Live Review: 'High Bright Morning' Launch at the Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, 30th Sept
The List 5 Stars *****
"Stories of heartbreak, revenge and plenty more drama besides pepper the lyrics of ace Edinburgh bluegrass banjo duo of Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson...Their sublime delicate vocal harmonising adds a layer of achingly melancholy beauty to every song...their wonderful take on Americana could warm the coldest of hearts."
The Scotsman 4 Stars **** ‘Truly haunting’.
'High Bright Morning' CD Reviews :
Rock'n'Reel Music Magazine 4 Stars ****
"Terrific harmonies...A robust supporting cast and top-notch arrangements make this lovely record a serious contender for UK Americana album of the year, if such an accolade exists."
Scotland on Sunday Review 4 Stars ****
"Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson use sparkling vocal harmony, sweet melodic melancholy and often stark, dark storytelling to win hearts and minds.....this first album arrives full of character."
Sunday Herald
'One of Scotlands finest….one of the most charming Bluegrass CDs of the year...this is a Scots triumph... excellent songwriting....Arnott’s 'I like the way' has hit written all over it.’
The Skinny 4 Stars ****
"The time seems ripe for talented Edinburgh duo Blueflint to crossover into the indie realm...Blueflint's trademark bluegrass twin banjo sound not only conjours up echoes of Gillian Welch but also the dark underbelly of folk...Blueflint are intent to layer their crisp, vaporous vocals in understated two-part harmonies, like alluring sirens drawing you into a beguiling world."
Scottish Daily Express 4 Stars ****
’Claire-Louise Nelson and Deborah Arnott have produced an impressive album
featuring some lovely melodies and tuneful harmonies......plaintive and engrossing.’
The List
’Wholly engaging to anyones ears...great songs..taking them beyond any Bluegrass pigeon holes...High Bright Morning arrives this month and conveys the magic of their songwriting in ten emotive often dark tales...the songs have a special atmosphere of their own.’ Preview,
Daily Record ’You'll love High Bright Morning.’
Is This Music? ’These sublime original songs cannot fail to move you, cannot leave you untouched...‘Takes More Than A Little Time,’ the album’s opener, sets the stall, as one future classic after another follows...get your hands on this album. It’s one that you’ll want to hear again and again.’
Taplas ’This is a great album of original music... Buy, play and smile.’
What the radio presenters say...:
Radio Ulster:-
Ralph MacLean: "Superb, brilliant release...wonderful. Great music coming out of Scotland...Like this a lot I have to say!"
Cherrie McIlwaine: "I love it."
Radio Scotland:-
Tom Morton: "It's fabulous!"
Iain Anderson: "Absolutely new from Scotland and surprising...Intriguing. Very much enjoying them, very impressive."
Ricky Ross:"One of these records I put on and I got a real pleasant surprise...check them out - its really imaginatively done and interesting production"
Other reviews for Blueflint:
"...beautiful ballads of love and revenge with fantastic harmonies......what's not to love?" Scotland on Sunday Review
“A female banjo bluegrass duo you just have to hear. Deborah Arnott and Claire-Louise Neilson are sublime as they sing ballads of love and loss.......not since the film Deliverance has a banjo grabbed your attention. Mixing Americana with the melancholy of Scottish folk this is a band I'd like to see on the BBC's Hogmanay show.......Blueflint deserve your attention.”
Rick Fulton – The Daily Record
"Blueflint play haunting bluegrass shot through with a yearning sadness and soothing harmonies. Influenced by old-time Americana they have added a full backing band that play with them from time to time giving their music even more depth."
The List
"Drawing mostly from their own material, Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson played what could very loosely be described as bluegrass-derived songs, but they weren't afraid to play around with the genre, exceptional harmonising. Their version of the old Elvis classic That's All Right breathed new life into a tired old warhorse."
Martin Lenon – The Edinburgh Evening News
“sweet-toned banjo.”
North Devon Journal