Music diary, Feb 17, 2026
Been listening to this over a few days. Stout & McKay continue their magic; amazing how a fiddle and a harp can create such vibrant scenes and emotions.
Master musicians at play here, of course, but still. Takes more than just skill, just playing your instrument very well. These two communicate, they’ve played together for so long, making music might be like breathing to them. At it least it feels like it. Stout’s slightly rough and breathy sound contrasting with McKay’s bright tones. Earth brown and sapphire blue in a dance.
Great tunes too, wonder how they go about writing this music. So much detail and nonverbal storytelling here. Effortlessly building a bridge between classical and folk. Reminds me of another recent brilliant fiddle & harp album, the one by Aoife Ní Bhríain and Catrin Finch, yet this is pretty different from that. Same instruments do not equal same music.
Absolutely lovely stuff, soul medicine too. My favorite tunes: Singing Sands, Caetano and Urmilla.
https://mckaystoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/a-love-for-all-seasons
FolkNotes 