Imrich

In 1979 Calum Martin released his first studio album. Fort years later, with the release of Imrich, Martin continues to mine the same rich thematic material he tackled back then: emigration. Given the topic, it won't come as any surprise that the music of Imrich (Gaelic for migration) is imbued with bittersweet emotion. This can be difficult to sustain, and at times the arrangements walk a fine line between stirring and sentimental. In most instances they land squarely on the side of the former, though, and the recording features heart-tugging instrumentals like ‘Monsieur Grenier's Waltz’ and beautifully layered voices on tracks such as ‘Cutting the Trees/He Sona Ho Sona’.

Influences range from country (notably in the opening track, ‘Chi Mi Bhuam’) to rock and folk, but underpinning all is a sense of Scottish Gaelic musical traditions. ‘Le Destin de Donald’ about Donald Morrison, the Canadian folk hero known as ‘the Megantic Outlaw,’ is something of an exception to this rule, sung in French by Québécois great, Yves Lambert (who also shares co-writing credit for this track). It is a little startling, coming as it does halfway through the recording and interrupting what's otherwise a fairly seamless tapestry, but that doesn't take away from the piece's own charm. Still, the strength of Imrich lies first and foremost in the inspiration provided by the Gaelic language.