Sineag Macintyre: Lòn Bàn

A double Mòd gold medal-winner and hailing from the song-rich South Uist township of Kilphedar, Sineag Macintyre gives clear and direct Gaelic voice to a thoughtfully chosen clutch of songs, particularly those from her native island. Pianist Mhairi Hall contributes some strikingly delicate accompaniments – listen to the melodic simplicity of Allt

an t-siùcair – while guitarist Ewan Macpherson, fiddler Sarah Hoy and others add additional weight and colour. There is South Uist bard Donald John Macdonald’s droll account of a drinking spree, Òran

na’ Fiaclan, but also a waulking song which, despite its vigour, laments bereavement through drowning. Nicely contrasting material ranges from a sprightly puirt-a-beul set, with Seonaidh Macintyre bringing in his pipes, to two hymns, the Easter anthem, Èiridh Bileag Ùr-ghorm and Laoidh “Statue” Ruaidheabhal, associated with Lorimer’s statue, Our

Lady of the Isles at Rueval.