Hamish Napier

Description

Strathspey-born composer and multi-instrumentalist Hamish Napier performs regularly with Adam Sutherland, Jarlath Henderson and Gary Innes. he has recorded with Donald Shaw, Karen Matheson, Eddi Reader and Martyn Bennett, and has created several celebrated new works in his writing partnership with Duncan Chisholm [Wolfstone].

Napier’s debut solo album The River brings to the surface vivid sonic images of occurrences, past and present, along the mile-long stretch of the Spey that flows past his childhood home. The album features a lineup of Scottish musicians that Glasgow’s ‘Sunday Herald’ recently described as “a Stellar ensemble”:

Hamish Napier – whistles, wooden flutes, piano, harmonium, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer 200A, bean pod shakers and backing vocals
Sarah Hayes – alto flute
James Lindsay – double bass
Martin O’Neill – bodhran
Andrea Gobbi – synths and post-production
Calum MacCrimmon – Vocals (Canntaireachd)
Oystercatchers, Blackbirds, Curlews, Heron and River Spey – vocals

The album comes in a gorgeous-looking black and white digipack, including a 16 page booklet, all artwork and design by the fabulous Somhairle MacDonald somhairle.co.uk. Also includes vintage photos of the River Spey taken by local photographers in the the 1930s and 40s.

★★★★★ “Scintillating…brilliantly vivid” The Scotsman

★★★★ “Capturing the emotions and atmospheres of his Speyside inspiration…The River brought history, myth and mood into the present.” The Herald

“Through his music he paints portraits of the river’s endless moods and mysteries…with such care and depth of emotion it’s impossible to avoid the irresistible pull of the current.” Folk Radio UK

“The River is a glorious album, one of vigorous desire and plentiful absolution.” Liverpool Sound & Vision

“An excellent flute player.” The Guardian