Album: Julie Fowlis, Uam (Spit and Polish)

There is degree to which Scots Gaelic trad music must remain a mysteryto non-Celts, but only a small degree. It's a simple fact that much of what Fowlis does issimply beautiful,whether or not one hasthe language and thesentimentalism to get offon the content of thesongs. It's a thin, bright,silken voice and it lendsitself to long fluorescentmelodies. And if thearrangements occasionallyborder on theprecious, then, like thepretty dresses and coverart, it's a modest priceto pay.