Album review: FARA – Energy Islands
Faramusic [Release date 26.08.22]
Fara are from the Orkney’s, where they developed their distinctive sound that blends the three fiddles and vocals of Jeana Leslie, Catriona Price and Kristan Harvey against piano. On this album Fara introduce a new pianist Rory Matheson, who is from the Highlands.
‘Energy Islands’ is a concept piece of sorts as the music and songs on the album highlight Orkney’s role in raising awareness of, and curbing, the climate crisis. The European Marine Energy Centre has been based on the island since 2003 and due to the islands’ advantageous climatic conditions, Orkney has become a key area for the advancement in technologies harnessing green energy through tides, waves and wind.
Twelve songs in total, of which eight are instrumentals. Of the four songs featuring vocals ‘Fair Winds’ stands out mainly as it involves a bit of local history featuring Bessie Miller, a 19th century resident on the Brinkie’s Brae.
She was regarded as a ‘weather witch’ who sold favourable winds to sailors at a sixpence a time. ‘Merry Dancer’ couples the piano of Rory Matheson with vocals to sublime effect. He is a good fit for Fara’s overall sound and an undoubted talented musician, as indeed all the band are.
The moving instrumental ‘The Hampshire’, commenorates HMS Hampshire which sunk after leaving Orkney’s Scapa Flow in 1916 when it hit a mine. All but twelve of the 737 crew perished.
Fara always know their way around a good foot tapper and ‘White Horse Power’ provides that on here.
We really are experiencing a boom of folk and roots music in these past few years (and long may it continue!), with Fara one of the leading lights. They further enchance their reputation with this well thought out and played album. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections