After the 2020/2021 pandemic lockdowns, I compiled during this time a new 5-part collection of bonus material for my first solo album The River called An t’Each Uisge [The Water-Horse]. This is the name given to the kelpie, the wicked (but awesome) river spirit of Scottish folklore.
This part of the digital release is called 'Part 2 - LAND' and focussing on the landscape of the River Spey. Part 1 was 'Childhood', and parts 3 to 5 will be 'Love', 'Spirit' and 'Strength', respectively.
In a nutshell 'Part 2 - LAND' is made up of 2 tunes, 2 readings and 2 field recordings and lasts 12 minutes.
So grateful to have contributions from ace writer (and my Storylands Sessions co-host) Merryn Glover, a special piece by my mother Marie-Louise Napier (a great tune writer and harp player) as well as guitarist and fiddler Innes Watson (who plays in my folk trio The Woods).
The river Spey has its very own rare variety of kelpie known as 'An t-Each Ban' (the White Horse), according to James Alan Rennie's book 'Romantic Strathspey'. This notorious water horse sprit would appear on the riverbank, its "saddle, bridle and stirrups of gleaming silver were encrusted with precious stones, white reigns and saddle-cloth of crimson velvet edged with gold." The passer-by would excitedly climb onto its back. Suddenly with a hideous scream, the horse would bolt into the river. As the rider held on for dear life, by some evil magic the skin of their hands would grow over the reigns and the spirit would drag them to their doom in the murky depths.
credits
released March 31, 2023
Full Album Credits for An t’Each Uisge [The Water-Horse]: All Parts 1 - 5.
It’s basically just a whole load of bonus tracks for my first album 'The River. In the end it turned out to be an hour and 45 minutes worth of new compositions, remixed older music, trad tunes, field recordings, storytelling, narration and poetry recitations, in 5 parts:
Part 1 Child - Featuring Kenneth Steven, Jim Macintosh & Innes Watson.
Part 2 Land - Featuring Merryn Glover, Innes Watson & Marie-Louise Napier.
Part 3 Love - Featuring Su-a Lee, Karen Hodgson Pryce, Peter Stronach, Duncan Chisholm, Innes Watson and Jarlath Henderson
Part 4 Spirit - Featuring Andrea Gobbi and David Francis
Part 5 Strength - Featuring Duncan Chisholm, Fraser Stone, David Francis, Marie-Louise Napier, Will Boyd-Wallis, Innes Watson, Steve Byrnes and Su-a Lee.
Your contribution to this release is greatly appreciated!
So, who’s actually featured on An t’Each Uisge [The Water-Horse] EP?...
Karen Hodgson-Price - poet and recitation
Jim Mackintosh - poet and recitation
Kenneth Steven - poet and recitation
David Francis - writer and storytelling
Merryn Glover - writer and narration
Marie-Lousie Napier - clarsach and narration
Jarlath Henderson - uilleann pipes
Steve Byrnes - acoustic guitar & snare drum
Innes Watson - acoustic guitar, tenor guitar & fiddle
Duncan Chisholm - fiddle
Will Boyd-Wallis - acoustic guitar
Fraser Stone - drums
Su-a lee - cello and field recordings
Peter Stronach - field recordings
Fergus Napier - fly fishing rod
Hamish Napier - field recordings, wooden flutes, whistles, piano, keyboards, programming, percussion and poems
Musicians who originally performed on the selected and remixed tracks from my albums 'The River' and 'The Woods’:
Sarah Hayes - alto flute
Martin O'Neill - bodhran
James Lindsay - double bass
Steve Byrnes - guitar and drums
Recorded by Hamish Napier & Andrea Gobbi
All tracks arranged by Hamish Napier with invaluable contributions from Andrea Gobbi
All tracks composed by Hamish Napier PRS/MCPS, except 'The Power of the River’ composed by Hamish Napier & Duncan Chisholm, and 'Music of Spey' and 'Spey in Spate’ by James Scott Skinner.
Poems by Hamish Napier, Jim Macintosh, Karen Hodgson-Pryce and Kenneth Steven.
Writers: David Francis, Merryn Glover and Elizabeth Grant (1797-1885).
Edited, mixed & Mastered by Andres Gobbi at Carrier Waves and GloWorm Recording, Glasgow.
Photos, artwork and design by Somhairle Macdonald. with some design by Hamish Napier.
Scottish mega piper Ross Ainslie. awesome self-penned tunes, banging arrangements and all-round dynamite production! Ross and I have been collaborating for years on each other's gigs and albums! Hamish Napier
supported by 10 fans who also own “An t’Each Uisge [The Water-Horse] Part 2 - LAND”
My father was born in Glasgow, yet somehow I have never visited Scotland. This lovely music sounds like my ticket of return to the country of his birth. Philip Graham
supported by 9 fans who also own “An t’Each Uisge [The Water-Horse] Part 2 - LAND”
Two amazing musicians in their own right, put them together and the result is even greater than the sum of the parts.
The goal to capture, "live," energy is achieved, such a great album! PipingJim
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