Albums to watch

Urstan

Mairi Morrison & Alasdair Roberts

Urstan

Collaboration between the two Scottish folk singer-songwriters, reworking traditional ballads and work-songs

ADM rating[?]

6.9

Label
Drag City
UK Release date
26/03/2012
US Release date
27/03/2012
  1. 8.0 |   The Independent

    The arrangements blend wind and string instruments with a jazzy undertow of bass, intriguing brass-band colouration and dramatic drums to create music of great depth and originality
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  2. 8.0 |   BBC

    These sublime songs come from the UK – albeit from the very far northwest of Scotland – and yet Urstan sounds as exotic and entrancing as any wildly acclaimed world-music album released in the past few years
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  3. 8.0 |   Uncut

    A showcase for the enduring relevance of Gaelic culture. Print edition only

  4. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    Roberts and Morrison have crafted an elegant and vivid love letter to the music and culture of Lewis, and certainly brings to life the storytellings and traditions of this remote outpost
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  5. 7.0 |   Prefix

    While those who follow Roberts' career closely might cavil at having him share the spotlight, Morrison seems to be a collaborator who's perfectly suited for this kind of outing, and her style turns out to be an effective complement to his own
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  6. 6.0 |   Mojo

    A peaty, heathery authenticity pervades. Print edition only

  7. 6.0 |   PopMatters

    There are places where Roberts' thin voice can work, where groping at the ends of lines is a sign of earnestness ... and yet not here, I think, not when he’s teamed up with someone who sings steadily
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