Inge Thomson - Da Fishing Hands

Much of my recent time for listening to music has been devoted to traditional and contemporary folk. Part of the reason for this is my total immersion in the brilliant current album 'Mount The Air' by the Unthanks. Another reason is that I and a few like minded souls get together once a week to play a selection of well chosen folk songs utilising whatever modest skills we have on guitars, mandolin, concertina, flute and whistle. Recent additions to our repertoire have included 'Farewell to the Gold' the Paul Metsers song that was covered by Nic Jones on his amazing 1980 album, 'Penguin Eggs'. Also, the Alex Glasgow song 'Close The Coalhouse Door' which was of course covered by the Unthanks on their 2011 album, 'Last'.

So, recently there has been time for little else but folk music, which is of course, no bad thing. 


On the subject of contemporary folk, a very fine album has just been released by a singer and multi-instrumentalist named Inge Thomson. Hailing from Fair Isle, a tiny rugged island nestling between Shetland and the Orkney Islands to the far north of Scotland, her music is steeped in nautical influences. And so it is with 'Da Fishing Hands' which sets Thomson's music to the words of musician and poet Lise Sinclair who happened to be Thomson's cousin, but who tragically died last year following a short illness. She was only 42. Though this tragedy adds a poignancy to the album, the songs and arrangements stand on their own merits. 

Like Fair Isle itself, the sea dominates the music which is mesmerising and atmospheric throughout. Thomson sings and plays accordion, glockenspiel and provides various electronic effects while she is very ably supported by Steven Polwart on guitar, Sarah Hayes on flute, Fraser Fifield on saxophones, pipes and whistles, and Graeme Smillie on bass. Together they have created a stunningly beautiful album that is at once heartbreaking and spellbinding. I am totally loving it. 

Have a listen here to the tracks 'Here We've Landed' and 'Wind and Weather / The Fishermen and the Sea'

Better still, grab the album, listen to it from start to finish and ENJOY.