Ahoy Hoy

Boreas are a new Norwegian-Scots quartet featuring Hardanger fiddle player Britt Pernille FrØholm, accordionist Irene Tillung and, from Scotland, fiddle player and singer Lori Watson and harpist Rachel Newton. Largely instrumental, but featuring Watson's fine voice on a number of tracks, this 11-strong set includes a gorgeous account of ‘Braw Sailin’, from Francis Child's ballad collection, and Boreas’ debut single, a cover of Ewan MacColl's ‘North Sea Holes’. Ahoy Hoy is an adventurous and experimental exploration of the links between the music of Scotland and Norway, as well as embracing the lyricism, otherworldly beauty and repose of both countries’ rich folk music .

The band demonstrate a compelling aptitude for bringing the fresh and new to traditional music without losing sight of the old traditions, exploring the surging sea between their distinct yet connected cultures. From the opening ‘Sidvoss’ through to the closing ‘Lullaby’, there's not a second-rate track here. Collaborations between Norway and Scotland are not uncommon, but this is an especially fine meeting between the two cultures.