Description
Baby Blue coloured vinyl.
Well renowned for his inimitable songwriting and distinctive approach to contemporary folk music, Cahalen Morrison returns with 'Broken Bell', an album shaped by five years spent living and writing in Scotland. Formed during a period of deep personal change, the record draws together stories of friendship, grief, landscape and belonging, rooted in place while reaching far beyond it.
Written across Aberdeenshire and brought to life through an exploratory, collaborative recording process, Broken Bell reflects the communities and landscapes that sparked its creation. Folk traditions, eclectic musical influences and organic performances sit comfortably alongside one another, creating a sonically rich record led by curiosity and Morrison's poignant lyrics.
Weaver's Cottage was written after watching a sparrowhawk perched silently in a garden while the surrounding hills displayed the scars of logging and burning. The song reflects upon permanence and impermanence: the brief span of a human life against the enduring natural world.
Old Finn's Shadow celebrates a small cabin built by Morrison's wife in rural Aberdeenshire, where the couple lived during his earliest years in Scotland. With its single room and wood-burning stove, the cabin became the setting for a formative chapter of their lives and a symbol of home.
On Like a Broken Bell, Morrison honours friend, mentor and bandmate Jim Miller, whose generosity and musicianship shaped his own creative path. Written following his unexpected death on the eve of a tour with Western Centuries, the song stands as a remembrance of friendship, loss and enduring influence.
Named after the home of close friends, Altnacruichan pays tribute to the people who build community through music. Inspired by a house that has become a second home, the song highlights the necessity of resilience, kindness and the lasting value of creating spaces where others can gather.
Written over five years, Broken Bell emerged from a desire to capture performances in their most natural form. Each musician was invited to follow their own ideas, allowing arrangements to develop through close collaboration. The result is Cahalen Morrison's most expansive and creatively ambitious record to date.
Broken Bell was engineered by Euan Burton, who also performs on bass on this record. Burton's musical instincts and willingness to embrace unexpected ideas became central to the record's sound. Kim Oehme, who contributed vocals to Broken Bell, contributed to arrangements, creative development and artwork while providing invaluable support behind the scenes.
Cahalen Morrison's album, Broken Bell, offers a body of work grounded in landscape, shaped by change and friendship. It is a collection that honours the places we inhabit, the people who sustain us, and the enduring possibilities of making music together.
