Malinky

Ranked among today’s foremost young exponents of Scottish song, Malinky combine an array of vocal talent with a highly distinctive instrumental palette, in fresh yet timeless arrangements of both traditional and contemporary material. Their fast-track progress on the international Celtic scene, since forming in 1998, has been underpinned by outstanding musical prowess, fruitful artistic evolution and a maturity well beyond their years.

Malinky first emerged at Glasgow’s prestigious Celtic Connections festival in 1999, as winners of a Danny Kyle Open Stage award. At a time when most new Scottish bands were focusing on instrumental sounds, their song-centred repertoire immediately marked them out from the crowd. A further key asset was the superb original songwriting, by founder members Karine Polwart – now pursuing a stellar solo career - and Steve Byrne, which featured alongside astutely chosen traditional fare.

Six years on, at Celtic Connections 2005 – after two rave-reviewed albums, Last Leaves (2000) and 3 Ravens (2002) – a sellout crowd witnessed Malinky opening an exciting new chapter in their career. That night marked the farewell appearance of both Polwart and accordionist Leo McCann, together with triumphant debuts by singer and cellist Fiona Hunter, and multi- instrumentalist Ewan MacPherson.

Following the success of the band's third album on Greentrax Recordings, 2005's The Unseen Hours, 2008 sees Malinky with a busy international touring schedule, with dates in the USA, Canada and Germany.

The line-up now comprises Hunter on vocals and cello, Byrne on vocals, bouzouki, cittern and guitar, Mark Dunlop on whistles, bodhrán, vocals and uilleann pipes, fiddler Mike Vass, along with David Wood on guitar and bouzouki.

"Magnificent vocal talent" (Scotland on Sunday)

Among the five, they share a diverse wealth of influences and backgrounds, including Byrne’s staunch affiliations with his native Angus region, Hunter’s specialist interest in the songs of Scottish travellers, and the Antrim-born Dunlop’s roots in Ulster tradition. As a former member of young Anglo-Scots/Irish five-piece CrossCurrent, (not to mention a graduate of the Newcastle University Folk Music Degree course), Wood brings his extensive knowledge of traditions south of the border to the mix, while Vass, an award-winning fiddler, brings his unique northeast highland style to the band.

Malinky's third album, The Unseen Hours, was released like its predecessors on Greentrax, Scotland’s leading folk label, in November 2005. A tremendous collection of nine songs and three
instrumental tracks, it embodied a resounding riposte to anyone who’d questioned the band’s future following Polwart and McCann’s departure.

"Malinky in most excellent form" (Penguin Eggs, Canada, on 'The Unseen Hours')

The vivid phrasing, lyrical poise and earthy piquancy of Hunter’s singing are showcased in such classic ballads as “Edom O Gordon”, “Clerk Saunders” and “My Ain Countrie”. Byrne’s commanding, richly plangent tones feature to equal advantage in both the traditional “Hughie the Graham”, and “Flowers of Saskatchewan”, by Canadian singer-songwriter David Francey, while Dunlop contributes a graceful, haunting version of “Seán Ó Duíbhír A’Ghleanna”, from the singing of the great Len Graham. With the vocals complemented throughout by arresting yet sensitive backing arrangements, the tune sets - again comprising a mix of traditional and contemporary material - bring Malinky’s superb ensemble playing potently to the fore, aligning vibrant layers of melodic colour and texture with arresting rhythmic flair.

"Not just back on their feet, but dancing...Few other bands are able to deliver so apparently effortlessly..." (Songlines)

“I think the key difference from when we started out is that everybody now has an equal part to play, so the way we work is much more cohesive and integrated,” says Byrne of Malinky’s sound today.

Indeed, most bands would be more than happy with one lead singer to match the richly contrasting qualities of Hunter, Byrne or Dunlop, let alone all three. Small wonder that Living Tradition magazine described The Unseen Hours as “almost like getting several bands for the price of one.”

It’s precisely this balance of old-fashioned virtues and youthful vitality, fidelity to tradition and willingness to move it on, that has paved the way for Malinky’s burgeoning success to date. With recording on a fourth album scheduled to begin in 2008, a year kicked off by dates in New York and another headline date at Celtic Connections, their progress shows no sign of slowing.

"might prove to be their best yet" (fRoots on 'The Unseen Hours')

"The new incarnation of Malinky is alive and doing very, very well" (Sing Out!

© 2008 Brass Peach Music / Photos by Thomas Gavin - Allimage

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