Peatbog Faeries
new album
"Welcome to Dun Vegas"
officially released:
28th July 2003
PRESS INFORMATION
The Isle of Skye is a magical place… steeped in history, mystery and Gaelic culture. It is the only place in the world that could produce a band like the Peatbog Faeries.
When they play at festivals or gigs around the world they still manage to impart a unique flavour of their Hebridean Island Home.
It was close to Dunvegan at a village called Roag, that the band rented a cottage fir three months, setting up a recording studio to work on this new release.
"For us it was the perfect way to work on the album… much more relaxed, with fewer time and financial constraints compared with recording in a major studio", says Peatbog's bassist Innes Hutton. "We even had time to go fishing in between rehaersals and recordings".
"I think the results are obvious in the album - we had fun and the album reflects that. Once night we had 25 people in the cottage singing - and we added this to one of the tracks. Another track features a bunch of locals known as the Veganites - and they also ended up on a track".
The inspiration offered by theisland's amazing history and scenery is evident throughout. The first track - Wacko King Hako (written by piper Peter Morrison) - refers to the Norse King Hako who ransacked the village of Roag in 1263 on his way back from the Battle of Largs.
On another track, a rowing song called Fear Eile - fiddle player Roddy Neilson sings about the practice of young Skye men going off to other islands to bring back women to increase the local breeding stock!
This is the first Peatbog album to feature vocal tracks - although it has to be said, they are executed in true, unusual Peatbog style.
Other influences are evident in the album. For example 'Shifting Peat and Feet' is based around a rhythm drummer Iain Copeland learned during a workshop in Namibia, whilst the band were on a British council supported African tour.
Other African influences come via guitarist Tom Salter, who studied with the famous African musician Ali Farke Toure… Mali style riffs and other African grooves crop up throughout the album.
If listeners pick up any South American vibes, this too, is unsurprising, as keyboard player Leighton Jones played with a Latin American band during his studies at music college in Manchester.
"Being able to draw upon so many different styles and influences has certainly shaped the new album", says Innes. "It is certainly more representative of where we are now as a band".
This is the first album from this band line-up - although they have been performing live together for almost two years. They have decided to follow in the footsteps of numerous other contemporary Celtic music artists - and set up their own record label.
"We feel that we are now more in control of our own destiny", says Innes. "We are very pleased with the way the new album has worked out and we are excited about the future".
More information from Simon Wallace
Tel: +44 (0) 141 847 0002
Mobile: 077450 22485
