Stones

An ancient folk song from the 12th century. It has a lovely melody in the Dorian Mode which lends itself well to a modern folk treatment.

Blow, Northerne Wynd!

This Passacaglia explores time and texture - kind of Mindfulness thing where you see where it takes you.

Ground FourFiveSix

This song takes its words from excerpts of three famous and very beautiful poems by Robert Burns - a poet who is able to express deep emotion without becoming long-winded or over-sentimental. The song was composed at Lough Bawn in Co Monaghan, and the melodies draw on the views over the loch from the library and bring a distinct Irish accent to Burns' words. The recording features Sue, Lizzie and Rachel and its natural feel makes it one of my favourite UltraSepulChral tracks.

Til A' The Seas Gang Dry

Have You Met A Jabberwock?

This instrumental piece is my response to a beautiful, sensitive and empathic little poem by Carol Ann Duffy - released on the day of the Scottish independence referendum result in 2015. It had been a difficult time for the Scottish people with emotions running high and a very strong pull of the heart. The waters had been muddied by Scottish politicians with their own agendas and ambitions and by the arrogant and complacent British government in London. The result was a divisive election which left wounds but didn't resolve much. Little did we then suspect the horrors that were to follow in 2016. It is best for the music and Carol Ann Duffy's words to simply speak for themselves.

Tha Gaol Agam Ort
 A thistle can draw blood, And so can a rose,
 Growing together where the river flows,
Shared currency across a border it can never know; 
Rabbie Burns might swim, 
or pilgrim Keats come walking out of love of him.
 Aye, here’s to you cousins, sisters, brothers, 
in your brave, bold, brilliant land: 
The thistle jags our hearts, 
take these roses from our bloodied hands.

Tha Gaol Agam Ort

Our cover of 'Angel From Montgomery' is recorded as a warm tribute to John Prine who wrote this wonderful song about distance and regret: a woman of mature years looking back on her life and thinking what might have been. It is an extraordinarily sensitive and empathic song which was bought to life by Bonnie Raitt's unforgettable recording. This lead vocal was recorded by Claire when she was eight and seven-eighths months pregnant. We had to drop the key so that she could breathe but she brought her own character, beauty and integrity to the song with a superb performance - powerfully backed by Lizzie and Eden.

Angel From Montgomery

This instrumental came to me whilst looking upwards. The combination of stillness and ever-changing texture seemed full of life and calmness.

Cloud Canticle

A traditional song, sometimes called Bells Of Paradise,  dating back to Renaissance times and here given a punchy, folk-style treatment. This song has religious references and was associated with Good Friday and the feast of Corpus Christi. The lead vocal was delivered by mobile phone from the singer's flat in Antwerp, where she was working at the time.

Down In Yon Forest

This is UltraSepulChral's take on a brilliant song by Boat To Row. Although it has been adapted and changed to fit our resources we hope that it remains respectful of the excellent original and that Boat To Row would enjoy it.

Whistle And I'll Come To You

Freelance musician - keyboards, early classical organ, composer, early music specialist.

Geoffrey Howells

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