Càirdeas
Available on CD and download from Bandcamp and on other platforms.
Meaning "kinship/friendship" in Scottish and Irish Gaelic, Càirdeas is a celebration of family, friends, languages and cultures spanning Scotland, Ireland and Canada.
All of the songs on the album are accompanied by musical friends and family members and was recorded remotely in various locations during the Covid lockdown in the winter of 2020/21. “We wanted to reach out to family and friends during these challenging times through recording songs which we grew up with or that mean something special to us. There is a mix of traditional and contemporary songs which are sung in English, Irish and Scottish Gaelic; many of which are well loved by fans of folk music.”
Each track on the album has beautiful landscape photography supplied by Mairead NicIllinnean from North Uist and, as with their previous albums, Càirdeas has specially commissioned artwork to reflect each song, this time by the talented Nairn-based artist Rachael Forbes, who also created the stunning Hare illustration on the album cover.
Co-produced by their acclaimed musician nephew, Innes White, Càirdeas is released on the duo’s Anam Communications label and available as CD, download and streaming. The project was made possible by funding from Creative Scotland, Heritage Lottery Funds and also a successful Kickstarter Campaign.
Reviews
"one of the most appealing acoustic albums of the year... this is a work of deep cultural importance... the album is a model for every artist who has something to say and sing about." Read full review here. Irish Music Magazine
"Càirdeas is a rather gorgeous release, wooing listeners with the harmonious sound of tradition, heartfelt vocals, and evocative arrangements. The enticing combination of Ó hEadhra’s sensitive playing and NicChoinnich’s delightfully sweet vocals, rightly identified as one of the finest Gaelic singers on the scene today, is hard to resist. A genuinely soothing and captivating listen." Read full review here. Folk Radio UK
"...on this fine album these songs, recorded during lockdown, transcend difficult times as Ó hEadhra and NicChoinnich bring gorgeously contrasting vocal harmonies in Scottish and Irish Gaelic and English." Read full review here. The Scotsman
"This intimate and beautiful album is definitely one of the few positive results of the lockdown." Folker magazine (Germany)
Highland artist, Rachael Forbes, created beautiful bespoke watercolours for each song on Càirdeas.
Musicians and artists from across the Highlands, Islands and lowlands of Scotland contributed to the project as well as Brian's parents in Ireland.
