STORMBIRD by GREENSHANKS
Debut EP of five songs written and performed by GREENSHANKS (Will Boyd-Wallis), singer songwriter, based in the Highlands of Scotland along with six very fine musician friends.
All of the songs have a sea theme...
"Fistful of Sand" is about the day 300 people were cleared from the island of Rum in 1826 and set sail for 37 days across the sea to Nova Scotia. It is about Will's Great Great Grandfather, John Mor McLean who was possibly the youngest person on the ship leaving Rum. He went from leaving Rum with nothing to be a great Engineer in New Zealand.
"Ballad of Billy and Eilidh" tells the tale of two lovers, one too headstrong to heed the warnings not to go on the sea when a storm is brewing.
"Sandstone" is a modern day selkie song about a man in love with a woman who's in love with the sea.
"Into the Open" is a message of hope to the lonely and offers the wide open ocean as a respite from confinement.
"Stormbird" the title track, was written after a momentous encounter with a Leach's Storm Petrel on the island of Hirta, St Kilda. It is a reminder of the fragility of the sea.
Tracklist
| 1. | Fistful of Sand | 4:31 |
| 2. | Ballad of Billy and Eilidh | 4:59 |
| 3. | Sandstone | 3:55 |
| 4. | Into the Open | 4:14 |
| 5. | Stormbird | 4:43 |
Credits
All songs written by Will Boyd-Wallis
Will Boyd-Wallis - vocals, guitar, guitalele
Hamish Napier - harmonium, organ, piano
James Lindsay - double bass, electric bass
James Mackintosh – percussion
Ross Ainslie - low whistle (Track 1)
Becky Doe - viola, violin (Tracks 3 and 5)
Iain Forrest - slide guitar (Track 2)
Produced by Hamish Napier, Andrea Gobbi and Will Boyd-Wallis.
Edited, mixed and mastered by Andrea Gobbi, GloWormRecording and Carrier Waves, Glasgow.
Vocals and guitars on Tracks 1 and 2 recorded by Gordon Maclean, Turret Studios, Tobermory.
All other recordings at Cherry Grove, Grantown-on-Spey and at musicians’ homes.
CD sleeve artwork by Anne Von Eiff (front) and Stephen Redpath (inside).
CD sleeve photograph by Emmanuel Boitier (back).
CD booklet artwork by Hebe Denny.
