Times from Times Fall

This Orkney born and bred quartet – fiddlers Kristan Harvey, Jeana Leslie and Catriona Price, alongside pianist Jennifer Austin – have been steadily impressing audiences since their 2016 debut Cross the Line. Here, they build on their inspiring debut with an accomplished series of traditional tunes and new compositions inspired by their home island.

Opening with the fiery ‘The Port Polka’, there is a sense of history as well as the close-up sound of the best intimate sessions. The album's title is taken from Edwin Muir's poem ‘Song – Love Gathers All’, here interpreted beautifully. ‘Speir Thoo The Wast Wind’ highlights some fine Orkney poetry delivered with evocative vocals by Leslie. ‘At the Ebb’ sees the band in more reflective mood with a beautiful tune in awe of Orkney's coastline. Strathspey and reel ‘Simple Dirt/The Fighter’ has a spit-and-sawdust vibe at odds with the rest of the album, but it is atmospheric nonetheless. Closer ‘Maxwell's Light’ is a stunningly haunting piece in tribute to Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell.

Beautifully recorded, Times from Times Fall deserves to attract new fans to this stunning quartet. Were you to head to Orkney with this album as your soundtrack, you would certainly not be disappointed.