Archie Fisher announces first new album in seven years

Archie Fisher A Silent Song

July 8, 2015: Beloved worldwide as one of the finest traditional singers of all time, MBE Archie Fisher is recognized as Scotland’s foremost folk troubadour with a career spanning over four decades. A talent that transcends generations and genres (Scottish indie band Frightened Rabbit had him sing on their song, ‘The Work’), Fisher came out of the vital UK folk scene that spawned the Incredible String Band, John Renbourn, Steeleye Span and Bert Jansch. It’s been seven years since Fisher’s last release, Windward Away, a collection of introspective ballads that evoke the wild and rough beauty of the Scottish border country. On September 18, Fisher will return with his first album in seven years, A Silent Song, on Red House Records, followed by select US dates.

Recorded in the Catskills and mixed in Minneapolis, A Silent Song finds Fisher’s voice as elegant and expressive as ever on these new tracks ranging from historical favorites to originals.

“An album is often said to be a snapshot in time of the artist’s repertoire but in this case there has been a bit of time travel with these songs,” Fisher says. “They range from revived historical favorites like ‘Mary Ann And Bonnie Annie Laurie’ to nearly fresh-off-the-page compositions such as ‘River Like You’ and ‘The Gifts’ by talented songwriters I admire. They are interspersed with my own personal statements of affection and feelings of loss with ‘Half The World Away’ and ‘You Took The Day.’”

An avid horseman and master guitarist, Fisher is known in his homeland for his 27-year tenure as host of BBC Radio Scotland’s award-winning Travelling Folk show. Recognized for his contributions to Scottish folk music, Fisher was inducted into the Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame and in 2006 was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire), a prestigious honor nominated by his peers and bestowed by Queen Elizabeth. He is known, along with Bert Jansch and Robin Williamson, for focusing on songwriting in a musical style originally known for its singing and instrumental prowess. His songs have been covered by the likes of Fairport Convention and John Renbourn, and he’s appeared as a guitarist on albums by Tom Paxton and renowned Irish duo Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy among others.

“Songs, whether they be my own or that of my fellow songsmiths or the unknown bards of the tradition, become very dear friends, worthy of respect in their own right,” Fisher says. “Once written and sung they have an existence of their own and will travel through many other performances. I hope that A Silent Song will be heard, and find many new voices.”

Listen to ‘Waltz Into Winter’ from A Silent Song below: