Gaelictronica has evolved into one of our most popular and most experimental events. Indeed the term ‘Gaelictronica’ is becoming widely adopted to describe traditional Gaelic / electronic crossover music.
Alistair MacDonald is a widely respected composer and performer in the genres of jazz, traditional, classical and contemporary music. For this event he was joined by Gaelic singer Mairi McGillivray. A recurring element throughout the performance was Alistair’s use of his own field recordings featuring birdsong and the sounds of flowing glacial water. His mesmerising electronic soundscapes provided the perfect accompaniment to Mairi’s ethereal vocals.
Icelandic singer songwriter Benni Hemm Hemm made a welcome return to Ceòl ‘s Craic to present a specially composed song cycle featuring voice, guitar, percussion, brass section and electronic drones. Benni was joined on vocals by English / Finnish artist and musician Hanna Tuulikki and renowned performer and folklorist Alasdair Roberts.
Our third act was the trio of Josie Duncan, Hamish Macleod and SignyJakobsdottir. Josie and Hamish play with electronic traditional fusion band Inyal. Signy is constantly in demand as a session percussionist. The trio combined to create atmospheric, ambient backings to Josie’s vocals with Signy’s unique percussion style providing an organic acoustic counterpoint to Hamish and Josie’s hypnotic synth patterns.
Tha Gaelictronica air a thighinn gu bhith mar aon de na tachartasan as fhèillmhor agus as probhaile a th’ againn. Gu dearbh, tha an t-ainm ‘Gaelictronica’ air fhaicinn fad’ is farsaing mar iomradh air ceòl traidiseanta Gàidhlig agus tar-chur eileagtronaigeach.
Tha spèis mhòr aig daoine dha Alistair MacDonald, sgrìobhaiche is gnìomhaiche ciùil de ghnèithean jazz, traidiseanta, clasaigeach agus co-aimsireil. Còmhla ris airson an tachartais seo bha an seinneadair Gàidhlig Mairi McGillivray. Eileamaid a bha a’ nochdadh a-rithist agus a-rithist sa ghnìomhadh aige, b’ e a chleachdadh air a chlàraidhean fhèin de eòin a’ ceilearadh agus fuaimean uisge fuar a’ ruith. Bha na cruthan-fuaime eileagtronaigeach aige a’ cur taic foirfe ri guth Mairi.
Chuireadh fàilte bhlàth air Benni Hemm Hemm air ais gu Ceòl ’s Craic, an seinneadair-sgrìobhadair à Innis Tìle a thug dhuinn cuairt de dh’òrain air an sgrìobhadh a dh’aon ghnothaich a bha a’ gabhail a-steach guth, giotàr, faram, ionnsramaidean pràiseach agus dosan eileagtronaigeach. Còmhla ri Benni a’ seinn nan òran bha an neach-ealain is ciùil Sasannach / Fionnlanach, Hanna Tuulikki, agus an gnìomhaiche is sgeulaiche ainmeil, Alasdair Roberts.
San treas tionndadh den oidhche bha Josie Duncan, Hamish Macleod agus Signy Jakobsdottir. Tha Josie agus Hamish a’ cluich le co-thàthadh eileagtronaigeach sa chòmhlan Inyal. Tha fèill mhòr air Signy mar neach-faraim sheiseanan. Thàinig an triùir aca còmhla gus ceòl faireachdainneil ioma-chuairteach a chruthachadh mar chùl-taic do ghuth Josie agus stoidhle fharamach air leth Signy a’ dèanamh iomsgaradh leis na pàtranan suainealach co-thàthaichte aig Hamish agus Josie.
