Aerialists, the Juno-nominated, boundary-pushing neo-trad, folk, and Celtic ensemble, is thrilled to announce the release of their highly anticipated new album,’I Lost My Heart On Friday,’ available October 18, 2024, on Fiddlehead Records. Known for their innovative blend of traditional melodies and contemporary arrangements, Aerialists are poised to captivate listeners with their latest work, promising a celebratory and evocative musical journey.
Produced by Adam Iredale-Gray, ‘I Lost My Heart On Friday’ marks a shift from the introspective nature of Aerialists’ previous albums, embracing a lively and festive spirit. The album was conceived during a period of isolation on a small island in the second summer of the pandemic, where the band members — Scottish harpist Màiri Chaimbeul, fiddler Elise Boeur and guitarist Adam Iredale-Gray — envisioned a future of reconnection, live concerts, and dancing crowds. This hopeful and exuberant energy is woven throughout the album’s tracks. The album also features Robert Alan Mackie on electric and upright bass and Steven Foster on drums.
“After a few fairly introspective albums, we wanted to make something that felt celebratory… using old traditional melodies to create music that felt right for a dancing crowd at sunset in the grass at a summer music festival. Imagining the future when the best things would be back in our lives, making music to fit that imaginary space,” says Aerialists.
At one moment a prog-rock band, the next an Irish-Scottish-Norwegian trad band then an experimental indie-jazz band, then somehow all of these at once, Aerialists have alchemized diverse influences into a sound with striking clarity. It’s ethereal yet precise, technical yet visceral. Aerialists emerged from the new acoustic scene at Berklee College of Music nearly a decade ago, born from the creative affinity between harpist Màiri Chaimbeul, fiddler Elise Boeur, and guitarist Adam Iredale-Gray. Now with three albums, a JUNO nomination, and a Canadian Folk Music Award under their belt, Aerialists have staked their claim on the leading edge of the neo-folk world.
The band’s arrangements assert the belief that a harp can groove like a drum kit, that a fiddle can be more ferocious than a distorted electric guitar, and that traditional tunes are sturdy and flexible enough.
Track by track
- Father Swan Story (Labajalg / Bourrée)
– “Isa Luige Lugu” was collected from Mihkel Toom in Estonia, and “Bourrée de Porte” is a French traditional tune with an intriguing story of its partial reconstruction by Jean Pierre Champeval.
- I Lost My Heart On Friday (Reels)
– Includes “Eddie Kelly’s,” a reel by Irish fiddler Eddie Kelly, and the titular track from the 1790 Donald Grant collection.
- Festivalpolskas (Polskas)
– A vibrant set of polskas, featuring tunes collected from various Swedish sources, creating a joyous and communal feel.
- Gammel-Steinomen (Springleik)
– A traditional Norwegian springleik learned from Erlend Viken, adding a sludgy weight to the traditional dance form.
- The Birds (Hornpipe / Reel)
– Combines “The Birds,” an Irish hornpipe, with “Am Fasan Th’aig Na Caileagan,” a Scottish Gaelic tune reflecting on female fashion.
- Memories of Anascaul (Polkas)
– A medley of French and Irish polkas, including tunes collected fromLéon Peyrat.
- All Covered With Moss (Jigs / Slipjig)
– Features traditional Irish and Scottish jigs, showcasing the band’s intricate and harmonious interplay.
- The Bodach And The Lads (Three-twos)
– A set of tunes that includes a humorous Scottish song and a Northumbrian hornpipe.
- The Shoemaker’s Daughter Set (Reels)
– A dynamic trio of reels, blending the compositions of Ed Reavy and traditional Irish tunes.
‘I Lost My Heart on Friday,’ is out on Fiddlehead Records on Friday October 18th. More from aerialistsmusic.com
