Idiom
Geo Sound Records: 002 Skea Brae takes you gently jaunting to the Orkneys in a very traditional manner. Starting with just guitar and fiddle but quickly building with piano, bass and the most pleasant understated percussion ever likely to be heard. Layer upon layer of harmonies keeps the interest and attention.
It is extremely difficult to express the influence listening to other genres of music can have on an artist’s work without overindulging and loosing the essence of your own cultural style, but these magnificent twins manage it. Gypsy Jazz is clearly a big influence on the delightful Shetland Pony Shuffle and there is a pure Jazz moment on Partans that really should not work but somehow does! Iris Nicolson’s favourite is a joy to behold with a taste of a bygone style reminiscent of the Jimmy Shand or the Gallowglass Ceili band but less abrasive.
There is nothing predictable here but plenty that is comfortable and easy on the ear. Keeping staunchly in the tradition and at the same time sounding fresh, modern and progressive is no mean feat and with the bands young bands like Mumford & Son, Bellowhead and The Unthanks proclaiming to be the ‘Folk music’ of the 21st century -
we need young artists like these more than ever!
Since their 1991 debut Dancing Fingers, they have great ambassadors for both the Orkneys and Folk music. Therefore, if you like what they have done in the past or you are new to them or to folk music and want to hear a perfect instrumental album this could well be it. This is the Wrigley sisters doing what they do best. The mixing and sound quality of this record is faultless, as is the musicianship.
Anto Morra Review from Folk London - February 2012
