Siobhan Miller – All Is Not Forgotten
Songprint Recordings (SPR004CD) – 3 April 2020
With three solo albums, and three MG Alba Scots Trad Music Award wins to go along with them, the expectations for Siobhan Miller’s All Is Not Forgotten couldn’t be much higher. Her decision to step back into a more traditional live sound was not something taken lightly. “After releasing Mercury, I really wanted to create something reflective of our live shows, mixing original songs with new arrangements of traditional songs I’ve learned and making it as raw and as honest as possible.”
Using some of the finest Scottish players, singer and guitarist Kris Drever from Lau, Breabach fiddler Megan Henderson, acoustic guitarist Innes White, Euan Burton on double bass, John Lowrie on piano and Kim Carnie on backing vocals, they adjourned to Glasgow’s Gloworm Studio and recorded the album live. Having everyone in the same room, playing at the same time, was a wise choice.
Megan Henderson’s fiddle tugs at the heartstrings on All Is Not Forgotten, while Siobhan fills a time capsule of memories, from the sound of a cricket game to the grain of a table.
Working in a traditional framework, May Morning Dew captures less of the joy and more of the sorrow. Again the fiddle provides a meditative evocation of earlier times.
The mournful lullaby Selkie tells of a woman whose child is taken away and takes on the form of the mythical creature, according to Scottish lore it is a seal in water and human on land. Part of the magic in the track comes from the shared vocals of Miller and Drever. There’s a light, loving touch to Now You Need Me, provided by piano and violin. Gentle acoustic guitars anchor I Won’t Let You Let Me Down, a song written for Miller by Burton after their wedding in 2018.
Named after an East Lothian town, Tranent is as fast-paced as the customary race after country weddings in the region. After the ceremony, men saddle-up, galloping off to the bride’s new home. The winner gets the honour of having the first dance with the bride, not to mention a kiss from the newlywed. You can feel the galloping of the horses as the song seems to pick up the pace the closer they get to the homestead.
Siobhan Miller’s All Is Not Forgotten is a perfect antidote for these unsettled times. She brings out the best in a musical landscape, from traditional to modern. Along the way, we all share the experiences that help us weather the sorrows and the joys life offers.
Pre-order now – https://www.siobhanmiller.com/shop