Summer Solstice seems like the ideal launch date for 'Divergence' – full on, bright, lilting traditional tunes, touched with the sound of summer.
‘Divergence’ is a Creative Scotland funded project led by Freya Rae on flute, whistles and clarinet. Joined by clarsach player Siannie Moodie and Tim Lane on percussion, sansula and tongue drum – this is the sound of Scotland on full pelt.
‘Divergence’ takes Freya’s traditionally inspired melodies and twists them into sets and acoustic riffs – with electronic effects. ‘Divergence’ is not named – not after the movie – but because the band ‘seeks to promote the use of non-traditional instruments in traditional music, primarily the silver toehorn system flute – all aimed at encouraging inclusivity, progression and acceptance.
Other instruments on the album are the tongue drum, sansula, clarinet and soprano saxophone – so this is Scottish trad with a twist, not as we conventionally know it.
With tunes called ‘Owlets’, ‘Aye Yew’, ‘Willow’, ‘Myrtle and Beetroot’ it’s clear that nature and the natural world is at the root of it all – homage to the planets botanical brilliance and how it reflects not just the land, but the people, the folk music and culture with its inevitable links to the land – to our love of the place we come from.
Many of the tunes were born in lockdown – a time when we were all forced to turn in, tune in, and slow down the manic pace of life – and often for the better – especially when it came to creativity.