Andrew Sneddon: Far Away Isle

Traditional Scottish songs sung by the tender tenor voice of Andrew Sneddon, with piano accompaniment by Dorothea Heuring. I bought this record fully expecting to be disappointed but it’s actually quite touching.

The album’s highlight has to be a hauntingly beautiful rendition of the Scottish/Celtic folk song “Eriskay Love Lilt.” The song has a soothing and comforting quality. The melody falls and rises like leaves being blown about the feet of two lovers walking a park pathway on a windy autumn day. The tone of the piano reminds me of Mr. Rogers and being a home-schooled child, of a simpler time in life—which is curious since the small Scottish island of Eriskay is also referred to as the “Isle of Youth” and is home to a rare breed of pony.

The album cover is very basic: a piece of paper glued to a blank white jacket. Other than the picture, the artists’ names, the album title, and the song titles on the labels, no additional information about the artist or recording is offered, so one is left to be inventive. His plaid shirt suggests the rural, while the hair cut, clean shave, and vocal refinement suggest the urbane. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Sneddon was a mayor of a small mountain community. Raised in the country, educated and made in the city, and destined to return home to live out his life. He would occasionally get sidelong glances from some of the less traveled locals but he paid the looks no mind; he was perfectly content with being his own man, singing fondly of the Far Away Isle of his ancestors.

Audio: “Eriskay Love Lilt”