Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Eddi Reader, Cara Dillon, Kate Rusby, Runrig, Sparklehorse, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan.
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More admirable ambition.
Local trio of singer Shona MacDonald, painter Allan MacDonald and Calamateur's
Andrew Howie have got together to make a richly textured thing of some beauty,
inspired by a combination of Highlands folk, plain song, chant and the strict
Presbyterian tradition of unaccompanied psalm singing.
If you saw Phil Cunningham's
documentary on the history of religious song you'll recognise some of the
roots of what's going on here, but it's transformed into a genuinely
transcendent whole. Check out thetrufflehunters.co.uk for more. - I.C.A.
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"The Trufflehunters
are pretty much a family affair; a tight three-piece who's passion
and commitment to their art is so apparent on every track. Allan and Shona Macdonald
are both visual artists of considerable ability and it is fascinating to see
them step into another part of the creative process. Allan provides the raw
material with his thoughtful, considered songs; sister Shona, the voice
of maturity, purity and purpose; the technical and musical glue are skilfully
deployed by musician/producer/engineer Andrew Howie.
On Signs of Life there is an engaging blend of songs. The message is loud, clear,
direct and simple and the musical and technical standards are impressive. I
enjoyed my journey through this album and can thoroughly recommend the trip.
It is the sound of freshness and sunny days and it will leave you uplifted.
Standout tracks for me were the opener, My High Mountain; the catchy pop tune
Lovesick Heart (which, with not too much spit and polish, could easily sit on
a Radio 1 Play List) and The Hidden Part, a marvellous examination of Presbyterian
Psalmody. But my favourite track is the excellent final song, Foolishness of
God." - Calum MacDonald ( RUNRIG )
The Trufflehunters
are singer Shona MacDonald, her brother Allan and their friend Andrew Howie.
Allan writes the songs, Shona sings them and Andrew records them. Added to the
mix are strings, accordion, piano, oboe and percussion.
Shona MacDonald has
sung in places as disparate as Cuba, the United States and Switzerland, as well
as performing more regularly throughout Scotland. She has worked, and featured
on albums, with Maire Brennan of Clannad, Dave Bainbridge, David Fitzgerald
and Rhett Tyler among others. Shona has sung at several festivals, including
the Edinburgh Festival, Celtic Connections and the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Allan MacDonald is
a painter, exhibiting regularly in Scotland and in London. The songs that he
writes reflect much of what he displays in his paintings. What Allan does on
his own with paints, he does here as part of a musical collaboration, the themes
that lie just beneath the surface in his oils are unambiguously articulated
here and given room to expand.
Andrew Howie has
been writing and recording music for over 10 years, mostly under the name Calamateur.
His music has been likened to The Blue Nile, Sparklehorse and Elliott Smith.
Andrew's songs have been given airplay by John Peel, Radio 3's Late Junction
and Radio Scotland's Vic Galloway. As a Trufflehunter his recording and production
give unexpected settings to Shona & Allan's stunning & beautiful songs,
giving them even more of a chance to shine. Signs of Life is his 8th release
and 4th full-length studio album.
Behind the band's material
lies a variety of musical influences, perhaps the most unusual being unaccompanied
Psalm singing, from which grew a love of harmony and an understanding of the
value of the lyric. This body of work has distilled slowly over a few years
and has eventually been uncorked in this collection of songs.
