No
More Wings
On her previous album, the songs were in Gaelic. Now they are in English and Butterworth's delivery coupled with her driving guitar style suggests a more mainstream popular approach. What shines through as ever is Hair's sparkling and brilliant harp playing. There are some wonderful instrumental sets. A couple of Swedish tunes romp along joyfully, with Fraser Fifield on soprano sax moving everything up a notch. The most appealing track is Home and Happy, a great original tune which is preceded by a lovel slow air from the Simon Fraser collection." Taplas, Delyth Jenkins Buy this album now CD: £12.00 + p&p |
| Rachel Hair profile & discography |
"Rachel
Hair is never one to rest on her laurels and with this third
album, she reinvents herself with characteristic aplob. Joining
her on this outing are guitarist and singer Jenn Butterworth
and Euan Burton on double bass.
No More Wings
01. No More Wings
02. Swedish
03. Grey Funnel
Line
04. Cancro Cru
05. Harsh Feb Reels
06. Island
07. Fest Noz no.17
08. The
Eccentric’s
Emporium
09. My Songbird
10. Home and Happy
11. The Birthday Jigs
Rachel Harp
Trio
Rachel Hair – Harp
Jenn Butterworth – Guitar / Vocals
Euan Burton – Double Bass
with guests
Fraser Fifield – Soprano Saxophone
Angus Lyon – Rhodes / Accordion
Signy Jakobsdottir - Percussion
CD Notes
Rachel Hair Trio
- No More Wings
Traditional and Contemporary harp music
1 No More Wings (3.13)
(Rachel Hair MCPS/PRS)
The harp has many stereotypes and Rachel does her best to dispel them by telling
people that if
they listen to her music, they’ll soon discover its not as angelic as it
first appears...
2 Swedish (3.12)
Anglas (Trad), Engelska (Trad)
A couple of tunes from the fantastic Godlandstoner collection, from
the Gotland area at
Sweden. Originally published in the early 20th century, it’s now
been republished online.
3 Grey Funnel Line 3.18
(Cyril Tawney, Universal)
The late folk singer, Cyril Tawney, was in the Royal Navy when he wrote
this song about a seafarer
wishing to be back name with his love.
4 Cancro Cru 5.33
(Anxo Pintos, Boa car)
Rachel first recorded this beautitul tune by Galician musician Anxo Pintos
on her debut album Hubcaps and Potholes.
5 Harsh Feb Reels 5.33
The Harsh February (Phil Cunningham, Bracken Music). File under Biddley
(Jamie smith. MCPS/PRS), The St James Lasses (Rachel Hair, MCPS/PRS)
Two reels written by accordionists and one by a harper... controversial?
The first tune is one at Phil Cunningham’s well-known reels and
the second tune Rachel learnt
from the Welsh group Jamie Smiths Mabon. She wrote The St James Lasses
for the harpers at St.
James the Great Comhaltas branch.
6 Island (3.42)
Island (Jenn Butterworth, MCPS/PRS)
Jenn’s self penned song about trying to reach someone who is
unreachable.
7 Fest Noz no.17 (3.46)
Pennou Ridée (Trad), Fest Noz no.17
(Rachel Hair MCPS/PRS), Valse des Jouets (Michel Faubert)
A couple of Breton Ridées and a Quebecois waltz. Fest Noz no. 7 is written
for Rachel’s good
friend and fantastic harpist, Tristan le Govic, the first person to teach her
Breton dancing.
8 The Eccentric’s Emporium (4.13)
(Rachel Hair, MCPS/PRS)
Need a nearly new piggy bank, on 80’s
keyboard, an old wedding photo? Jurby Junk on the Isle of Man is the
place that sells everything you think you need and everything you know
you don’t!
9 My Songbird (3.58)
(Jesse Winchester, Warner Chappell North
America)
A beautiful song with a dark sentiment wriften by Jesse Winchester.
Jenn first heard this song on a recording by Emmylou Harris.
10 Home and Happy (4.46)
Alistair m'annsachd (Trad), Home and Happy (Rachel Hair MCPR/PRS)
A beautiful
slow air from the Captain Simon Fraser Collection, a treasure trove
of old Scottish airs and melodies.
Home and Happy was written by Rachel offer a long 6 weeks of touring.
Much fun was had but it felt great to be back home.
11 The Birthday Jigs (4.02)
The Plevin Jig (Soig Siberil), The Falkus
(Rachel Hair MCPS/PRS), The Birthday Cow (Rachel Hair MCPS/PRS)
A set of jigs starting off with a tune written by Breton guitar maestro
Soig Siberil. The Folkus was
written in celebration of Rachel’s car which can fit in all trio
members, a harp, guitar double bass, amp, cd boxes, 3 suitcases and essential
travel sweeties! Rachel wrote the final jig
for fellow muso Joy Dunlop who is still waiting for a long overdue birthday
present from her brother. He instead spent his money buying a pregnant
cow called Nan!
Credits
Produced by Angus Lyon
Engineered by Angus Lyon at Grans House Studios
Mixed and Mastered by lain Hutchison at Glo-Worm Studios
Artwork by Rosie Cunningham - www.analoguegirl.co.uk
Typesetting by
Adam Rhodes
Photo by Simon Lees
Thanks to: Angus, Fraser, Signy, lain, Rosie, Adam, Simon, all our families and friends, James Lindsay, Craig Corse, Vic King, Dietmar Haslinger, Patrick de Loecker, Qyvind Lyslo, Showcase Scotland, Celtic Connections, Sean Purser, BBC Radio Scotland, Starfish Designs, Backbeat Design
Rachel plays harps made by Starfish Designs
| Title: | No More Wings |
| Artists: | The Rachel Harp Trio |
| Instruments: | Harp, Guitar & Double bass |
| Genre: | Traditional / Contemporary |
| Format: | CD |
| Our Ref: | A0537 |
| MCPS: | MHRCD003 |
| Label: | March Hair Records |
| Year: | 2012 |
| Origin: | EU |