Deeply personal songs that reflect the way of life for this resident of the Isle of Mull and to expand on her absorbing personal blog /2013 memoir ‘Island Life’.  It seems a shame I have not heard of Judy before. She has a beautiful, pure and simple voice. With self-penned songs  poetic and personal, played on a broken banjo with two strings, they still sound good.

However the Wild Biscuit production team has brought technology and feeling together here to create something special that feels ancient and at the same time. The CD notes credit John Saich with ‘instrumentation’ and being the talented fellow he is he augments through piano, strings and  synthesized sounds together with occasional percussion.

‘I Have Sailed the Seas’ contains beautiful harmonies that add rich vibrancy to a song of homecoming, it reminded me of Clannad, a feeling that recurs on other songs. ‘We Made The Rain’  has high quality production and good arrangement.  There’s a very ‘hooky’ chorus that will be hard to get out of your head. The final track ‘Sometimes I Feel Beautiful’ gives Judy’s very competent guitar playing  a chance to shine.

Definitely one for quiet, reflective times, plenty of those lately.

Philip Thomas

judyfairbairns.co.uk /birnamcd.com