Singing in Scotland, Josie Valley, a talented artist from Glasgow, focuses on her song “Ravelers.” She refers to her work as “Kinney,” pronounced “Q-Why-nee,” which means “young woman” in Doric. In her third album, she acknowledges the presence of her ancestors guiding her. The album features 11 tracks, blending songs from traditional vocalists like Lizzie Higgins, Jeannie Robertson, and Sheila Stewart, with the sounds of Gaelic Sean Noss and Kantearich, which mimics the vocals found in pipe music.
Queenie, as she is known, gathered these songs through unique methods that align with the album’s rustic character. She even took a ride on her horse, Maisie, over the Argyle, stating in the liner notes that this approach encourages deeper conversations and connections to the past. In a track titled “Auld Horse,” her spoken word flows into a field recording of water, accompanied by a stunning double bass from Stevie Jones and rumbling viola by Ailbhe Nic Oireachtaigh. Another track, “YER Days,” features her spoken word, enhanced by hand claps and boozoukis from Oliver Pitt.
Elsewhere, Queenie’s raw and powerful voice resonates like a siren, especially notable at the start of a piece with the Harry Golski Brown pipe. She exhibits a strong a cappella presence. In reflecting on her 1982 ballad, she reveals insights from her grandmother about her father’s life, long vacations with grandchildren, and how this aging brings opportunities for the younger generation. This album seems to hold the past closely, almost like a cauldron simmering with enchanting memories.
This month too
In other musical news, Dublin-based artist Lucy Azkonaga collaborates with Consuelo Nerea Breschi to release their impressive second album, “The World I Knew.” This effort includes standout tracks like “Skibbereen,” a duet with her brother, and features contributions from artists like Laurel and John Francis Flynn. Additionally, “Eran,” from the Gorgeous Garrgan Dim Lighting project, offers an acoustic treatment with a vintage synth vibe, blending 19th-century ballads and poetry with modern influences. Lastly, “The Last Call,” by the folk-inspired Steve Tilston, showcases his warm vocals and vibrant fingerpicking, making a compelling close to 2023.
