Hamish goes back to roots for third album

Acclaimed musician and composer Hamish Napier has launched his third album, The Woods, exploring and celebrating the ancient forests of his native Strathspey.

Hamish’s third record follows his critically acclaimed albums The River (2016) and The Railway (2018). This release takes him beyond the midpoint of his 10-year journey to create his Strathspey Pentalogy – five albums of new compositions inspired by his homeland, each representing the classical elements of water, fire, earth, wind and aether.

The Woods was commissioned by Cairngorms Connect, a partnership of neighbouring land managers committed to a bold and ambitious 200-year vision to enhance habitats, species and ecological processes across a vast area within the Cairngorms National Park.

The Woods is a beautiful folk tune cycle. Through the album’s 21 tracks, which incorporate 28 new tunes and pieces, Hamish explores the inter-connected flaura and fauna, folklore, legends and characters of Scotland’s native wild forests.

In a true exploration of woodland and its connection to the past and present, there is a track on the album for every letter of the Scottish Gaelic tree alphabet (related to the Ogham alphabet), which was traditionally taught with reference to native trees and shrubs.

A variety of moods and tempos reflect the character of each native tree. There is a heady mix of jigs, reels, marches and slow airs. The cheerful mood of the leaves of the ash tree are captured in an upbeat polka called Venus of the Woods, while the dark, twisted elm tree, used to make coffins, is transformed into a lament, The Tree of the Underworld.

The forest lives and breathes through the music – recordings of saws and axes chopping wood, birdsong, forest wind, ice clinking in Loch Garten and the call of woodland stags are all woven into the tracks by maverick engineer and co-producer Andrea Gobbi.

Through The Woods, Hamish relives the days of his youth spent among the trees and his strong connection with the woodlands.

He said: 'My work is about celebrating my homeland, finding hidden gems and stories in the surrounding landscape. The Woods is an album of identity. I have loved every moment exploring my native languages, music, folklore and the natural environment.

'I’m very grateful to Cairngorm Connect for the opportunity to celebrate this very special place that I am lucky enough to call home.'

The Woods is released on March 20, and will be available in CD and digital formats.