RURA – In Praise of Home
Evoking the landscape of Scotland, In Praise of Home is the perfect soundtrack to a Scottish summer
Following the amicable departure of singer Adam Holmes at the beginning of 2017, RURA's third effort In Praise of Home is mostly instrumental. Still full of the energy you'd expect from a mainly traditional band, it is nevertheless mellower than their previous output musing on the concept of home, something of a preoccupation for traditional bands and Highland people.
As a whole, the album is widescreen and cinematic with bags of space. It kicks off with the relaxing title track, which includes spoken word about what home means and how it can be a comfort. On Lust, the ever prominent fiddles and pipes complement each other, building to a crescendo never quite losing control until they hit a sudden halt. Following this, there's a breather in the form of more laid-back cut I’ll Never Forget.
Several tracks on the album hint at the intensity of their live shows and will undoubtedly become live favourites in time. In Praise of Home takes elements from the past and present and finds a way to balance the two. It evokes the landscape of Scotland and is an album that would be best played enjoying some of the stunning views the country has to offer; the perfect soundtrack to the Scottish summer.
Listen to: In Praise of Home, Catriona's, Forged