James Yorkston and the Big Eyes Family Players have teamed up for a new album of traditional songs, set for release on the 10 August (2009). Taken from this forthcoming album is the single ‘Martinmas Time’.

This is a limited 7” edition of only 300 copies, all of which will be in a unique sleeve as they have been sent out blank, to friends and family of the two artistes, to be drawn, doodled and designed on. Amongst the chosen few to put their artistic (or not so artistic) skills to use are King Creosote, The Pictish Trail, Lone Pigeon and Steve Mason.

‘Martinmas Time’ opens with a simple guitar and earthly vocals, which are met with a male harmony and enters into a soft, yet alluring, array of musical instruments from percussion to a beautiful melody on the recorder. The beat picks up from here with a constant beat in the background, which gives you a sense of travel. As the symbols crash you get the distinct feeling of waves crashing down.

This is a ‘back to basics’ simple tune with an intro, middle and end, something you don’t hear too often in this day and age.

The second track on this single, ‘I Went To Visit The Roses’, is a much more upbeat song. It feels much fuller with the strings, piano, guitar and percussion all complimenting each other. This has a real homely feel to it.

If this is just a sample of what to expect from their album, then I’m looking forward to hearing it.

8

Helena Rea