Corrina Hewat is in the same master's league with other Scottish harpists like Catriona McKay, Ailie Robertson and Rachel Newton, but she hasn't released her own music - at least in recorded form - in ages. But it's 2025 and here she is now, with music that has completely surprised and enchanted me. What an … Continue reading Corrina Hewat’s “Song of Oak and Ivy”: mesmerizing and beautiful
Tag: Celtic Harp
Harp + Guitar = all you need: Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy’s “Élan”
Yet another "better late" review; this album was released three months before this writing. I believe "élan" is French for spirit, zest, joy; it's one of those words that defy an exact translation. But, luckily, music needs to translating, human or machine, as it itself can open the essence of the word. When harpist Rachel … Continue reading Harp + Guitar = all you need: Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy’s “Élan”
Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair: Lossan
This is a review of a fairly recent but not brand new album. This album was released in 07/2022. I have often noted how there is inner strength and power in the quiter Celtic music. Lossan features, for the most part, just two women: a voice and a Celtic harp and little else - it's … Continue reading Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair: Lossan
Album Review / Adenine
I have seen Ailie Robertson live on stage a few times, playing her harp with various excellent people in different Celtic and Folk lineups and combinations. And I got to talk to her briefly after the Outside Track’s amazing gig at CC2019 - what a lovely person she is! Being familiar with her previous solo … Continue reading Album Review / Adenine
Better-late-than-never Reviews 2×2: Grey & Peach, Macfarlane & Henderson
2x2 = two albums, both with two musicians and lots of the deceptively simple beauty I love in this music. I wasn’t properly awake when these were released earlier this year but, again, better late… The mesmerizing Air Iomall (On the Edge) by Charlie Grey & Joseph Peach is paired with a film of the … Continue reading Better-late-than-never Reviews 2×2: Grey & Peach, Macfarlane & Henderson
Retro Review / Catriona McKay: Starfish (2007)
Starfish is a small wonder. The animal, of course, is one of nature's miracles, and there's a magical quality to harpist Catriona McKay's solo album, too, released 12 years ago. It's one of those albums where a true master decisively shows both the instrument's powers and her own artistic strength: her custom Starfish Scottish harp … Continue reading Retro Review / Catriona McKay: Starfish (2007)
Retro Review / Ailie Robertson: Traditional Spirits (2016)
Ah, the Celtic Harp... Such a fragile sounding instrument; looks great but can you really use it as the central piece in a band context? Yes, you can. If you're Ailie Robertson, that is. Traditional Spirits is a great album for various reasons and I just mentioned one of them: the harp takes many roles here … Continue reading Retro Review / Ailie Robertson: Traditional Spirits (2016)
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