HADDO – New album

HaddoBORDERLANDS

RELEASED: Monday, May 19, 2014

WILL AND NICKY POUND BRIDGE THE BORDER WITH VIBRANT ANGLO-SCOTS SECOND ALBUM

Hot on the heels of his 2014 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Musician of the Year nomination and acclaimed solo debut album, harmonica wizard Will Pound is back.

But this time the winner of the 2013 FATEA Instrumentalist of the Year Award mostly forsakes the harmonica and instead lets rip on the melodeon, joining forces with his talented viola and fiddle playing wife Nicky for a vibrant second release from the duo Haddo (named after a Scottish estate).

As textured and tightly woven as the wools and weaves depicted on the album cover, this is a feelgood celebration of traditional folk from both sides of the Scottish/English border – from Morris tunes to jigs and reels with some original tunes tossed into the mix, a touch of musical mischief and Nicky showing her singing prowess for the first time on a Haddo album.

The empathy between the two is clear as the melodeon’s mellow and exotic harmonies meld with the dark chocolate tones of the viola, taking well known tunes and stirring them into bright new confections on this 12-track recording.

Now living aboard a narrowboat on the Oxfordshire canals, Warwickshire-born Will has long been immersed in English folk song and dance traditions. For Nicky, a Royal Academy of Music graduate and busy session player (including concerts with Sir Elton John), Borderlands is a nostalgic journey. Born in Aberdeen to a musical family, she was a chorister at Dunblane Cathedral and recently featured as the fiddler on the much-heralded wedding day of Tom and Kirsty on Radio 4’s The Archers!

An enthralling album that does away with divides Borderlands is a captivating melting pot of top music from both countries – and just when you thought Will had left all of his 80 harmonicas at home, that familiar brilliant sound is back in full flood, putting his foot on the gas for the sensational rousing finale Spootiskerry, written by Shetland fiddler Ian Burns.

Borderlands was released on the Lulubug Records label on May 19, 2014 and distributed by Proper Distribution.

“A cracking album” – Mike Harding

“Not content with his harmonica virtuosity, Will Pound now exercises excellent melodeon chops in harmonious consort with viola playing partner Nicky”- fRoots

“Borderlands has moments of finesse, warmth and fun and the blending of English and Scottish tunes works really well. Will adopts the mellow sounding melodeon as the perfect partner to Nicky’s fine viola and fiddle playing and he is as adept at mastering this instrument as he is the harmonica.” – Folk Radio co.uk

Artists’ website: https://www.facebook.com/Haddo-192486924110062/


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