At last… is the highly anticipated debut solo Celtic country-pop album from award-winning Highland accordionist and vocalist Calum MacPhail.
Calum, who lives in Inverness and hails from Fort William, is a member of the award-winning trad folk powerhouse band Hò-rò, and released his debut solo EP in 2017. In 2021, the energetic musician won the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards Original Work of the Year for his single 7 Years Old, which features on at last…
Also on the album is Let Your Love Flow, which was released in November 2022, providing a fresh spin on the classic 1975 country song from The Bellamy Brothers. The single went to No.1 in the iTunes Country Music Charts, as well as receiving huge critical acclaim and airplay on numerous radio stations across the UK.
The record features some of Scotland’s finest musicians, with Calum on accordion and vocals, Sean Cousins (Hò-rò) on guitar and piano and award-winning, virtuoso uilleann piper Calum Stewart on uilleann pipes, whistle and wooden flute. Also on the record is Mark Scobbie on drums, 2020 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year winner Ali Levack on whistle, and Ivan Steele on saxophone and whistle.
Adding to the already stellar selection of musicians are Calum MacQuarrie on bass, up-and-coming singer-songwriter Abigail Pryde and Callum Cronin (Heron Valley) on string section, and one of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians Ross Ainslie on bagpipes. Cathal Murphy features on electric guitar and backing vocals, with rising star RILEY also on backing vocals.
As well as Calum’s acclaimed singles, at last… features a number of brand-new tunes and songs, as well as new renditions of well-known numbers, including Calum’s version of Old Crow Medicine Show’s 2004 sing-along anthem Wagon Wheel, and recognisable jig Kenny Gillies. The Mermaid is a catchy, upbeat original song inspired by the sea, while title track At Last is an uplifting and heartfelt number about the lessons learned in a relationship.
Calum MacPhail said: “Releasing this record is a dream come true because I have wanted to make my own album since I was a wee boy. There are so many incredible artists that feature on the album, including a few people that I listened to growing up, which is incredible to me.
“This is very different to what I have recorded in the past, it has a lot of passion and energy about it and there are a few songs that haven’t been heard before. I would class the album as Celtic country-pop, it has quite a unique sound but there are hints of a few other genres in there too.”
The record, the majority of which was composed by Calum MacPhail and Sean Cousins, was recorded at GloWorm Recording Studios with Ross David Saunders.
At last… will be available on CD, and to stream and download on all major digital platforms, on Friday 14th April 2023. The final single to be released ahead of the album, oh my darlin’, will be available to stream and download on Friday 7th April 2023.
Photo Credits:
(1)-(2) Calum MacPhail
(unknown/website).
