"wildlife cameraman sheltered from the storm..."
When it comes to exploring the pristine beauty of nature itself it is the surprise of discovery that can leave you absolutely gobsmacked and if you are with someone else at the time that magical imprint is even larger because the act of sharing it elevates it tenfold. Those moments throughout my life flooded in my mind while listening to the very surprising sonic discovery that is "Wildlife Cameraman" by the Stirling, Scotland based experimental folk group Constant Follower (let by Stephen McAll) pairing with renowned folk guitarist Scott William Urquhart.
The song from their collaborative album "Even Days Dissolve" features the voice, the grandeur of Scottish poet and teacher, Norman MacCaig (1910-1996) and the album itself is, in large part, inspired by MacCraigs work that (quoting press notes) "is characterized by its gentle humor, precise observation and love for the natural world, which forms another key theme for the album".
"Wildlife Cameraman" is a unique piece of work. Against sparse instrumentation full of emotional falling shapes you hear Norman MacCaig's amazing voice that feels as if it were cut in stone over a long time by a moving river. As Constant Follower and Urquhart support that voice with gentle lyrics and guitar that eventually builds in nuanced chamber pop-esque ways against the refrain "and I hear your song and it's silence", it feels so beautiful and respectful at the same time.
When the song ends, you feel that silence and you may even remember that beautiful, serene quiet of nature just doing it's thing when you were there to witness it.
Norman MacCaig's voice was not only used on "Wildlife Cameraman" but also on "Comes A Silence (Basking Shark)" and the poet's work comforted Stephen McAll in his youth during his recovery from a violent attack from a local gang.
From Press notes:
[MacCaig’s poetry holds great significance to McAll, as it formed a major source of comfort and support to him during a long period of recovery following a violent and unprovoked attack that left him with catastrophic head injuries, partially paralyzed and unable to write or play guitar.]
“Bringing two of these songs together with the voice of our beloved Norman MacCaig has been a real highlight of this project. His poetry was introduced to me by my high school teacher Mrs Tatarkowski, and it was the first prose I was able to read and understand when I was recovering from a traumatic head injury. So his work holds a deep space in my heart. I don’t think any poet or songwriter has matched his ability to capture the space and wonder of the natural beauty of Scotland.” - Stephen McAll
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/constantfollower/
Acclaimed Stirling-based group Constant Follower, led by Stephen McAll, and renowned folk guitarist Scott William Urquhart have released their captivating collaborative album, ‘Even Days Dissolve’.
The album follows on from Constant Follower’s lauded debut long-player ‘Neither Is, Nor Ever Was’, which was released in 2021 and nominated for the 2022 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
‘Even Days Dissolve’ is an enchanting, deeply absorbing, and meditative album, the product of a musical affinity between two thoughtful and uniquely talented Scottish songwriters and musicians.
The songs that make up ‘‘Even Days Dissolve’ were inspired by ‘the grand old man of Scottish poetry’, Norman MacCaig (1910-1996), whose work is characterised by its gentle humour, precise observation and love for the natural world, which forms another key theme for the album.
MacCaig’s poetry holds great significance to McAll, as it formed a major source of comfort and support to him during a long period of recovery following a violent and unprovoked attack that left him with catastrophic head injuries, partially paralysed and unable to write or play guitar.
‘Even Days Dissolve’ is McAll’s nod of respect to McCaig, and the great man’s unmistakable words and inimitable voice feature on two of the tracks - single ‘Wildlife Cameraman’, and ‘Comes A Silence (Basking Shark)’ – sensitively set over the backdrop of beautiful and exquisitely crafted songs.
Scott William Urquhart’s masterful acoustic guitar playing is a stunning centrepiece of the album, imbuing the songs with a moving sense of atmosphere, and sounding at once both elegant and robust. Urquhart’s unassuming yet compelling vocals also feature throughout ‘Even Days Dissolve’.
On the second single ‘Watching The Black River Run’ finger-picked guitar melds beautifully with McAll's deep vocal, with simpatico harmonies from Constant Follower’s Amy Campbell and the playful piano of Mark Tranmer (of GNAC and the The Montgolfier Brothers). The electric guitar on the track came about serendipitously, provided by Tom Hutchison, a childhood friend of Tranmer’s, after a spontaneous visit to the studio McAll and Tranmer share in Stirling.
‘Waves Crash Here’ is a gorgeous, arresting opener, with Urquhart’s exquisite folk sound palette embellished with sweeping, moody electric guitar and Constant Follower’s expansive synth lines.
Thoughtful collaborative flourishes like this underpin the synergetic nature of ‘Even Days Dissolve’. On ‘Ash Wednesday Slow’ Scottish hip hop talent CRPNTR contributes vocals, while on third single ‘Wildlife Cameraman (Summer Farm)’ the main backing vocal is provided by McAll’s 13 year old daughter Islay.
Meanwhile, the album’s closing track ‘Comes A Silence (Basking Shark)’ features stunning saxophone by renowned young saxophonist Matt Carmichael, and harp by Berlin musician Andy Aquarius, the recent touring support for Constant Follower.
Speaking about ‘‘Even Days Dissolve’, Stephen McAll said: “The magic in music for me is all about collaboration. Finding people who inspire me to make better music, then working with them and creating something between us that’s better than what either of us could have made alone. It’s been an honour to work so closely with Scott William Urquhart on this album. He’s someone whom I’ve admired for some time - unquestionably up there with the best acoustic guitarists at the moment in Scotland, and such a beautiful writer of songs.
Scott William Urquhart, Constant Follower, Norman MacCaig, "Wildlife Cameraman" , folk, folk indie, experimental folk, homage, beautiful serenity, new album "Even Days Dissolve",
Acclaimed Stirling-based group Constant Follower, led by Stephen McAll, and renowned folk guitarist Scott William Urquhart have released their captivating collaborative album, ‘Even Days Dissolve’.
The album follows on from Constant Follower’s lauded debut long-player ‘Neither Is, Nor Ever Was’, which was released in 2021 and nominated for the 2022 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.
‘Even Days Dissolve’ is an enchanting, deeply absorbing, and meditative album, the product of a musical affinity between two thoughtful and uniquely talented Scottish songwriters and musicians.
The songs that make up ‘‘Even Days Dissolve’ were inspired by ‘the grand old man of Scottish poetry’, Norman MacCaig (1910-1996), whose work is characterised by its gentle humour, precise observation and love for the natural world, which forms another key theme for the album.
MacCaig’s poetry holds great significance to McAll, as it formed a major source of comfort and support to him during a long period of recovery following a violent and unprovoked attack that left him with catastrophic head injuries, partially paralysed and unable to write or play guitar.
‘Even Days Dissolve’ is McAll’s nod of respect to McCaig, and the great man’s unmistakable words and inimitable voice feature on two of the tracks - single ‘Wildlife Cameraman’, and ‘Comes A Silence (Basking Shark)’ – sensitively set over the backdrop of beautiful and exquisitely crafted songs.
Scott William Urquhart’s masterful acoustic guitar playing is a stunning centrepiece of the album, imbuing the songs with a moving sense of atmosphere, and sounding at once both elegant and robust. Urquhart’s unassuming yet compelling vocals also feature throughout ‘Even Days Dissolve’.
On the second single ‘Watching The Black River Run’ finger-picked guitar melds beautifully with McAll's deep vocal, with simpatico harmonies from Constant Follower’s Amy Campbell and the playful piano of Mark Tranmer (of GNAC and the The Montgolfier Brothers). The electric guitar on the track came about serendipitously, provided by Tom Hutchison, a childhood friend of Tranmer’s, after a spontaneous visit to the studio McAll and Tranmer share in Stirling.
‘Waves Crash Here’ is a gorgeous, arresting opener, with Urquhart’s exquisite folk sound palette embellished with sweeping, moody electric guitar and Constant Follower’s expansive synth lines.
Thoughtful collaborative flourishes like this underpin the synergetic nature of ‘Even Days Dissolve’. On ‘Ash Wednesday Slow’ Scottish hip hop talent CRPNTR contributes vocals, while on third single ‘Wildlife Cameraman (Summer Farm)’ the main backing vocal is provided by McAll’s 13 year old daughter Islay.
Meanwhile, the album’s closing track ‘Comes A Silence (Basking Shark)’ features stunning saxophone by renowned young saxophonist Matt Carmichael, and harp by Berlin musician Andy Aquarius, the recent touring support for Constant Follower.
Speaking about ‘‘Even Days Dissolve’, Stephen McAll said: “The magic in music for me is all about collaboration. Finding people who inspire me to make better music, then working with them and creating something between us that’s better than what either of us could have made alone. It’s been an honour to work so closely with Scott William Urquhart on this album. He’s someone whom I’ve admired for some time - unquestionably up there with the best acoustic guitarists at the moment in Scotland, and such a beautiful writer of songs.
Scott William Urquhart, Constant Follower, Norman MacCaig, "Wildlife Cameraman" , folk, folk indie, experimental folk, homage, beautiful serenity, new album "Even Days Dissolve",
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