Fabulous 40th anniversary launch
Celebrating 40 years this year, Capercaillie have announced the launch of a new album of symphonic arrangements recorded with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
With new arrangements from Greg Lawson (Grit Orchestra), Donald Shaw and Kate St John, the album will be released on double vinyl and streaming platforms this month.
Widely respected trailblazers of Celtic music, Capercaillie are credited with being the major force in bringing Gaelic music to the world stage and inspiring the great resurgence so evident today.
From their homeland roots in Argyll, the band’s musical journey has seen them tour more than 30 countries, sell over a million albums, perform in the film Rob Roy (1995) alongside Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange, and enter the pop charts with Coisich a Ruin, the first Gaelic single to reach the Top 40.
The band named themselves after the capercaillie (a large, rare, and very beautiful Scottish bird) to symbolise a winning battle against extinction, an echo of their proudly distinctive Gaelic repertoire.
Despite their roots in traditional Scottish music, Capercaillie have explored musical terrains from electronica and sampling to jazz and global music influences. However, this will be the first time they have fully realised their dream of creating full symphonic arrangements for their music – an apt and rewarding moment for their 40th year.
Comprising of material from their much-loved repertoire, ReLoved encapsulates the spirit of Capercaillie – with strident waulking songs collected from the Hebrides, such as Hi Ri’m Bo and Mile Marbhaisg, hypnotic groove-infused instrumentals, epic modern ballads such as Manus Lunny’s Servant to the Slave, and poignant love songs, such as Iain Ghlinn Cuaich.
ReLoved was recorded in the City Halls and Gorbals Sound studios in Glasgow, and features band members Karen Matheson (vocals), Donald Shaw (accordion and keyboards), Charlie McKerron (fiddle), Manus Lunny (bouzouki and guitar), Michael McGoldrick (flutes and pipes), Ewan Vernal (bass), David Robertson (percussion) and special guests Sorren McLean (guitar) and James Mackintosh (drums).
Donald Shaw said: “This project has been a long time coming for us, maybe even since schooldays when we sat in the school orchestra and experienced the beauty and dynamism of an orchestral setting.
“It was therefore an incredible experience spending time with the great BBC SSO and hearing our music come alive with the power and eloquence of their players. It is well recognised that the great symphonic composers of the last few hundred years were influenced by folk melodies (including Beethoven, who even arranged Gaelic songs himself early in his life), so it’s felt like a very natural journey to take with these traditional songs and tunes.”
Greg Lawson added: “The songs on this album were not born looking for an orchestra and yet because of the nature of Capercaillie as a group, they have produced music of such variety, influence and style, that even a classical orchestra can be a perfect companion.
“Our objective was to find common ground for both the band and the orchestra; to create arrangements that try to be descriptive of the songs; to act as the mountains, the seas and the shorelines from where they come.
“To embrace with scale without overwhelming and to support with nuance without diminishing the clean beauty already there. This was a joy to work on.”
Dominic Parker, director of BBC SSO, said: “We are huge admirers of Capercaillie and the brilliant musicians in the band.
“They have done so much to promote Celtic music and Gaelic song around the world. It is a privilege to have collaborated with them and be part of this historic album celebrating their 40 years together with such fantastic orchestral arrangements.”
ReLoved will release on double vinyl on Friday May 10 and streaming platforms on Friday May 31. To pre-order, visit https://absil.one/reloved.owe.