In Review--Celtic Wave (Women of Celtic Music)

Julie Fowlis
Uam (From Me)
Shoeshine Records
Scottish Gaelic vocalist Julie Fowlis follows up her second CD, cuilidh with another compelling work, Uam (From Me) that features work and love songs from the Hebridean Islands. Fowlis spreads her wings further on this recording and includes a traditional Highland tune she learned from Cape Breton musician Angus MacKenzie (the “bad boy” of Canadian Celtic music),and a tune from Brittany, France, I Was Born in the Midst of the Sea. She includes original material too.


Fowlis frames her beautiful vocals with whistles, an oboe, bouzouki, fiddle, guitar, Celtic percussion, and a lively array of guest musicians including, Mary Smith (vocals), Allan MacDonald (highland bagpipes and vocals), Phil Cunningham (piano and accordion), Ewen Vernal (double bass), Eddi Reader (vocals), Tom Doorley (flute and whistles), Sharon Shannon (button-accordion), Jerry Douglas (lap steel guitar) and Michelle Fowlis (vocals). The arrangements highlight the chosen repertoire.


Fowlis provides English translations of the lyrics and detailed notes on each of the songs, noting origins and purpose. Tragic love stories interlace with stories about the seas and soothing milking songs that provide nourishment for the milk maid and the cow as well as, lively songs sung by women engaged in the tweed making process (waulking songs).


From Me acts as more than a collection of Scottish folks songs. Fowlis took on the mission of preserving an endangered language and equally endangered musical traditions. Though this recording doesn’t possess the earmarks of a field recording and the musicians wield their artistic license by providing their listeners an opportunity to celebrate a rare heritage from the northern British Isles and beyond.