THE Summer Isles sit at the head of Loch Broom in the Highlands.
The largest island of the archipelago, Tanera Mor, has printed its own sets of stamps since 1970 and the latest issue, named Island Music, is unveiled tomorrow to coincide with the release of folk musician Mairearad Green’s new album.
Like the stamps, the Summer Isles record also paints little pictures of the life, land and lore of these islands, only here in sometimes delicate, sometimes uplifting, always atmospheric folk songs.
Green – a virtuoso on accordion and bagpipes – really fulfils her potential as a composer across the album, pouring her research about the islands’ history into music that’s evocative and full of identity.
The studio guest list is also impressive: King Creosote, fiddler Mike Vass, banjo player Pat McGarvey and singer Annie Grace are among those who feature on this lovely piece of work.
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