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By Debbie Koritsas, Living Tradition Magazine

Julie Fowlis - Cuilidh
Shoeshine Records 2007

Julie Fowlis is the gorgeous-voiced Scottish Gaelic singer who quite simply got herself noticed and is now firmly on the ascendant. This captivating second solo release, fresh-sounding, emotional and very sensual, serves to reinforce her appeal. Cuilidh, which means secret hiding place, is the perfect sanctuary for Julie’s graceful voice and captivating songs. Her vocal beauty and her passionate, engaging stage presence are such that the listener doesn’t need to understand the words to be able to enjoy her music – and this is precisely what makes her so appealing and able to set out on a 30 or 40-gig tour with ease. She’s making Gaelic songs accessible by getting ‘out there’ and presenting them in fresh, natural and contemporary settings – and every single track on Cuilidh reflects this imaginative approach.

A couple of years ago, before Julie collected the BBC Horizon Award, she was advised by music pundits to ‘throw in’ a few English-language songs to ensure wider appeal. She happily continues to completely ignore this advice – not a single syllable of English here! Instrumentally, the album sparkles, with beautifully upbeat and emotive contributions from Eamon Doorley, John McCusker, Chris Thile, Mark Kelly, John Doyle, Donald Shaw, Michael McGoldrick and many other high profile musicians. I was delighted to uncover the punchiest, feistiest puirt-a-beul set I’ve heard in ages: Julie’s vocal delivery is nothing short of sensational on Hùg Oiridh Hiridh Hairidh. And nothing defines the character of this recording better than album opener Hùg air a’ Bhonaid Mhòir. Bouzouki, guitar and mandolin underpin so much of this recording, with fiddle, viola, accordion, whistle, bodhrán and uillean pipes providing further musical riches. By way of contrast, the album closes with a beautiful unaccompanied lullaby – revealing Julie’s voice at its most starkly poignant.

A year or so ago I described Julie’s voice as ‘carrying the songs of the Outer Hebrides with coolest grace.’ This recording only serves to reaffirm that view. Julie continues to present a song tradition that has been handed down to her by Hebrideans including Mary Smith, Isa MacIllop, Hugh Matheson, and Catriona Garbutt. She does it sublimely, and this album will delight her admirers.

Debbie Koritsas