Reviews
Artist:Jo Miller Album: A' The Way To Galloway
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 14
Website: https://jomiller.bandcamp.com/
Fiddle player and singer Jo Miller presents here an evocative set of songs and tunes all linked to Galloway and specifically Glenkens where she grew up. This is an intimate and personal album with family members Neil and Steve and local connected musicians Amy Geddes and Robyn Stapleton making significant contributions. Donald Watson's sensitive watercolour cover landscape draws you in and the music holds your attention to the end.
With a lively but not overpowering tune, "I Was Born in Gallowa" is a lovely opener. The album starts with Susan Currie reading Logan Patterson's poem which blends into Jo singing the words with fine accompaniment from Amy Geddes fiddle and Neil Sutcliffe's accordion. Traditional "Lads That Were Reared Amang Heather" is just Jo and singer Roby Stapleton, who I have not heard of for ages.. A' THE WAY TO GALLOWAY as a collection presents Jo's voice and fiddle in a number of settings, but the standouts are this track and "Gallowa Hills" featuring just Miller and Robyn Stapleton's voices The pairing of the two voices is a gentle triumph Understated too is the piano and voice "The Hills Of Gallowa", an 18th century poetic love song to Galloway. The area, is evoked through tunes too with "Polharrow New Brig" commemorating a new bridge and the trio tune "Kathleen's". With haunting accordion and viola from Jo's son Neil and Amy, the beautiful tune is, written for Jo's mum and Neil's Grannie.
People inspire the album's strongest moments, with a inspirational local Clog and shoe maker commemorated in "Mr Godfrey Smith Of Balmaclellan". Both slow tunes are full of a certain gravitas and while undeniably sad, represent powerful statements. "Canadie I O", I first heard in a slightly different form on Nic Jones' PENGUIN EGGS, is presented here as a showcase for Jo's strong voice. Miller tells the slightly surreal tale of seafaring disguise and marriage well. There is accordion accompaniment but Jo flies with the feel of Folk Club unaccompanied singing. The spirit of live parlour music runs through "Polka Mazurka" with a 1967 recording of Mona and Bobby Stewart opening a freewheeling piece of playing and singing. Neil's accordion playing adds colour, as do field recording birds to the characterful voices on "Buchts O Knockreoch" and the evocative word picture "Toon O Dalry". "The Braes Of Galloway" has Miller singing with Neil and Robyn. The blend of voices is beautiful, as is the wordless tune singing that Jo drops in. "Lord Ronald" is a chilling murder ballad, and another album highpoint, with Jo singing the concerned mother's words and Neil her tragic son. "Seasons" is a William Neil poem, the track is short, but Jo singing of the words, with Robyn and Amy's almost Swingles vocal accompaniment make it powerful.
Marc Higgins
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