I admit it: early this year I firmly intended to listen to and write about the then newly released sequel to the first Allt album. I did not, because it had been a working day and I fell soundly asleep during the second track and only woke to the sound of silence telling me the album had run its course.
I was so embarrassed I didn’t play it again right away, and in the following days at work, the matter faded and was put away by my then escalating health problems (much better now, thanks). Until I now finally
Let that be a cautionary tale: if you’re already worn out, avoid music that’s so soothing and gentle, it’s like being wrapped in the softest and sweetest woolen blanket in the world.
If the first outing, in 2018, by the Irish-Scottish super quartet of Conway / Mc Intyre / Fowlis / Doorley had been utterly charming in its acoustic elegance and musical mastery, Cuimhne (remembering, recall, memory) ups that game even more and gives us music that I can sincerely call healing and therapeutic without it being at all sappy or artificially sweetened.
With mostly original compositions, Cuimhne features songs that are almost magical in the Donal Lunny-produced acoustic space, with the perfect voices of Julie Fowlis and Zoë Conway floating separately and entwining into harmony, framed by the instruments of all four.
Most of the songs are indeed slow, ballad-like and enchanting, with some faster tunes upping the temperature here and there. The quartet’s sound is stupendously organic, possibly helped by the fact it consists of two married couples: Conway + Mc Intyre and Fowlis + Doorley. When people who are exceptional musicians, know each other closely and have played together for years and years get together like this, magic will happen.
The tracks I especially enjoy on Cuimhne are the opening title track, the energetic polka set Pólcaí, the lovely waltz Suantrai Ghráinne where Zoë shines vocally, and the set O Eirich, O Eilidh / Ril Dealgan / Sliabh na gCloch where they quartet get to display their full brilliance.
So, 100 % recommended – but take heed of my cautionary tale before pressing play 😉
FolkNotes 