Last month, we shared the news of a new album from Broadside Hacks, a new collective derived from a group of like-minded musicians with a wild and lustrous curiosity for traditional, radical folk heritage. The collective features a wide array of musicians that include Katy J Pearson, Pixx, Junior Brother, Lankum, Sorry, Yorkston Thorne Khan, Gently Tender, Blaenavon, Shovel Dance Collective, Brigid Mae Power and more. They are set to release a 17-track collaborative compilation album on vinyl titled ‘Songs Without Authors Vol.1’ on September 24th, which will also be available digitally via Broadside Hacks Recordings.
Today they are releasing another single from Dargah Lynch of Lankum and Edinburgh-based artist Rosa Zajac. The song is not one you hear very often, the last time album I heard it on was Alasdair Roberts 2010 album “Too Long in this Condition”.
‘The Burning of Auchindoun’ is an accumulation of a multitude of histories. Based on a story of which dates back to 1592 in Scotland, the late 18th-century song tells the tale of the murder of the Early of Murray and the MacIntoshes of Clan Chattan pillaging a castle on an estate belonging to the Early of Huntley. The track has since taken many other forms and gathered further meaning and understanding, and Zajac and Lynch’s version bridges all of these together perfectly. A folk song that holds all of the traditional characteristics both lyrically and musically, the track also has a haunting backdrop, aided by Zajac’s melancholic yet captivating melodies. Accompanied by a black and white toned music video (see below), layers of trippy artistic imagery dance around to add a further dimension to the track.
Daragh Lynch says about the track:
“I wanted the guitar to remain quite sparse to reflect the haunting mood of the song. We purposefully went into the studio with quite a loose arrangement of the piece, leaving ourselves plenty of room to experiment. We recorded the track with Chris Barry at Ailfionn Studio in Dublin. This is where much of the instrumental section and outro were arranged, using a combination of acoustic and vintage electronic instruments, as well as Chris’ array of weird and wonderful analogue recording gadgets. The track is definitely influenced by the arrangements of Shirley and Dolly Collins and BEAK>, amongst others.”
Rosa Zajac writers:
“I learnt this song from my sister at a very early age and have sung it regularly ever since, mostly unaccompanied or with the harp. I’ve generally sung an abridged version, but managed to piece together verses from different sources for this recording. The song evokes such strong images of the event I almost feel like I’ve seen it. Running bodies and flames, Scotland’s clans and their bloody loss of life.”
‘The Burning of Auchindoun’ follows Katy J Pearson and Maudlin’s contemporary take on 18th-century song ‘Willie of Winsbury’ – the first single unveiled from the collective’s 17-track collaborative compilation album titled ‘Songs Without Authors Vol.1’, set for release next month.
Songs Without Authors Vol.1 will be released digitally on September 10th, with a vinyl street date of September 24th. Pre-order here
All profits of this album will be split between:
A non-profit organisation working with people who are homeless or are at risk of losing their homes across Ireland.
A charity working to improve gender identity and gender reassignment equality, rights and inclusion in Scotland, inclusive of non-binary people.
A charity working with African heritage women & girls who’ve experienced domestic or sexual abuse or who have lost a loved one to domestic violence.
Songs Without Authors Vol.1 track Listing:
1) Sophie Harris & Maudlin ‘If I Were A Blackbird’
2) Shovel Dance Collective ‘Georgie’
3) Thyrsis ‘Brigg Fair’
4) Pixx & Maudlin ‘Barbara Allen’
5) Junior Brother ‘The Lambs On The Green Hills’
6) Maudlin (ft.Powerhouse Gospel Choir) ‘900 Miles / The Orphan’
7) Rosa Zajac & Daragh Lynch ‘The Burning of Auchindoun’
8) Aga Ujma ‘Uwoz Mamo’
9) Yorkston Thorne Khan ‘The Jealous Woman’
10) Naima Bock & Maudlin ‘The Game Of Cards’
11) Organ Morgan ‘Si Bheag, Si Mhor’
12) Katy J Pearson & Maudlin ‘Willie of Winsbury’
13) Asha Lorenz ‘I Don’t Feel At Home In This World’
14) Oscar Browne ‘Spencer The Rover’
15) Gently Tender ‘Ae Fond Kiss’
16) Brigid Mae Power ‘True Lover’s Farewell’
17) Jasper Llewellyn ‘Melody From Jarai Love Song’
Broadside Hacks Tour 2021
August
22 – Green Man Festival, Brecon Beacons
September
4 – End of the Road Festival, Dorset
11 – The Gate, Cardiff*
12 – The Cube, Bristol*
14 – Komedia, Brighton*
15 – St Matthias Church, London*Ω
20 – Archie’s, New Mills, High Peak✢
21 – Abbeydale Picture House, Sheffield✢
22 – St Luke’s Glasgow ❂
23 – Sacred Trinity, Manchester✢
With support
* Aga Ujma
✢ Shovel Dance Collective
❂ Rosa Zajac
Ω Thyrsis
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