“‘Cairn’ is a living memory. It is a collection of new music set to archival recordings of those who once lived in the Scottish Highlands and Islands discussing moments of childhood, folklore and people. It is a celebration of the more intricate moments of Scottish and Gaelic culture and a thank you to all it has given so far.” – Blair Coron.

Hello friends! As I’m writing this, it’s a sunny Sunday, and I’ve got all the windows open. The perfect accompaniment to such a day? Cairn by Blair Coron.

Cairn is a collection of new music set to archival recordings of those who once lived in the Scottish Highlands and Islands discussing moments of childhood, folklore and people. I spent many an Easter holiday in a tiny wee village called Glenelg
(Scottish Gaelic: Glinn Eilg) with my dad, and a close-knit group of people. So when I was asked to review this unique album, I was very excited.

There is something about spoken word, layered over quiet, yet powerful, music that just makes you feel at peace, and you find yourself immersed in the stories being told. It’s so amazing, and interesting, to hear all these stories being told. The album is 8 tracks long, so that’s 8 stories to sit, listen to, and take in. I find the tracks in Gaelic particularly interesting as although I can’t understand the language, I still find them mesmerising, moving, and beautiful. Simply put, this album is a masterpiece, puts a big smile on my face, and I am very much in love with it.

Not only is this album exquisite, but it is also a reminder that these stories (and the language) need to be kept alive, and passed down to future generations. There is also a lovely 37-minute film to accompany this album, which you can find here. I highly recommend you watch this too. Please listen, take in, and share this album to give it the recognition it truly deserves.

Cairn has been funded by Creative Scotland. Archival materials supported by The School of Scottish Studies, Tobar an Dualchais and the National Trust For Scotland / Canna Collection.

Listen to Cairn here
(you can choose from: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, YouTube, BandCamp).
You can also buy a copy of the album from Bandcamp.

If you want to give a tip or donation to support Blair, you can do so here.

Follow:

Facebook / Instagram / Twitter