‘Hong Kong to Sligo’ worth the wait
In any ranking of difficult second albums, Orchestra Macaroon’s Hong Kong to Sligo should win hands down.
Seventeen years have elapsed since the collective released what Scotland on Sunday called ‘the massive, intoxicating sound’ of Breakfast in Balquhidder.
Co-leaders Colin Blakey and Philippa Bull have been busy on other projects, after moving from Easdale Island in the Inner Hebrides to Cumbria for several years, then back to Argyll. ‘We always had it in mind and had a lot of the material written. Then lockdown allowed us the space to finish the production off,’ former Waterboy Colin explains.
It’s been worth the wait. Like the first album, Hong Kong to Sligo is a freewheeling kaleidoscope of world, folk, roots and jazz. The new music has the group’s signature Celticinfluenced, multi-genre sound and reflects time spent by
Colin and Philippa listening to and playing English folk, as well as ceilidhs.
Among the new names there is some continuity in the line-up and instrumentation: Kimho Ip, yang qin, cello, and Stephen McNally, border pipes, who featured on the previous release, are back for more. The classic ‘trio’ of drum kit, double bass and piano is still there, this time featuring Shooglenifty’s James Mackintosh, Lunasa’s Trevor Hutchinson – also an ex-Waterboy – and seasoned Macaroon collaborator Pete
French. Renowned English trad players – Carolyn Francis, fiddle, and Ben Farmer, accordion, and brilliant jazz saxophonist Cath Sewell all bring their unique melodic styles to the mix.
The percussion section includes Sam Nicholls, principle percussionist of the National Youth Orchestra. Special Irish guest stars are accordionist Sharon Shannon and another Waterboy Steve Wickham on violin.
Colin explained how it all came about: ‘As we couldn’t gather the band together in one place, Philippa and I sent scores to the other musicians, along with demos of the pieces using electronic instruments. The players then recorded their own parts however and wherever they could, literally from Hong Kong to Sligo, and sent them back to us.’
The music was compiled, edited and mixed by Colin and Philippa in their new place in Taynuilt. ‘We think the sound and especially the mastering, by Finlay Wells in Oban, this time is superb,’ said Colin. ‘The album has a real in-themoment feeling of everyone playing together with one voice.’
The album will be released on November 8. CD copies will be on sale in Millstone Wholefoods in Oban and in Turadh craft shop in Taynuilt. The album can also be bought online, as CD or digital download, from Bandcamp - just search under ‘Hong Kong to Sligo’.