Weathering – songs of hope that’s just a bit battered by the breeze
When renowned record producer, songwriter and performer Boo Hewerdine says of a debut album: “Sometimes you just know you’re around the making of something that will touch people’s lives”, you know it’s going to be worth a listen.
Weathering by broken david, released on the 4th of October as a download and on CD, is the album question. Recorded in Hamilton and Glasgow with musicians from Orkney, and around Scotland, it features original songwriting, captivating arrangements and an impressively wide range of moods across the twelve songs. Jamie Savage of Chem19, mixed and mastered it, whilst Boo served as producer and chief encourager.
Boo continues: “Working with broken david was a joy. He taps into a raw honesty that is rare and unguarded.”
broken david is the stage name of songwriter and playwright David McNeish. David says of the recording: “We wanted the album to feel like you were in the room whilst we played, to have that immediacy of connection. Everything is in service of the song and I’m truly delighted with how it’s all come together.”
David lived in Orkney for nine years, until a few months ago, and there is a distinctive Orcadian character to many of the songs. Some were written outside in the landscape, others feature lyrics about Orkney and one is even an old Orcadian shipwreck song to which David has added new music and lyrics.
“I finally went on a tour of the upstairs of St Magnus Cathedral. There’s an old harmonium stored up there and when I heard the tone of it I knew I wanted it to feature on the shipwreck song. I got the chance to record in the Cathedral after hours and capture the harmonium’s unique sound as it reverberated around the 900 year old walls. That alone was an unforgettable experience.”
But broken david is no solo project. It’s an impressive roster of musicians who have collaborated and enhanced the songwriting. Stromness multi-instrumentalist James Groat (of Stoatfinger) plays mandolin, banjo, 12-string and dobro. Double bassist Jenny Hill (Radio 2 Folk Award winner for Songs of Separation) played live with James and David to form the nucleus of the tracks, before other instruments were added to serve the unique character of each song.
Beth Porter (the Bookshop Band, Eliza Carthy and the Wayward Band) added some beautiful cello lines whilst on tour in England. Karen Tweed (May Monday and SWAP), came down from Orkney to record her delicious accordion parts whilst Douglas Montgomery (Saltfishforty and The Chair), stayed in Burray to record his gorgeous fiddle. Vocalist Karina Smillie, (Kat Healy, Findlay Napier) added further colour and character to the songs. Even the handclaps were multi talented – recorded with Euan Burton, Boo Hewerdine and Karen Tweed.
The album art features a painting by Stromness artist Calum Morrison (1956-2022) that he painted over and was thought to be lost. A mobile phone snap was digitally restored by graphic designer Elly Lucas. David says of the artwork “It’s entirely fitting that Calum’s hauntingly beautiful art work adorns this album. It’s an album of songs about weather – internal and external – about love and losing love and about endurance. These were all themes familiar to Calum, and indeed everyone who has been a part of the project.”
The album is available to pre-order on Bandcamp and is released on the 4th of October.
