CAPERCAILLIE with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

To mark the band's fortieth anniversary, like many other Irish musicians before them (Altan, Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon, Moya Brennan), they have invited a symphony orchestra to accompany them, in this case the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, which is backing them to perform 16 tracks previously recorded, on the excellent album ReLoved.

One of the pioneers of Celtic music in Scotland, Capercaillie are considered to be the major force in popularising Scottish music on the international scene.
Despite their roots in traditional Scottish music, they have explored original musical terrain, from world music to electronica and from pop to jazz. Symphonic arrangements of their music are yet another milestone in their already rich career.

Lasting 75 minutes, the new orchestrated versions of their repertoire sum up Capercaillie's career. There are a number of Hebridean waulking songs, such as Hi Ri'm Bo and Mile Marbhaisg Air a'Ghaol, as well as Tobar Mhoire, which Karen learned from the great singer Flora MacNeill, interspersed with contemporary ballads by Manus Lunny, Servant To the Slave and Donald Shaw, God's Alibi and At the Heart Of It All. As well as poignant love songs such as Iain Ghlinn'Cuaich. Not forgetting, of course, traditional tunes such as Port Na Caillich and David Glen's Jig, and, most original of all, the Breton dance suite Boules et Guirlandes, composed by guitarist Gilles Le Bigot, whom Donald and Karen met at Héritage des Celtes. The whole set is supported by the orchestra's arrangements, which highlight Karen Matheson's magnificent voice, touched by the hand of God according to actor Sean Connery.
Eleven long years of waiting compensated by an album that succeeds from the first note to the last.

Vertical VERTCD130 - www.verticalrecords.co.uk