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Buy Mowing the Machair by Fine Friday
Fine Friday are an enormously talented trio of Scottish and Irish traditional musicians featuring Anna Wendy Stevenson, Nuala Kennedy and Kris Drever. With exquisitely articulated fiddle, percussive accented flute, guitar wizardry and choice vocal harmonies. In this their second album for Foot Stompin' they are on fine form with imaginative arrangements and their usual high standard of execution. Nuala shows herself to be a charming singer but Kris Drever displays why he is considered one of the most impressive voices on the Scottish music scene with his versions of old favourites When First I Came To Caledonia and The Bleacher Lassie.
Like this? You'll love Kris Drever - Black Water: This award winning album received plaudits right across the media. Look out for stand out tracks Steel and Stone and Green Grows the Laurel.
Media Reviews
This is music of the highest artistic caliber
Fine Friday Mowing the Machair
This is Fine Friday's second album, recorded after several years of fairly heavy touring. Evolving from a session band at the famous Sandy Bell's bar in Edinburgh, they are now a big-league contender in Scotland's folk music scene. Adjectives that come to mind for this recording: buoyant, mature, dynamic and solid. These are musicians who are completely at home, not only with their instruments, but with each other, working as a unit that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Each track is exquisitely arranged with so much careful counterpoint, playing off each other and constantly evolving rhythmic motifs that one wonders how they don't get lost in the thick of it all. There is a huge range of instrumental material, with a great whack of compositions from contemporary tunesmiths such as Paul Cranford, Ian Hardie, Jennifer Wrigley, Diarmuid Moynihan and band member Nuala Kennedy herself. Highlights include the title track 'Mowing the Machair', a superb high-energy set with mind-boggling rhythmic and harmonic gymnastics. Hats off are due to Kris Drever for his imaginative, cliché-eschewing and rock-steady accompaniment. 'Two Jigs' played on the B-flat flute and viola by Kennedy and Anna Wendy Steven respectively, strolls along deliciously, allowing us to savour the plush, chocolate textures of the instruments. My favourite vocal track is Drever's understated and emotive rendition of the Bard's song 'Gin I Were a Barron's Heir'. This is music of the highest artistic caliber; they are musicians' musicians who are pushing the envelope of a small 'traditional' outfit. Buy this CD and prepare to be moved and amazed (headphones recommended).
Will Lamb, 2nd February, 2005
With only three band members, one might not anticipate such a varied, dynamic and engaging album as this
With only three band members, one might not anticipate such a varied, dynamic and engaging album as this; but a broad mix of material, strong musicianship and a thoughtful approach to arrangement has made this second recording well worthy of the above description. Fine Friday are Anna Wendy Stevenson on fiddle and viola, Nuala Kennedy on vocals, whistles and flutes and Kris Drever on vocals, guitar and bass. Their own compositions sit happily among the more plentiful traditional Scottish melodies. The instrumental sets and slow songs are delivered in a fairly laid back manner, on the whole, although they do have their more explosive moments, particularly during the closing tracks. They seem to have found the right balance of simplicity and intricacy within the arrangements. Particularly likeable is the way the guitar suddenly changes from chordal accompaniments to melodic lines and back again, how the vocal and instrumental harmonies come sneaking in and out and the way no two verses of a song are ever the same. There's always something different happening, but it's never overwhelming. These three are, clearly, very accomplished musicians, who i hope to hear live some time! Imogen O'Rourke.....Taplas...February/March 2005
Their combination of strong vocals and accomplished playing have engendered high expectations in recent times
FINE FRIDAY: MOWING THE MACHAIR NUALA Kennedy, Anna Wendy Stevenson and Kris Drever make up the Scottish-Irish trio Fine Friday. Their combination of strong vocals and accomplished playing have engendered high expectations in recent times. The rather austere, sepia-tinted artwork sits well with their refined, almost understated approach to tunes from Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton, but they can turn on the energy when needed, as on the vibrant title track.
it's still their delicate and sometimes driving three-way instrumental interplay (with Anna Wendy Stevenson's fiddle) that suffuses the album
The second album from the Edinburgh-based Scots/Irish/Orkney trio is a slow burner. Most of the tunes and songs are taken at a relaxed pace with Kris Drever's guitar supplying variegated light, shade and harmony. His expressive voice is heard on a number of weel-kent sangs, including the traditional "Bleacher Lassie o' Kelvinhaugh" and Burns' "Gin I Were a Baron's Heir", to slightly altered melodies. There's a catchy vocal number from flute player Nuala Kennedy sung in English, and one in Ulster Irish. But it's still their delicate and sometimes driving three-way instrumental interplay (with Anna Wendy Stevenson's fiddle) that suffuses the album and lifts the band above most of the current crop. Norman Chalmers...Scotland on Sunday..06/02/2005
a perfect mixture of enthusiasm, adventure and artistic maturity
Three Scottish & Irish traditional musicians, who’ve rightly gained heaps of praise since the release of their first CD, ‘Gone Dancing.’ They are Kris Drever, Nuala Kennedy and Anna Wendy Stevenson , young, highly talented musicians who have a perfect mixture of enthusiasm, adventure and artistic maturity to make the music shine through brightly. Try to catch them live too, a warm glow guaranteed.
It's the sort of music that benefits from repeated playing, as every replay seems to reveal a wee bit more than before - a harmony here, a fill there. All in all, superb.
Fine Friday, contrary to the views of some of my associates is not the end of the week at the Sheriff Court, but rather the highly-talented trio of Anna-Wendy Stevenson, fiddle & viola; Nuala Kennedy, flutes fiddle and vocals; and Kris Drever, guitar, bass & vocals. There is a lot of talk in music circles of "the difficult second album", which, frankly, I've never really agreed with. Yea, their first CD, "Gone Dancing", was a fine piece of work, so I suppose the theory is that the first album is a difficut act to follow. Not in this case. This group has already shown itself musically as one which puts a lot of thought into arrangements, structure, interplay and musicality. That has not changed - it has been reinforced.
This is a well-crafted and well-balanced choice of material, with songs which allow the vocalists ranges to be complemented by their use on harmonies and empathetic musical arrangements. The overall effect is of a gentle control and restraint, but not at the expense of the passion and drive which is essential to convey feelings. This is a trio who layer their sounds subtly, never overstating, sometimes tantalising, and always delivering fresh and insightful performances. There is also a vibrancy and cheeky humour from time to time, to tweak the ears and make you wonder just what's coming next.
It's the sort of music that benefits from repeated playing, as every replay seems to reveal a wee bit more than before - a harmony here, a fill there. All in all, superb.
..will satisfy every musical epicure..
...another collection of finely pitched and finely chosen music of today and yesteryear that serves up their delightfully articulated fiddle, guitar virtuosity and precisely punchy flute in a way that will satisfy every musical epicure.
The freshness and spark on its debut recording is still here in abundance, with just a touch of added complexity and maturity.
No sophomore slump for the Scottish trio Fine Friday. The freshness and spark on its debut recording is still here in abundance, with just a touch of added complexity and maturity. The instrumental pieces are built around the fiddle of Anna-Wendy Stevenson and flutes and whistles of Nuala Kennedy, with tasteful interplay as well as brilliant solo playing, all being anchored by Kris Drever's guitar work. Fine Friday isn't a group that's just good on the tunes .. the songs are equal to the playing, with Kris Drever's "When First I Came To Caledonia" being especially good. A recording that builds on all the good things found on its first, and one that should give Fine Friday wider (and well-deserved) attention and praise....JL Dirty Linen..October/November '05
Customer Reviews
Top Scottish trio righton
What a band! This is Fine Friday's second CD and just when you thought they couldn't top the last one they have. There can't be many trios around that play so smoothly together. Anna-Wendy and Nualla's playing seems to fit in each others pockets beautifully while Kris's guitar wonderful playing under pins the whole thing. You also can't mention Fine Friday without talking about Kris's brilliant singing (yes I am a fan). He always picks songs that suit his voice and takes them in a new direction. Go and buy this CD!
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