In 2020, The Wilderness Yet, featuring folksinger Rosie Hodgson, traditional fiddler Rowan Piggott, and guitarist-flautist Philippe Barnes, released their self-titled debut album (reviewed here). Rosie and Philippe have worked together in the London-Irish band Crossharbour, while Rowan grew up on the west coast of Ireland, surrounded by traditional music (including his Dad’s band De Danann!) They’ve toured together, playing festivals from Sidmouth to Warwick and Ely to Bromyard (Rowan is a past winner of Bromyard’s ‘Future of Young Folk’ Award).
Tomorrow marks the release of their new album ‘What Holds The World Together‘, which will enjoy multiple launches at Warwick Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival and Sidmouth Folk Festival, where we’re looking forward to catching them (dates below).
In exploring our connection with the natural world, What Holds The World Together dwells at times on some sobering subject matter. One of the many highlights on the album is Charlie Fox, on which they share:
Charlie Fox is a hunting song from the point of view of the hunted; this song was written by the trio’s good friend and musical hero, Dave Webber. It perfectly captures everything the fox has to lose in the chase that some consider a sport. It’s been paired with a traditional jig known as Johnny O’Leary’s.
The track highlights not just their melodic musicianship but also how deeply engaging and well-crafted their music is. While The Wilderness Yet are inspired by and borrow tradition, there is a contemporary edge that heightens the pulse of the song and listener, capturing its essence and making it shine all the brighter. Rosie’s vocal delivery throughout is divine, connecting perfectly with Rowan’s fiddle playing, which matches the gracefulness of Martin Hayes. At the same time, Philippe Barnes’s acoustic guitar provides an equally graceful tone and drive, accentuated here by guest musician Joe Danks on bodhran. Exceptional.
Their new album is described as being grounded in our relationship with the natural world. From the great whales of the deep to the ancient oaks of the land, the future of our planet is inextricably bound to that of humankind, and many of the songs chosen or crafted here explore that connection.
This is an exploration of the world’s stories, seasons and sorrows. It’s also an album with deeply personal links. From The Last Shanachie, which features a wax cylinder recording of Rowan’s great-great-grandfather (a traditional Irish storyteller), to The Nightingale’s Lullaby, a song written to lull Rowan and Rosie’s newborn son to sleep, the album is centred around love, community and connection – and perhaps that’s what holds the world together, after all.
Beautifully presented with stunning artwork by Adam Oehlers (who also did the artwork for their debut) and photos by Elly Lucas, the album is available to pre-order now.
What Holds The World Together will be released on 21 July 2022 on Scribe Records.
Pre-order on Bandcamp: https://thewildernessyet.bandcamp.com
Pre-save on digital platforms: https://ditto.fm/what-holds-the-world-together
Album Launch Dates
21 July – Warwick Folk Festival (launch day gig)
31 July – Cambridge Folk Festival
4 August – Sidmouth Folk Festival
More: https://www.thewildernessyet.com/
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