We are incredibly excited to share with you a beautiful song premiere from the wonderful Mairearad Green. Many of you will know Mairearad as a member of The Poozies and performing alongside Anna Massie as a duo. Tanera Talisman is taken from her forthcoming new solo album, Summer Isles, which is released on February 26th 2016 via Buie Records. This is so beautiful we couldn’t resist also making it our Song of the Day.
2014 saw Mairearad spend many weeks researching stories from the islands (an archipelago lying in the mouth of Loch Broom, in the Highland region of Scotland) as she located publications and poetry to help set the direction for Summer Isles.
The Isles have a rich and interesting history from their time inhabited by the Vikings through to the strong ties to the herring industry. And for those of you with an interest in natural history and conservation it was on the Isle of Tanera Mòr in an abandoned croft that Frank Fraser Darling finally settled with his family to farm the land. His story was told in Island Years, Island Farm which was re-published by independent publishers and good friends Little Toller (order it here).
Summer Isles is an exquisite collection of acoustic, folk and cinematic vignettes that create an overwhelming listening experience. Each track tells a story of the islands’ history, embracing a contrasting emotion from track to track.
To top it all Mairearad is joined by a host of guest musicians including legendary singer/songwriter King Creosote, Hector McInnes (vocals), Ross Saunders (bass), Scott MacKay (drums), Jo Nicolson (clarinet), Pat McGarvey (banjo), Mike Vass (fiddle), and Annie Grace, Jeana Leslie and Hamish Napier (backing vocals).
What can I say? I can’t wait to hear it!
Summer Isles is out on February 26th 2016 via Buie Records.