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a tarot of the green wood is the third studio album from burd ellen, released on 31st October 2022. Debbie Armour says “I’m a long time collector and lover of tarot, and I’ve recently become drawn to the idea of finding parallels between interpretation of traditional song and the art of divination. Gayle and I have brought together a new collection of songs that reflect the ideas, archetypes and imagery of the Major Arcana.” Developed on residency at Sage Gateshead, the album also features guest appearances from Irish piper Ian Lynch (One Leg One Eye, Lankum) and Newcastle-based composer Mark Wardlaw (Kenosist, The Old Police House) Available now, cd & digital, via bandcamp
The High Priestess and the Hierophant is a limited edition 7 inch single from Burd Ellen, on Thread Recordings
The song is a version of ‘Fair Annie’ (Child 62), which looks at patriarchy, arranged marriage, the complexities of maternal love and the bonds of sisterhood
"It sounds both timeless and contemporary but on a much deeper level, what’s more incredible, is how they manage to breathe new life into the old" - Folk Radio UK, Song of the Day
says the never beyond is the second studio album from burd ellen, released on 27th november 2020. The record is a collection of carols and wintersong that occupy the liminal space between sacred and secular, connecting to the deep seasonal traditions of Britain and Ireland. Available on lp, cd or digital release via bandcamp
5*, Top 10 Folk Albums of 2020 - The Guardian
burd ellen self-released their debut album silver came in Feb 2019, on limited edition CD. A record exploring women's narratives in British folk song, silver came investigates ideas of persistence, defiance, devotion and transformation.
"rapidly establishes itself as the work of a significant artist" - fRoots Magazine
originally released as a limited edition lathe cut 7 inch on sheffield micro-label sonido polifonico, chi mi bhuam is a gently experimental gaelic work. the b-side is a remix by rev magnetic, the solo project of
luke sutherland (long fin killie, mogwai)
"haunting" - The Wire Magazine
live at the glad cafe, february 2019 is a digital release documenting the launch of silver came. it features the group in trio form with lucy duncan on piano
"live recordings can be a bit hit or miss, but here you feel the understandable excitement of the audience" - Dust on Your Breath
griogal cridhe: This tragic lament was written by Mòr Chaimbeul following the execution of her husband in 1570. It's a powerful piece of poetry detailing the macro and microscopic swirl of her grief and rage. the b-side of this bandcamp-only single is sealing & pivoting, a new work for broken hurdy-gurdy and voice. inspired by Scott Walker and dedicated to Paul Cross
morning come, maria's gone is an ep from burd ellen. released both digitally and on short-run cassette in late January 2020, the ep also features remixes from Pefkin, Me Lost Me and PAEXANAX. debbie made a series of 50 monoprints to accompany the release which are included at random with tapes.
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