In more ways than one, there’s a lot of ground to cover with Còig’s latest album, Ashlar. The sweeping instrumentals and building emotions present in every track create the sense of a long, fulfilling adventure.
The title, Ashlar, is a fitting pick. Ashlar is a type of masonry pattern where each stone fits together pristinely, despite not having the same shape or size. The album is much the same. The themes and moods may vary, but each track is so carefully crafted and placed that the end result is a clean, cohesive image.
The majority of the album is a showcase of the group’s broad instrumental expertise, but there a few vocal tracks that do stand out in particular, and stand out from each other depending on who’s singing. Darren McMullen handles songs that have more of a folk-like, storytelling element to them. He lends his voice to the Gordon Lightfoot cover, “Home from the Forest”, as well as “The Capable Wife”.
Rachel Davis, meanwhile, is present on the more whimsical tracks rooted in nature. The track “Deep Down in the River” is as crisp and clean as the body of water it’s emulating, both in the picks of the strings and the chime of Davis’s voice. Her vocals on the Gaelic track
“O Luaidh” are a definite highpoint of the album. She perfectly complements the beautiful backing arrangement.
It’s clear, as the album progresses, that each member brings something uniquely outstanding to the table. Fiddler Chrissy Crowley shines on some of the album’s more lively jigs, such as “Uncle Leo’s Jigs” and “From the Old Tapes.” Jason Roach is versatile with his piano playing, able to make or break the mood of a song.
Regardless of which ingredients Còig choose to put into a particular song, the result has the same effect. Ashlar has this epic, building quality to it. Just when you feel you’ve conquered the mountain of one track, another comes along to take your breath away all over again.
Tour Dates:
03.09.19 – Vancouver, BC @ St. James Community Hall,
03.10.19 – Nanaimo, BC @ Simon Holt Restaurant
03.12.19 – Mission, BC @ Ruskin Hall
03.13.19 – Penticton, BC @ Dream Cafe
03.14.19 – Lake Country, BC @ Creekside Theatre
03.15.19 – Cranbrook, BC @ Key City Theatre
03.16.19 – Calgary, AB @ Braeside Community Centre
03.17.19 – Fort MacLeod, AB @ The Empress Theatre
03.19.19 – Saskatoon, SK @ The Bassment
03.22.19 – Morinville, AB @ Morinville Community Cultural Centre
03.30.19 – Mahone, Bay, NS @ Mahone Bay Centre
04.23.19 – Napanee, ON @ Dog House Studio
04.25.19 – Fergus, ON @ Fergus Grand Theatre
04.26.19 – Aurora, ON @ Aurora Cultural Centre
04.27.19 – Toronto, ON @ Hugh’s Room
05.01-05.19 – Charlottetown, PEI @ East Coast Music Awards
05.09.19 – Truro, NS @ Marigold Cultural Centre
05.11.19 – Port Hawkesbury, NS @ Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
05.14 – 16.19 -New York, NY @ 92nd Street Y Center – Kaufmann Concert Hall