Standing Stones – enigmatic traces of the long past dwellers in these lands. People with their own culture, their own way of looking at the world – and even though they are long gone these remaining points in the landscape are intriguing and, through folklore, woven into strange tales. And The Standing Stones is one such – asLouise Bichan told Americana UK that “I learned this old Orkney murder ballad from the singing of Ethel Findlater, via a recording in the School of Scottish Studies archive. It is a duet with Orcadian musician Brian Cromarty and features Boston-based New Zealander BB Bownes on three finger banjo.”
A Scottish fiddler, vocalist and visual artist – Louise Bichan will release Binnorie, her third solo album, on October 30th, on Adhyâropa Records. And of course it is from this album that The Standing Stones comes. A USA-based Scottish musician and photographer, Louise grew up in the Orkney Islands and began playing fiddle at the age of seven. Her music blends traditional Scottish and classical influences with original compositions and storytelling, drawing inspiration from the folklore, landscapes and traditions of her homeland. Binnorie explores stories and traditions surrounding Samhain, trowies, sea serpents, selkies and generations of Scottish storytelling.
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Sure, I could climb high in a tree, or go to Skye on my holiday. I could be happy. All I really want is the excitement of first hearing The Byrds, the amazement of decades of Dylan’s music, or the thrill of seeing a band like The Long Ryders live. That’s not much to ask, is it?