Post Description

The story of St. Kilda is a fascinating one of human endurance and survival in the most unpromising of settings. The most westerly point of the Outer Hebrides, the islands are a remote outpost in the North Atlantic, 40 miles west-northwest of North Uist and 100 miles from the Scottish mainland. The forbidding cliffs, however, can be seen from as far away as the mountains tops of Skye and offer an ideal habitat for vast colonies of seabirds to nest and breed. The archipelago are regularly buffeted by strong winds, with high rainfall and humidity, but little snow, despite very cool average temperatures all year round. A strong sea swell makes navigation around the islands difficult, so the seabirds and a small population of ancient sheep stock that were the main food sources on the islands, the biggest of which, is Hirta.
Despite all of this the islands show evidence of being inhabited for more than two millennia and although the population has always been small, the last permanent residents were eventually evacuated as late as 1930. By then their numbers had dwindled and their story, unquestionably a sad one, saw religion and tourism decimate a traditional way of life, through misplaced zeal and unwittingly introduced diseases. The conflict of WW1 also played a hand in the saga and significantly, there is only a military base that can now boast a permanent population.
But the islands attract both archaeologists and conservators and are one of Scotland’s five world heritage sights. Small teams of volunteers take up residence in the summer to restore some of what the last population left behind. Amongst those in recent years were Karin Altenberg most significantly for us her partner, the poet Robin Robertson. It led to a novel from the former, but now Robin has also turned his experiences into an outstanding collaboration with Alasdair Roberts for the CD and vinyl LP Hirta Songs.

Tracklisting:
1. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - A Fall of Sleet (6:48)
2. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - Farewell to the Fowler (3:47)
3. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - Laoidh Fhionnlaigh Oig (2:29)
4. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - The White-Handled Knife (4:26)
5. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - The Plain of Spells (3:29)
6. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - Tuireadh nan Hiortach (2:35)
7. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - Leaving St Kilda (9:43)
8. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - The Drum Time (5:13)
9. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - The Well of Youth (3:30)
10. Alasdair Roberts & Robin Robertson - Exodus (7:21)

Dit is een spot op verzoek! 

Extra Informatie:
Aantal Discs: 1xCD
Genre: Folk, Acosutic
Format: FLAC (Tracks)
Year of Release: 2013 
Speelduur: 49 minuten
Cover: Front is in de RARs verwerkt