Marvellous songs, faultlessly arranged and performed with conviction

Cuilidh is a remarkable album, having jumped clear of the Gaelic ghetto and garnered praise from fans as diverse as Ricky Gervais and Mark Radcliffe. The comparisons made to Bjork are, however, both lazy and inappropriate: Julie Fowlis is working firmly within the folk tradition. Her voice is clear, her delivery precise, her words ride the flowing fiddles and guitar with consummate grace. Her songs run from the sprightly (opener Hug Air a’ Bhonald Mhoir is a jolly tumble) to the melancholic ballad, taking in instrumentals that avoid any taint of bland crossover. In spite of her breakthrough to a more mainstream audience, Fowlis makes none of the mistakes that blight so much World Music. There are no concessions to rock or dance music, only marvellous songs, faultlessly arranged and performed with conviction. Rather than updating the music of the islands, Fowlis creates a timeless and passionate traditionalism.