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Fionnag NicChoinnich - Elevate

The captivating debut solo album from singer / songwriter Fionnag NicChoinnich featuring self-penned compositions in Gaelic and English.

These are songs with a distinct, northern European character. Her writing and singing technique are affected by a spectrum of influences spanning Hungarian folk music, Nick Cave, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins and Bjork, as well as the Scottish and Gaelic traditions.

Co-produced by The Blue Nile producer Calum Malcolm, traditional acoustic instruments and electronic elements blend to create a forward-thinking music that remains rooted in heritage. Mackenzie's emotive self-penned lyrics paint a picture and the sound at times is hauntingly Celtic.

Born and raised on the Isle of Lewis, off the west coast of Scotland, she has been writing and performing songs in English and Gaelic since her early teens.


Musicians: 
Fionnag NicChoinnich - vocals, acoustic guitar
Calum Malcolm -piano, electric piano, Hammond organ, accordian, bass, programming
Brian Ó hEadhra - vibrato guitar, bouzouki, bodhran
Stuart McCredie - electric guitars
Quee McArthur - bass
Dave Stewart - drums
Mairi Campbell - strings
Matt Backer - vibrato and wire guitars
Julien Arguelles - saxophone

Recording information: 
All songs recorded by Calum Malcolm at Carlekemp
Produced by Calum Malcolm
Sleeve design by The Art Surgery, Knaresborough
Photographs by Reaaz Mohammad

Elevate - Lyrics

A Little While Longer

just a little while longer
is all that I'll need
then by tomorrow I'll be
much better you'll see
I know that it's harder
much harder to see
how things ought to happen
without him beside me
I didn't say all I could say
they tell me I'm stronger
than they ever could be
but then why does my heart feel like
it's no longer here
he didn't say all he could say
my friends come to see me
they tell me I'm brave
but every time they leave it's like
I've lost him again
I didn't say all I could say
he didn't say all he could say
you didn't say all you could say
he didn't say all he could say
just a little while longer...
a little while longer...
I didn't say all I could say
he didn't say all he could say
we didn't say all we could say
we didn't say all we could say


An Roghainn / The Choice

choisich mi cuide ri mo thuigse
a-muigh ri taobh a' chuain:
bha sinn còmhla ach bha ise
a' fuireach tiotan bhuam
an sin thionndaidh i ag ràdha:
a bheil e fìor gun cual
thu gu bheil do ghaol geal àlainn
a' pòsadh tràth Di-luain?
bhac mi'n cridhe bha ‘g èirigh
‘nam bhroilleach reubhte luath
is thubhairt mi: Tha mi cinnteach;
carson bu bhriag e bhuam?
ciamar a smaoinichinn gun glacainn
an rionnag leugach òir,
gun beirinn oirre ‘s cuirinn i
gu ciallach ‘na mo phòc.
cha d' ghabh mise bàs croinn-ceusaidh
ann an èiginn chruaidh na Spàinn,
is ciamar sin bhiodh dùil agam
ri aon duais ùir an dàin?
cha do lean mi ach an t-slighe chrìon
bheag ìosal thioram thlàth
is ciamar sin a choinnichinn
ri beithir-theine ghràidh?
ach nan robh ‘n roghainn rithist dhomh
‘s mi 'm sheasamh air an àird,
leumainn à nèamh no iutharna
le spiorad ‘s cridhe slàn.

English Translation:
I walked with my reason
out beside the sea:
we were together but it kept 
a little distance from me.
then it turned saying:
is it true you heard
that your fair beautiful love
is marrying early on Monday?
I checked the heart that rose
in my torn, swift breast
and said: Most likely;
why should I lie?
how should I think I would seize
the radiant golden star,
that I could catch it and put it 
prudently in my pocket.
I did not take a cross's death
in the sore extremity of Spain,
and how then should I expect
the one new gift of fate?
I followed only a way that was small,
mean, low, dry, and lukewarm:
and how then should I meet
the thunderbolt of love?
but had I the choice again,
and stood on that headland,
I should leap from heaven or hell
with a whole spirit and heart.

At the Bottom of the Sea

I couldn't light a fire
but I'd see the coral glow
I couldn't paint a picture
but I'd see the coloured waves
I couldn't have the wind
Press solid on my skin
but I'd still feel your touch
at the bottom of the sea
I couldn't write a letter 
but I'd know the words I'd say
I couldn't telephone you 
but I'd hear you calling me
I couldn't watch the stars 
fall quietly to the moon
but I'd still see your face 
at the bottom of the sea
I would still see you
I would still feel you
I would still hear you there with me
I would still see you
I would still feel you
I would still hear you there with me
I couldn't watch a film 
but I'd have a different view
I couldn't have a sleep-in
but I'd still dream of you
I wouldn't hear the songs
of everyone I've heard
but I'd still hear your voice 
at the bottom of the sea
I would still see you
I would still hear you
I would still see you 
I would still feel you
I would still hear you there with me
I would still see you 
I would still feel you
I would still hear you there with me
I would still see you
I would still feel you
I would still hear you down there with me

Elevate

elevate; up, up, up and away and free
I miss your face, and the cheerfulness that it dictates
stoniness; there are tiny stones everywhere
circling me up here, keeping me company
in case I should feel... feel fear
of myself; but I actually quite like myself
why should I harm me... that other time doesn't count
I was just feeling... a little left out
round and round; round and round and upside down
and inside out, that's why I wear my hair
this way upon... my head

Lots of People

lots of people turning their heads away
from the picture so nobody sees
"it's not real" I heard a man say
"you can't trust an eye if the eye isn't yours
and if it's your eye it's best to be blind"
lots of people quietly talking 
whispering softly so no one can hear
"it's not happening" I heard a man say
"you can't trust a mouth if the mouth isn't yours
and if it's your mouth it's best not to say"
too many people turning their heads away
from the picture, so nobody sees
"it didn't happen" I heard a man say
"you can't trust a mind if the mind isn't yours
and if it's your mind it's best not to know"

​Duisg Mo Chridhe


duisg mo chridhe
o mo chridhe
‘s ruisgt' mo chridhe
‘feitheamh ri buaidh
chiall mo chridhe ghlan
chridhe sìor thàmh
‘dhiol mo chridhe
‘s e nam smuain

English Translation:
Awaken my Heart
awaken my heart
o my heart
and naked my heart
awaiting victory
my pure heart's darling
heart of perpetual rest
my heart's fate
and he in my thoughts

Hi o Hè

hi o hè mo ghille ruadh
hi o hè mo luaidh
o hi o hè mo ghille ruadh
tuiginn còmhla rium, ‘s nam bhuaidh
laigh sinn sìos ‘s bha d' anail blàth
gam bhriodaladh le cagar gràidh
chuala mi faclan làn brìgh
Iain Ailean, dìon mo chridh

English Translation
Hi o Hè
hi o hè my red-haired lad
hi o hè my love
o hi o hè my red-haired lad
come with me in my victory
we lay down and your breath was warm
caressing me with a whisper of love
I heard words full of substance
John Alan, protect my heart

Everybody Knows
​

we all just keep going round
we all just keep going round and round
we all just keep going round ‘til we're blue
if you could love me
if you love me too 
if you could love me like I love you
do you think they would notice?
do you think they would notice this?
and do you think we would call it a day, a day?
everybody knows
that's just how life goes
everybody knows it's the way, it's the way
we all just keep going round
we all just keep going round and round
we all just keep going round ‘til we're blue
I swear I don't know now
I swear I don't know now at all
I swear I don't know now what I know, what I know
everybody knows
that's just how life goes
everybody knows it's the way, it's the way

Elevate Inlay Art

Elevate Sleeve (png file)
File Size: 1518 kb
File Type: png
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Elevate Inlay (png file)
File Size: 6220 kb
File Type: png
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Elevate Booklet (pdf file)
File Size: 1460 kb
File Type: pdf
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