The Duplets - Tree Of Strings

(September 2008) 12 tracks (46 mins): Ca' the Yowes * O'Niell's March / Lillian Ross of Inverness / Donald Blue * The Twa Corbies * Chloe's Passion / Up Downie / The Triangle * Monkey Puzzle / Inspector Hector / Mr Nice * The Rigs of Rye * The Paw Paw Polska / Tommy Nagle's / The Strathnairn * The Bendy Tune / The Good Man in the Kitchen * Love * Female Affability * The Queen of All Argyll * Craobh nan Teud.

The Duplets are Scottish harp and song duo Gillian Fleetwood and Fraya Thomsen. They have been carving names for themselves as two of Scotland's finest exponents of the Scottish harp, through their captivating live shows.

Intricately woven melodies nestle into luscious harmonies, rich chords, cascading ornaments and even stonking bass lines to create a sound which is both unique and engaging.

Add to this the warmth and intimacy of Gillian's voice which draws the listener in like a storyteller, and you get an album as colourful and enduring as a tapestry.

Gillian Fleetwood (harp, vocals) and Fraya Thomsen (harp, vocals) with Duncan Lyall (bass), Gabe McVarish (fiddle), Donald Hay (drums, percussion) and Tam 'The Banjo' Kinsella (banjo).

"A musical term meaning two in the space of three, the Duplets have 20 fingers playing two harps, and sometimes there is singing, too. These enthusiastic young women, proselytisers of the revived Scottish small harp, don't pretend to be traditional (it never was a 'folk' instrument anyway) but sing and play old and new music with imagination, referencing contemporary sounds more than any Scots musical museum. Listen to the drum and bass underpinning Green Set or Queen Of All Argyll, all funked up." (Scotland On Sunday)