Today marks the release of a new album single from HAV, a trio featuring singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Alex Ross, multi-instrumentalist /producer/ambient sound guru Jonathan Bidgood, and bass player Ian ‘Dodge’ Paterson. You may recall that their debut album Inver was a Featured Album of the Month on Folk Radio and was described by Thomas Blake as a “profoundly moving and expressive album that is the perfect antidote to quick fixes and empty gestures”.
Taken from their forthcoming album Haar (2 July on Polpols Records), which was written, recorded and mixed in various locations in Italy, Spain and the UK over three years, The Alabama features MG ALBA Scots Singer of the Year and BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year finalist Iona Fyfe.
The song tells the story of a fishing boat disaster out of the port of Buckie (Moray, Scotland) close to where Alex Ross (the song’s composer) and Iona Fyfe both grew up. Narrated by the sweetheart of one of the men lost in the tragedy, The Alabama is a personal meditation on the perilous risks that fisherman took and still take today.
Like their debut release Inver, there is a deep contemplative element to The Alabama. Alex, Jon and Ian’s playing offers some of the most beautiful, tranquil and ambient moments upon which Iona Fyfe lends the perfect voice to take us into deep emotional territory. It really is an exceptional single, a beckoning beacon of light for their new album which we’re really looking forward to.
Since the release of their debut album, Alex, Jon and Ian created this record whilst fitting in two new children, a wedding and an emigration to Spain. Many of the song ideas and field recordings come from Jon and Steph’s organic olive farm in Catalonia. The album explores the responsibilities and challenges of family lives, new joys, losses and challenges and what your “roots” really mean. It also features contributions from two incredible women; MG ALBA Scots Singer of the Year Iona Fyfe and BBC Glastonbury Emerging winner and critically acclaimed singer Bridie Jackson (formerly of Bridie Jackson and The Arbour). Drawing heavily on field recording techniques, sound manipulation, tape looping as well as traditional folk and neo-classical writing and arrangements, Haar is a single complete work in 6 parts.
The Alabama is out today and available on streaming services. It can also be downloaded via Bandcamp: https://havband.bandcamp.com/track/the-alabama-3
Pre-Order Haar via: https://havband.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Havtheband
Photo Credit: Amy Wigglesworth