ALBUMS & SOUNDS

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Luminosity NOW AVAILABLE HERE> 'Luminosity', Back of the Moon, Foot Stompin' Records 2005. CDFSR1730 NOMINATED FOR BEST ALBUM AT THE 2005 SCOTS TRAD AWARDS. READ MORE...

Luminosity Track List:

Luminosity Reviews:

Sue Wilson, Aug 2005, FOUR STARS.
"The locked-on cohesion of the ensemble playing is all the more impressive given the replacement, during the past year, of original piper Simon McKerrell by Ali Hutton, also on whistles and bodhran...matching verve with finesse in an arrestingly big, full-bodied, yet terrifically tight sound...their third album, Luminosity, confirms their coming of age as a unit..."

Kenny Matheson, Aug 2005, FOUR STARS.
"...As well as Borders pipes and whistle, he [new piper Ali Hutton] also plays bodhran, augmenting the already powerful rhythmic drive provided by Findlay Napier's guitar and Hamish Napier's piano...behind Gillian Frame's excellent fiddling...with three lead singers there is plenty of variety in the vocals. Their chosen songs are a combination of contemporary and traditional material, cast in fresh modern-sounding arrangements."


Alex Monaghan, Issue 66.
"...Luminosity shows them in the best light yet...The six instrumental tracks are rich and varied, plenty of punch from pipes and fiddle, a charming gentle slow air from Hamish, and a good choice of tunes old and new. The set of four reels referred to as Hawp is a stotter (for the benefit of non-weegies, that's a good thing). Ali Hutton's Voodoo Chilli has its own special atmosphere, and I look forward to more of his tunes next time. It's nice to hear Phil Cunningham's Bombadier Beetle again, and the two pipe jigs with it are equally enjoyable...lush instrumental accompaniment to the songs...Findlay Napier's voice has grown and matured into a powerful instrument indeed, and he makes good use of it on the traditional ballads The Mill Mill O and Glenlogie. Ship in a Bottle is a gentler song, written and sung by a more low-key Findlay. Hamish sings a delightfully upbeat version of The Brewer's Lad, and Gillian divides her light sweet voice between a murder ballad and Archie Fisher's depressing Final Trawl. Backing vocals and arrangements are spot on. Luminosity is a well-produced album with depth and spirit, a varied and polished example of young Scottish talent, well worth a whirl."

Debbie Koritsas, Rambles.NET, 15 April 2006
"...This is a first-class, superbly musical third album from the excellent Scottish quartet Back of the Moon...Their sound is eclectic. Their rhythmic drive is immense on several of the instrumental tunes; they quite literally throw "Lumsden's Rant" and "Hawp!" at you, the latter song featuring superb bodhran playing as well. Keyboard and guitar conspire to convey a real sense of urgency, forming the tightest backdrop for fiddle, pipes and flutes. "Goodfellas" hurls a hugely satisfying blast of border pipes at the listener, and Rick Taylor's trombone lends a touch of sophisticated panache towards the end of the tune -- he features on several tracks on this album, and his contribution is very fine indeed. The band excels vocally, too; Gillian and Findlay infuse the songs with their rich, commanding vocal presence. There's dark drama in murder ballad "Nine Stone Rig" and there's poignancy in "The Final Trawl," both songs featuring Gillian on lead vocals. Findlay inspires on songs like "The Mill Mill O." Guest musician Christine Hanson's cello adds warmth and depth on "Joey Beauty's" and elsewhere. Luminosity strikes a near-perfect balance between vocals and instrumentals -- it's a satisfying and enjoyable album that demonstrates this band's commanding vocal and instrumental presence..."

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2nd Album

Fortunes Road AVAILABLE HERE> Fortunes Road, Back of the Moon, Foot Stompin' Records 2003. CDFSR1720

Fortunes Road Track List:

Fortunes Road Reviews:

The Living Tradition Magazine.
"The album is an excellent broad based mixture of traditional songs and tunes and some of their own compositions, with each of the group's members allowed the opportunity to lead. As someone whose personal preference is traditional song, the album is a particular delight for me. All of the group members are fine singers, with first class guitarist Findlay Napier particularly adept at the strong gusty ones and fiddler Gillian Frame and keyboard player Hamish Napier excelling on the quieter and more sensitive songs. There is not a single track on the album that I dislike and there are some particular gems..."

The Scotsman, Kenny Mathieson
"Back of the Moon have built strongly on their debut album...They are not afraid to champion unfashionable songs like "Blackwatch" and "Heilin Laddie", but give them a more contempory twist in their arrangements. Fourth member Simon McKerrell's pipes and whistles come to the fore in the powerful instrumental sets".

"The 2nd CD from this highly regarded Scottish Quartet is an airy delight. 12 tracks full of energy and bounce. The instrumentation helps: fiddle, pipes, piano and guitar, none of them overused, and elegant understated vocals...Fortunes Road is a fortunate work indeed."
GW

The Green Man Review - Online magazine of Roots and Branches of Music and Culture.
'...another of the ridiculously talented young supergroups that Scotland seems to churn out with ease...like the album and look forward to hearing more from them...'

The Sunday Herald, Sue Wilson
"...a bigger, fuller sound overall [than 1st album], reflecting both their individual growth and their strengthened ensemble interplay...The six songs and six instrumentals underline Back Of The Moon's allegiance to the traditional rather than the fusion camp, albeit displaying a rhythmic expansiveness and flair that's very much of today. The formerly leading presence of Frame's vigorous, full-toned fiddle in the tunes is now assertively matched both by Simon McKerrell's fiery piping and Hamish Napier's buoyant, Cape Breton-influenced piano, while the songs' three- and four-part harmony arrangements are shaping up as a trademark."

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1st Album

Gillian Frame & Back of the Moon AVAILABLE HERE> Gillian Frame & Back of the Moon, Foot Stompin' Records 2001. CDFSR1711

Gillian Frame and Back of the Moon Track List:

Gillian Frame and Back of the Moon Reviews:

Sue Wilson, 5th August 2001
"As inaugural holder of the Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year title, fiddler and singer Gillian Frame makes her recording debut amid high expectations. Featuring the Arran-born 20-year-old with brothers Findlay and Hamish Napier and Simon McKerrell, it prooves to be a strikingly assured and astute piece of work. It covers Scots and Gaelic song, plus Scottish, Irish, Shetland, Cape Breton and original tunes. The uncluttered instrumentation makes for a brightly focused sound, and Frame's breathy yet sinewy singing sounds simultaneously fresh and seasoned."

Norman Chalmers, Sept 2001
"...some of the most accomplished of our younger performers..."

Alex Monaghan, Dec 20th 2001
"...In close to 48 minutes, these young musicians provide a wide-ranging showcase of their talents. There are 3 songs from Gillian and 3 from the boys, and 6 instrumental tracks. Gillian's light breathy voice is perfect for the forsaken young mother in Will ye Gang Love and for the Gaelic song Am Buachaille Ban...the Napier brothers provide the lead vocals elsewhere: the strong, clear vocals on Greenland Whalers and Matt McGinn's tear-jerking Rolling Hills of the Borders are in the best ballad-singing style....The arrangements are fresh and varied on all 6 songs, and the general sound is tight and polished...The choice of tunes is eclectic, Scots and Irish standards sharing a bed with newer compositions, and there are a couple of original melodies too....There are plenty of tasty touches in the arrangements of the faster sets and the alternation of the strident Scottish pipes and the mellower Irish variety works well....The final track deserves special mention, as Gillian puts her heart and soul into Fingal's Weeping and then duets brilliantly with Simon's border pipes on another old Scottish air, before being joined by the backroom boys for the final thrash through a tune which shares it's name with the band: I'm not sure which came first, but both are well worth a listen!
This is an extremely well-planned album: the tracks fit together snugly, they cover all the diverse talents in the band and the notes and artwork are interesting and amusing too. I'm impressed."

Dave Dewar, Jan\Feb 2002
"When a new group emerges that comprises musical award winners, much is expected or their debut album and this Scottish quartet do not disappoint...this band must be destined for musical success... a varied programme of traditional and self penned tunes played with style, finesse and consideration to their composers.... the bands own composition 'Eric's March' where pipes and piano beautifully coalesce...Gillian's fiddle playing prowess is evident throughout. The album opens with her solo fiddle. Crisp and clean, it demonstrates her firm control of the instrument...all band members must be congratulated as the album is very much a combined effort which creates a pleasing sound..."

Jason Lawday, Dec2001/Jan2002
"...They play a wide variety of tunes from Ireland, Scotland and Cape Breton with obvious love, enthusiasm and sensitivity for the tradition, making it all sound so easy...Definitely a group to watch out for."

Virginia MacIsaac
"...fresh sound on the instrumentals and a deep romantic quality to the singing...The songs and voices are rich, mellifluous and brimming with tradition."

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