Under the Radar: Peaks

George Smith and Duncan Strachan’s debut album draws on folk tales and legends from across the Western Isles, write Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon

Peaks are violinist George Smith and cellist Duncan Strachan, and they release their debut album Cladach / Mullach through Chamber Music Scotland next Friday, 25 September. Founder members of the award-winning Maxwell Quartet, the pair combine acoustic and electronic music while reimagining aspects of Scottish traditional culture. Their debut draws on folk tales and legends from across the Western Isles, weaving strings, traditional forms, Gaelic song, storytelling and recorded samples into a musical journey through the islands and their landscapes. Acclaimed piper and BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Brìghde Chaimbeul also contributes vocals across several tracks.

Originally commissioned for Skye’s Magic Mountain Festival, parts of the work toured the Outer Hebrides through Chamber Music Scotland, the national organisation supporting chamber music artists, promoters and communities across Scotland. Cladach / Mullach is the third release on its recording imprint. Don’t miss their album launch at the Pianodrome Bruntsfield Community Hub in Edinburgh on 3 October, see https://peaksduo.bandcamp.com/album/cladach-mullach or https://www.instagram.com/peaksduo/

Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music industry seminar and social night Born To Be Wide, see www.borntobewide.co.uk

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