and wise.

Each of those characters is somehow involved with love: that’s another thread. It might be of the rambling and funny sort, in the song Bleecker Street, for example, or a traditional tale that starts out one way and ends in quite another, in Willie Taylor. On the other hand, it could be a tale of love, loss, family, and change, as in Cherokee Rose, or a quiet bit of reflection as in The Last Star.

Another bit of the tapestry Talbot offers is the fine arrangements and excellent support from backing players including Kris Drever, John McCusker (who produced the album), Eddi Reader, Michael McGoldrick, and Karine Polwart. There’s no doubt that Talbot can well center a project which includes such a range of top notch musicians; there is equally no doubt that they bring out fine talents to support her, offering contributions which reveal more with each listening.

As does the whole album itself. Talbot, who spent five years as lead singer with the top Irish American band Cherish the Ladies, has been building her solo career for some while now -- this is her third solo disc -- and with each project she becomes at once more adventurous and at the same time more focused in her song choices and in her way of singing them. This time, these choices have led her to a strong helping of music from the tradition, as well as several well chosen contemporary songs. The centerpiece of the album, both musically and emotionally, could well be the title track, The Last Star, which is a thoughtful, mature reflection on some the harder lessons of love and change. Talbot wrote this one herself, and the very spare arrangement fits the quiet mood of the song exactly. Another stand out, on the quieter side of things, is Scottish songwriter Karine Polwart’s Start it Over Again. If you are looking for a lively bit of style that’ll have you singing along, Talbot weaves the sea chanty Sally Brown into the mix, and you can waltz along to Tell Me Truly, which is one of those songs which contrasts sad lyrics with happy melody.

The Last Star is a fine recording altogether, one which leaves you feeling as though you’ve just had an interesting, at times funny, at times thoughtful, always engaging conversation with a friend, a conversation to which you will choose to return again.

Talbot, who is from Ireland, is based these days in Edinburgh. She tours often in the UK and Ireland, and in December she and McCusker will be appearing at several concerts in New England as part of the Christmas Celtic Sojourn program. If you should have the chance to see them live take it. You’ll be well rewarded.



you may also wish to see
Music Road: heidi talbot: in love+light
Music Road: Voices: Cherish the Ladies
Music Road: Julie Fowlis:Uam

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Music for St Andrew's Day: music of Scotland

Saint Andrew’s Day, November 30th, is a holiday that’s close to home for every Scot, at home and abroad, and even more so in this year of Homecoming Scotland. There are concerts, light shows, and celebrations of all sorts, and a general throwing wide the doors to the winter holidays. From the northern isles to the western ones, from Lerwick to Galloway and Oban to Aberdeen, it’s a time of festivity. If you’d like music to go along -- or perhaps delight the Scots on your Christmas list -- here are several ideas.

Capercaillie Roses and Tears

Capercaille is one of the best loved and indeed most musically adventurous of Scottish bands. They've taken their musical tastes all across the world, For this recording, though, they bring things back home, focusing on music in English and Scots Gaelic that holds close to the Atlantic fringe where most of the band members grew up. Outstanding instrumental tracks from the band and fine vocals from Karen Matheson show the group in top form. Notable cuts include the Gaelic groove of Him Bo and the anti war song Don’t You Go.

Lauren MacColl Strewn With Ribbons

Fiddler Lauren MacColl has a sure touch and a distinctive tone, and she’s a flair for graceful composition and song selection, as well. Here she draws from music collected and composed by four musicians from her native Ross-shire area, mixed with her own pieces. It’s a fine work in which you can almost hear the voices of the hills. Barry Reid on guitar and Mhairi Hall on piano, who usually work with MacColl in concert, add to the music with their creative support for MacColl’s fiddle lines.

Eddi Reader Sings The Songs Of Robert Burns

Indeed she does. Reader has said that she wanted to present Burns conversationally, as things might be if you happened into a pub in his times. She has done that, and offers the songs in such a way that they are conversational to today as well. There’s one non Burns song, Wild Mountainside by John Douglas, which is a real standout its own. There’s an extended version of the recording with tracks collected from other projects, which is worth seeking out, but the original release stands fine on its own as well.

Julie Fowlis, Eamon Doorley, Ross Martin, and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Dual

Astute readers will note that this appears on my suggestions for Irish music for your holiday gift list, as well. That’s because it’s an exploration of the connections and intersections of songs in irish and Scots Gaelic. It’s a very fine project, one you’ll be well able to enjoy whether you understand a word of either language ot not.
more about that here

Jim Malcolm First Cold Day

Not for nothing has Perthshire native Jim Malcolm been given top honors in Scotland as both singer and songwriter. He’s also a fine song picker too, as for example with the first track on the collection, The Valley of Strathmore, a reflective, haunting ballad of regret by Andy M Stewart. The original An Hour in the Gloaming is a tribute to Robert Burns and to the joys of fishing that you have to be neither a fisherperson nor a poet to enjoy. Down in Alabam is a funny take on some of the food Malcolm has encountered on his travels in the southern United States, while Schiehallion grew out of a project he did with Perthshire School children.

You may also wish to see

Emily Smith: Too Long Away

season of change: music for autumn

malinky: flower & iron

Eddi Reader, Emily Smith, Robert Burns

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