PÀDRUIG MORRISON
Buin
Hailing from the isle of Grimsay in Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Pàadruig Morrison’s upbringing has imbued him with an inherent understanding and knowledge of the Gaelic tradition, and the music presented here, a mix of original tunes and four Gaelic songs, all self-composed mostly over the past six or seven years, reflect upon belonging to a place, a people and a culture. This focus is reflected in the album’s title, Buin, which translates from the Gaelic as ‘belong’, although we are helpfully informed by the well-produced and most informative booklet included with the CD that “Equally appropriate titles for this album could have been ‘buain’, meaning harvest, and ‘buan’, meaning long-lasting.”
An acclaimed accordionist and composer, Pàdruig was a finalist in the 2020 BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year competition, receiving a Celtic Connections New Voices Commission in the same year, and he also performs with fellow Uist musicians in six-piece band Beinn Lee. His ability to blend traditional Gaelic music with contemporary classical music composition was a synthesis that he explored in his PhD research, and whilst he lectures on the BA (Hons) Gaelic and Traditional Music course at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, when he is at home and not performing or composing, he raises cattle and sheep on his croft.
On ‘Ionndrainn & Tilleadth’ Pàdruig opines that whilst the slow air of the first tune can reflect the sadness of “longing”, it can also contain a sense of belonging which is positively affirming and uplifting, whilst the second tune is connected to the theme of “returning”. On the former, his accordion is much to the fore, whilst the latter features the fiddle playing of Catriona Price and the flute of Michael Steele. The crystal clear purity of guest vocalist Mischa Macpherson makes its first appearance on ‘An t-Ionnsaehadh’, (“The Learning”), alongside the piano of Rory Matheson, before ‘The Creel’ set of tunes offers a more upbeat tempo.
‘Na h-Eileanan Falamh’, “The Empty Islands” addresses several current issues, including climate change, coastal erosion, rewilding, rural/island depopulation and cultural/linguistic loss, in particular how loss of language equates to loss of knowledge. This is an utterly mesmerising and somniferous piece featuring the Gaelic voice of acclaimed singer Alasdair C. Whyte / Alasdair C. Macillebhàin. Of similar moving, unadorned quality is ‘An Là an Dèidh an Stoirm’, (“The Day After The Storm”), another slow air, written in 2005 following a storm which hit Uist and tragically took the lives of a family of five.
A change of tone and mood is immediately effected with the two-tune set ‘Downpour Distillery’, the second of which ‘A’ Bhanais Bhàn’, (“The Fair Wedding”), again sees Mischa taking on lead vocal duties, as indeed she does on the dreamlike ‘Chan Innis Mi Lem Bheul’, (“ I Cannot Say With My Mouth”), a track which also features some exquisite clàrsach playing from Ciorstaidh Beaton, before a return to more uplifting tunes by way of the ‘Cutting the Peat’ set. A mention too for Euan Burton and Rory Grindley whose double bass and snare drum, respectively, provide for a solid rhythmic background on the album and to Fionnlagh Mac a’ Phiocair for her small pipes contribution.
‘Fàs Ùr’, (“New Growth”), presents as the piece on the album which most illustrates Pàdruig’s wish, and ability, to push the boundaries “towards unbroken ground on the fringes of our tradition”, hinting at the direction of his next album, and, to these ears, redolent of the way in which Alan Stivell ploughed new furrows with regard to Breton harp music. Penultimate track ‘An t-Aite Dham Buin Sinn’, (“The Place To Which We Belong”), speaks both to Gaelic history and the hope for “a time when more people have a right to the land of their forefathers… and may either continue or return to ‘the cattle and the corn and the music and the friendship’”. The album closes with ‘Toradh na Bliadhna’, (“The Year’s Harvest”), a lively tune written to complement the song it follows, replete with accordion and woodwind trading notes in a manner which reflect the celebratory nature of the tune.
With Buin, Pàadruig Morrison has created a release which is another strong contender for debut album of the year. Highly recommended.
Buin