(Spit and Polish/ Shoeshine)

Fair is Fowlis and Fowlis is fair

Julie Fowlis has given Scottish Gaelic song a thrillingly contemporary makeover in this, her second solo album, while remaining true to the musical tradition of her native North Uist. She has made these beautiful songs accessible to a wider world in much the same way Kate Rusby and Eliza Carthy did with English folk song. Fowlis was last year’s recipient of the Horizon Award for best newcomer at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, while this year she was shortlisted for singer of the year. Her voice has continued to develop considerably since her debut album to the excellence it has reached today.

The whole album is high quality throughout, without anything even approaching a weak number: a good half dozen songs are major achievements. Of special note are a ‘Puirt-a-beul’ (mouth music) set which epitomises the Gaelic tradition, a Skye song learned from Flora MacNeil, and one of those marvellously upbeat songs about a memorable boat journey. There’s a sense of balance between faster and slower tempo songs, while a lively set of tunes provides yet more variety. Her accomplished whistle playing seamlessly complements her singing and she is ably backed up by some of the best Celtic musicians around, including Éamon Doorley, John McCusker, Donald Shaw and Michael McGoldrick. It all adds up to the best Gaelic song album I have ever heard.