Julie Fowlis: Live At Perthshire Amber, CD review

Scottish singer's live album is a gorgeous treat. Rating * * * *

Martin Chilton

Julie Fowlis has recorded three solo albums but her first live album - "no gimmicks or extra help," she declares - lets her wonderful, sweet voice invade your senses.

Fowlis, who grew up in North Uist, took the bold decision a few years ago to give up working in an office and try to be a full-time musician. There was no looking back.

She sings in Gaelic (her mother's family spoke it as a first language and she studied it at Skye College) but that does not prevent the non-Gaelic speaker from appreciating the beauty of her songs. For this concert, Fowlis is supported by some master musicians: Eamon Doorley (her husband) is on bouzouki and Tony Bryen is on guitars. Martin O'Neill is great on the bodhran but special mention goes to fiddler Duncan Chisholm- of Wolfstone - whose playing is both energetic and highly moving.

Fowlis shows off her own lovely voice on the solo opener Hò bha mi, hé bha mi but my favourite song was A Chatrion' Òg. There is even a duet (sung partly in English) with esteemed folk veteran Dougie Maclean. The instrumentals, especially Jerry's Pipe Jig, are terrific too.

Fowlis once said she suffered from stage fright so badly she was sometimes ill before performing. But having see her sing so joyously at the Transatlantic Session tour in London last month at a packed Royal Festival Hall - and having heard her efforts on this live album, recorded at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, we can all be glad she conquered her nerves so her full talents can be enjoyed by all.