The hero’s journey echoed in the experiences of an everyman.
It might be an exaggeration to say there are as many types of songwriters as there are songwriters, but then again, it might not. As well as comparing disparate approaches to composition, it’s always fascinating to note how different artists focus on particular aspects of their craft. Scottish musician Adam Beattie, though clearly gifted on a purely musical level, could be described as a story-driven songwriter, one who doesn’t shy away from fleshed-out tales and narratives that shape the very structure of his albums.
With his latest release, Home Fires Burning, Beattie delves into some of his early influences growing up in rural Aberdeenshire, in what is described as “his most Scottish album to date”. As the album progresses, songs build on each other to tell a larger story, a portrait that begins with early adulthood’s first steps away from the family home, in pursuit of musical aspirations. Along this linear journey through life, there are recurring family figures who time doesn’t spare from their own changes and tribulations. It’s interesting to see the narrative progress along landmarks everyone can relate to, especially when figures alluded to early on in the album reappear in the same way people might drift in and out of your life or even your memory. As time passes, there are moments looked back upon and seen in a different light, an aspect captured by the wistful perspective taken in tracks such as Golden Hours. The use of voice excerpts is another element that succeeds in enhancing the pathos already present in each composition.
Despite his early musical ties to Scottish folk, some of Beattie’s previous albums were more heavily influenced by American blues and folk. In this sense, Home Fires Burning marks a return to his childhood influences and the melodies Beattie himself played on fiddle growing up. Closer to home in his sound, he’s joined by other musicians from the UK folk scene, including singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan, whose backing vocals add an extra layer to the sparse yet thoughtful arrangements that characterise the album.
