Urstan

Gaelic singer Mairi Morrison and Scottish singer/songwriter Alasdair Roberts join forces to interpret and bring new life to songs primarily found in the history of northwest Scotland. String and wind instruments, stand-up bass, and drums add a sense of celebration to songs that are often informed by struggle. "The Laird o' the Drum" flows with an excited traditionalism, while "Larach do Thacaidean" sounds like an acoustic rendition of a modern-day hip-hop track. "Never Wed an Old Man" throws the duo's harmonies into an entrancing relationship. The album is split between joyful celebrations and mournful ballads where old ghosts are given new life. "E Ho Leigein," "Ailein Duinn," and "Leanabh an Oir" ache with the sublime beauty of their timeless melodies and sentiments. At a time when Bruce Springsteen is exploring Celtic influences, this album further explores the roots and the enduring spirit of those mysterious lands to even greater detail.