Fara - Profile

by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 14 / 6 / 2019

Nick Dent-Robinson profiles the career of Orkney Islands-formed folk group Fara, who have just released their second album, ‘Times from Times Fall’.

Article

Fara are among the freshest sounding all-female groups to have emerged on Scotland's rich folk scene in recent years. The four - fiddlers Kistan Harvey, Jeana Leslie and Catriona Price with pianist Jennifer Austin - have been honing their sound ever since they grew up together amid the splendid surroundings of the Orkney Islands. They have been writing and recording professionally since 2014 and their debut album appeared in 2016 to considerable acclaim. They have now released a follow-up long player ‘Times from Times Fall’ which celebrates their homeland with a selection of self-penned songs partly drawn from the words of Orcadian poets. It is an impressive record with the rich harmonies, vibrant arrangements, energetic fiddles, powerful piano and stunning vocals that the music press so enjoyed in 2016 on ‘Cross the Line’, Fara's last album. In making the new record, Fara enjoyed the team-building experience of working together in a single room. Some of the music had its genesis in America when the band were touring there prior to recording ‘Times from Times Fall’ in a small studio just outside Edinburgh. The four musicians enjoyed working with Scottish folk guitarist Anna Massie as their producer with studio owner Stuart Hamilton acting as engineer. The record has various themes ranging from Orkney's fascinating emigration history to scientist James Clerk Maxwell's discoveries ‘) and Catriona's German mother's use of the word “nein”! Fara are now on a UK tour...prepare to be charmed!