FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: May 14th
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Bill Nelson - Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam (Deluxe Edition)
  • Ned Evett (May 2025)
  • Gypsy Pistoleros and The Outlaw Orchestra - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
  • Don Airey - Pushed to the Edge
  • Dean Owens - Spirit Ridge
  • Gypsy Pistoleros - Church Of The Pistoleros
  • Simon McBride - Recordings 2020-2025
  • Félix Rabin - Blue Days EP
  • 2025 Reviews>
    • Dim Gray - Shards
    • Steve Hackett - Live Magic At Trading Boundaries
    • James O'Hurley - A Certain Stranger
    • Mud - The Rak Years 1973-75
    • Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado - House Of Sticks
  • 2025 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Erja Lyytinen - Smell The Roses
    • The Damn Truth - The Damn Truth
    • The Adventures - Once More With Feeling
    • Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - Live Perpetual Change
    • Jason Bieler & The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - The Escapologist
    • Black Eyed Sons - Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits
    • Dream Theater - Parasomnia
    • Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant
  • 2024 Reviews >
    • Robert Fleischman - Emotional Atlas
    • Lazarus Heights - Papillon
    • Toby Lee - House On Fire
    • Innes Sibun - The Preacher
    • Ned Evett - Strange Kind Of Freedom
    • DeWolff - Muscle Shoals
    • The Southern River Band - D.I.Y
    • MYPD - Basssik
    • Toby and the Whole Truth - Look Out! Vol.1
    • Blue Nation - The Ordinary People
    • The Round Window - Fram EP
    • Mike Ross - Electric Smoke
    • Mississippi MacDonald - I Got What You Need
    • The Dictators - The Dictators
    • Matt Steady - Flight Of The Raven
    • Various Artists - Tributes : Songs For Neil Vol 5
    • The Sheepdogs - Paradise Alone EP
    • Then Comes Silence - Trickery
    • Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast - Blueprints EP
    • Deep Purple =1
    • Arielle - Reel To Real
    • Raintown - Acoustic Heart
    • Ivan Drever - Covered
    • Rich Young - Prozac Diary
    • The Dave Foster Band - Maybe They'll Come Back For Us
    • Mr. Big - Ten
    • Jill Jackson - Curse Of The Damned
    • Daryl Hall - D
    • John Oates - Reunion
    • Gagarin - Komorebi
    • Paul Mallatratt - The Planets; Screaming Thru Heartache
    • Quinn Sullivan - Salvation
    • Edit The Tide - Reflections In Sound EP
    • Attic Theory - What We Fear The Most
    • Stone Angels - Up In Smoke
    • Ramblin' Preachers - Sins & Virtues
    • The Treatment - Wake Up The Neighbourhood
    • Ben Hemming - Darkness Before Dawn
    • The Now - Too Hot To Handle
    • Kelowna - Better Day EP
    • Tom Killner - Borrowed Time
    • Beaux Gris Gris And The Apocalypse - Hot Nostalgia Radio
    • The Milk Men - Holy Cow!
    • The Toy Dolls - The Singles
    • Turbulence - B1nary Dream
    • It Bites FD - Return To Natural
    • Blue Öyster Cult - Ghost Stories
    • Hawkwind - Stories From Time And Space
    • These Wicked Rivers - Force Of Nature
    • Alice Di Micele - Interpretations Vol 1
    • Walter Trout - Broken
    • Silveroller - At Dawn EP
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Battles
    • Little Lore - Seven Stories EP (Part One & Part Two)
    • Elles Bailey - The Night Owl & The Lark EP
    • Blue Nation - Reflections EP
    • Rick Wakeman - Live at the London Palladium 2023
    • Chris Wragg and Greg Copeland - The Last Sundown
    • Sons Of Liberty - The Detail Is In The Devil
    • EBB - The Management Of Consequences EP
    • Thunder - Live At Islington Academy 2006; Live At Leeds 2015
    • Robby Krieger And The Soul Savages
  • 2024 Featured Album Reviews>
    • Austin Gold - Ain't No Saint
    • Cats In Space - Time Machine
    • The Outlaw Orchestra - La Familia
    • Mojo Thunder - The Infinite Hope
    • Beth Hart - You Still Got Me
    • Eclipse - Megalomanium II
    • Al Stewart - Past, Present & Future (50th Anniversary Edition)
    • Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Dirt On My Diamonds Volume 2
    • Scalet Rebels - Where The Colours Meet
    • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Red Moon Rising
    • Elles Bailey - Beneath the Neon Glow
    • Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - True
    • The Commoners - Restless
    • Brave Rival (Fight Or Flight)
    • Al Di Meola - Twentyfour
    • Focus - Focus 12
    • Big Wolf Band - Rebel's Journey
    • Robin Trower - Bridge Of Sighs (50th Anniversary Edition)
    • Vanden Plas - The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things
    • Troy Redfern - Invocation
    • Amigo The Devil - Yours Until The War Is Over
    • Preacher Stone - V
    • Bison Hip - Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life
    • Waysted - Won't Get Out Alive 1983-1986
    • SiX BY SiX - Beyond Shadowland
    • Dan Patlansky - Movin' On
    • Jane Getter Premonition - Division World
    • Today Was Yesterday - Today Was Yesterday
    • Steve Hackett - The Circus And The Nightwhale
    • Mama's Boys - Runaway Dreams 1980-1992
  • 2023 Reviews
  • 2023 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Blue Deal - Can't Kill Me Twice
    • THEIA - The Wet Die Young EP
    • The Round Window - Everywhere & Nowhere
    • Long Road Home - Are We Invisble?
    • Dolly Parton - Rockstar
    • Various Artists - Shake That Thing! The Blues In Britain 1963-1973
    • Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Dirt On My Diamonds Vol. 1
    • The Blue Lena - Darkwood
    • LALU - The Fish Who Wanted To Be King
    • Celebrate It Together : The Very Best Of Howard Jones 1983-2023
    • Stray - About Time
    • Skinny Knowledge - twentytwo
    • Robin Trower (featuring Sari Schorr) - Joyful Sky
    • Trevor Rabin - Rio
    • Vega - Battlelines
    • Downes Braide Association - Celestial Songs
    • High Pulp - Days In The Desert
    • Starlite & Campbell - STARLITE.ONE
    • Matteo Mancuso - The Journey
    • Oli Brown & The Dead Collective - Prelude & Prologue EPs
    • Extreme - Six
    • Bison Hip - Older Stronger Better
    • Joy Dunlop - Caoir
    • Mike Ross - Third Eye Open
    • Martin MIller - Maze Of My Mind
    • Cruachan - The Living and The Dead
    • King Kraken - MCLXXX
    • Heavy Metal Kids - The Albums 1974-1976
    • Anchor Lane - Call This a Reality?
    • Doomsday Outlaw - Damaged Goods
    • Hayley Griffiths - Far From Here Hayley Griffiths Band - MELANIE
  • 2022 Reviews
  • 2022 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Moon City Masters - The Famous Moon City Masters
    • Steve Hill - Dear Illusion
    • Kira Mac - Chaos is Calling
    • EBB - Mad & Killing Time
    • The Commoners - Find A Better Way
    • Rebecca Downes - The Space Between Us
    • Erja Lyytinen - Waiting For The Daylight
    • Chris Antonik - Morningstar
    • The Milk Men - Spin The Bottle
    • SiX BY SiX - SiX BY SiX
    • Jeff Berlin - Jack Songs
    • Keef Hartley Band - Sinnin' For You The Albums 1969-1973
    • Toby Lee - Icons Vol.1
    • Montrose - I Got The Fire : Complete Recordings 1973-1976
    • Orianthi - Live From Hollywood
    • Valeriy Stepanov Fusion Project - Album No. 2
    • Dan Reed Network - Let's Hear It For The King
    • Ali Ferguson - The Contemplative Power Of Water
    • Edgar Winter - Brother Johnny
    • Joe Satriani - The Elephants Of Mars
    • Dave Cureton - State Of Mind
    • Larry McCray - Blues Without You
    • Tears for Fears - Tipping Point
    • Kris Barras Band - Death Valley Paradise
    • Dan Patlansky - Shelter of Bones
    • Black Lakes - For All We've Left Behind
    • Wille & The Bandits - When The World Stood Still
    • LALU - Paint the Sky
    • Various Artists - Revolt Into Style 1979
  • Selected 2025 Gig Reviews >
    • Erja Lyytinen - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Troy Redfern - Backstage, Kinross
  • Selected 2024 Gig Reviews>
    • Silveroller - Backstage, Kinross
    • Dave Arcari - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Gypsy Pistoleros - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Kira Mac - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr; Matt Pearce & The Mutiny - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • The Davey Pattison Band - Backstage, Kinross
    • Verity/Bromham Band - Backstage, Kinross
    • Moving Pictures - Venue 38, Ayr
    • The Countess Of Fife - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
    • Connor Selby - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Rebecca Downes - Backstage, Kinross
  • Selected 2023 Gig Reviews >
    • Ben Poole - The Ferry, Glasgow
    • Moving Pictures - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Hamish Stuart & James Bown Is Annie; Hamilton Loomis - Darvel Music Festival
    • Amigo The Devil - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Davey Pattison Blues Band - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Joe Satriani - O2 Academy, Glasgow
    • Walter Trout - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Stereo, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Focus - The Ferry, Glasgow
    • Elles Bailey - The Caves, Edinburgh
    • The Blackheart Orchestra - Hotel Utopia UK tour
    • The Wilson Brothers - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
  • Selected 2022 Gig Reviews >
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender - Troon
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Paul McCartney - Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury 2022
    • Daryl Hall - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Eric Gales - Oran Mor, Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations 2025>
    • Sandi Thom (February 2025)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2024>
    • Mississippi MacDonald (December 2024)
    • Walter Trout (October 2024)
    • Albert Bouchard (August 2024)
    • Robert Berry - August 2024
    • Troy Redfern (May 2024)
    • Dan Patlansky (March 2024)
    • Connor Selby (February 2024)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2023>
    • Del Bromham (November 2023)
    • Sari Schorr (October 2023)
    • Suzy Starlite & Simon Campbell (September 2023)
    • Ali Ferguson (August 2023)
    • Leoni Jane Kennedy (August 2023)
    • Joy Dunlop (May 2023)
    • Dan Patlansky - April 2023
    • Hayley Griffiths (February 2023)
    • Steve Hill (January 2023)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2022>
    • Rebecca Downes (December 2022)
    • Chris Antonik (November 2022)
    • Pat Travers (October 2022)
    • Robert Berry (August 2022)
    • JW-Jones (August 2022)
    • Mike Ross (July 2022)
  • Selected Muirsical Conversations From The Archive>
    • Bernie Marsden (December 2021)
    • Robin George (November 2021)
    • Dennis DeYoung (June 2021)
    • Robert Berry (March 2021)
    • Dan Reed (February 2021)
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
  • Muirsical Articles >
    • 2019AB?
    • All the World's a Stage (and people falling off it) – 2015 in Review
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Home of a Ramblin' Band (Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum)
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • Laser Love - Blue Oyster Cult Glasgow Apollo 29-04-78
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Preaching to the Glasgow Choir Slade 26-03-1982
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings >
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Joy Dunlop – Caoir
Picture
Ten years on from previous solo album Faileasan (Reflections), multi-disciplined and bi-lingual singer Joy Dunlop offers up Caoir, an inviting and highly accessible traditional Scots Gaelic/ folk album.
 
While ten years is a long time to wait for a follow up, Joy Dunlop has released two collaborative albums between times – Fiere with genre challenging duo Twelfth Day and more recently Dithis (Duo), a wonderful blend of classical and traditional in the company of her classical pianist brother, Andrew Dunlop.

Indeed it’s a wonder Joy Dunlop found the time for Caoir at all – aside from being a well-known BBC Scotland and BBC Alba weather presenter, she is part of the Speak Gaelic team, co-presents a Scottish and Irish language podcast and has since become director of the annual World Gaelic Week.

Additionally, she was involved in January’s Celtic Connections, presented BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year and hosted a televised event celebrating fifty years of the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture.
She is also involved in the Covid Choral Workshops (which have successfully continued beyond lockdowns).
And you can add in dancer, journalist and educator.

In short, a true and passionate advocate for all things Scottish Gaelic, including, of course, the music
– which she voices beautifully, coupled with deft and delightful phrasing.

That aforementioned passion is at the heart of the Caoir (started late 2019 but, like so many musical projects, much delayed by the Covid pandemic); a genuine lifelong love for the music brings out the evocative nature of the songs, the lyrics and, title fittingly (Caoir means fiercely burning, a blaze of flames, flashes) the warmth embedded in traditional songcraft.

Additionally, Joy Dunlop chose to record with a full band for a bigger and vibrant sound, featuring the in demand talents of drummer Ifedade Thomas, fiddle player Mhairi Marwick, guitarist Ron Jappy, bassist Gus Stirrat (who also recorded the album) and Euan Malloch on electric guitar.

Caoir also pushes on the boundaries of traditional/ Scots Gaelic music – do not fret, trad. purists, we’re not talking alt-rock trad by any means; this is more about the desire to musically stretch without ever losing the heart, or meaning, of the songs.
Or, in Joy Dunlop’s own words, "for those who don’t speak Gaelic, with this album, I wanted to capture the sentiment of the songs; whether the listener understands Gaelic or not, whilst adding new engaging elements to the music."

Opening number 'Jigs' is steeped in the traditional.
Built off a simple rhythm, Joy Dunlop's lovely lyrical cadence (Gaelic "mouth music"
– "puirt à beul") is accompanied by some sweet fiddle playing and deft guitar backing.

Following track, 'Ged is grianach an latha' ('Although the day is sunny'), is a slower in tempo, melancholic "waulking song" (a traditional Scottish/ Gaelic folk tune sung while women were producing homespun woollen cloth, tweed or tartan).

Not so much melancholic as poignant is 'Am Bràighe' ('The Braes'), an early 20th century tune written for the Cape Breton village of Margaree; here it acts as a beautifully performed song of longing.

Each of the ten songs on Caoir is worthy of mention, but particular highlights include lost love lament 'Cadal Cuain' (the English translation of the title – 'Sleep of the Ocean' 
– helps tell the tragic tale), the jaunty 'Port Na Cailliche' ('The Old Crone’s Tune') and the joyful 'Puirt à beul' (a quartet of dancing songs in one).
On the latter Joy Dunlop again shows her crisp and clean rhythmic mastery of mouth music.
 
Closing number 'Reels' (a pair of them to be exact) is the perfect bookend to 'Jigs;' Joy Dunlop once again delivers in a mouth music cadence while the band drive the song to its folk ‘n’ roll conclusion.

Accompanied (in CD format) by a 24-page booklet that reprints the lyrics in both Gaelic and English along with background on, and origins of, the songs, Caoir is a highly accessible journey through traditional musical landscapes.
It's also 
an invitation to discover more about the culture, history and language of Scots Gaelic, from one of its biggest and most passionate champions.

Now excuse me while I nip off to ask Miss Dunlop what the weather is going to be doing tomorrow.

Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ


Purchase Caoir and other Joy Dunlop albums and merch at: https://www.joydunlop.com/shop/
Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved