Our new album ‘Late Light’ has been several years in the making. Inspired by Michael Malay’s book of that name and by the words of Seamus Heaney’s poem ‘Postscript’, we found ourselves writing a song again after a long, quiet time. ‘Postscript’ begins: ‘And some time take the time to drive out west’. Our title track ‘Late Light’ has the same trajectory: a journey westwards from the Crown Bar in Belfast to the coast of Donegal in search of the late light on the sea. It’s a song about memory and commemoration, as is much of the album. We (Rob and Pippa) have been playing music together for forty years now, and there are inevitably empty seats at the table – much loved band members and friends of the band who have gone on before us but whose music still rings in our ears and whose enthusiasm continues to sustain us. The song is a way of drawing them close and remembering them.
But late light isn’t just a fading light – it’s also a new dawning. As Seamus says in the poem, in the midst of our hurried days, life has a way of catching the heart off guard and blowing it open, and in that openness new things can happen. This album has been like that for us. It both revisits the early years of Carmina, when we played folk songs as a duo in the late 1980s in venues like the Boat Inn on the banks of the River Wye, and celebrates the emergence of new inspiration and the resulting new original songs, of which we are immensely proud.
The album features stellar musicians - long-term collaborators and newer recruits – who joined us for the recording. Paul Bradley lent his gorgeous vocals to several songs; Diarmaid Moynihan contributed Uilleann pipes and whistles, including the beautiful solo on the title track; David Gordon brought the original songs to life with his improvised piano and gave a new feel to the traditional song ‘Geordie’; Mike Dennis invoked the spirit of Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann with his violin playing on ‘Clara, My Dear’; and Jonathan Scott, as well as engineering, mixing and co-producing the album, made two cameo appearances on percussion. We were also delighted to be able to record a group of singers who gathered together on the 23rd November 2025 at Real World Studios to form the ‘Late Light Choir’ and sing like angels on the choruses of the title track. They are: Helen Baxter; Brenda Buckley; David Buckley; Rita Bourn; Geoff Collard; Lily Cooper; Angelina Copland; Julia Dalby; Andy Dixey; Jane Fisher; Jo Foster; Becky Freeman; Norma Gaulton; Louise Gethin; Terry Gifford; Beverly Hatcher; Beatrice Hayes; Nicky Howcroft; Gary Morgan; John Nicol; Yvonne Parks; Sarah Pearson; Frances Philips; Gill Round; Claire Shiner; Jonny Tucker; Jenny Wiley; Angharad Williams.
The album was recorded at the Department of Music, University of Bristol studios in the Victoria Rooms except for David’s piano, Rob’s guitar tracks on ‘Clara, My Dear’,
and the ‘Late Light Choir’, recorded at Real World Studios, Box, Wiltshire.
Engineered and mixed by Jonathan Scott.
Produced by Jonathan Scott, Rob King and Pippa Marland.
Mastered by Ian Shepherd (ian@mastering-media.co.uk)
Sleeve design and artwork: Tom Patridge
Late Light painting and cover image development: Katie Marland
Track listing:
1. Late Light 6:34
2. She Moved Through the Fair 6:03
3. Twa Corbies 5:27
4. Molly McMahon 5:31
5. Geordie (piano) 3:30
6. Blackwaterside 4:59
7. Annachie Gordon 7:40
8. Clara, My Dear 4:23
9. The Green Fields of Woodford / Down the Back Lane 3:15
10. The Parting Glass 3:21
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11. Geordie (guitar) 3:36
12. Late Light Ft. The Late Light Choir 6:34
Pippa thanks Andrew, Katie (for all her help with the Kickstarter campaign and for the gorgeous ‘Late Light’ painting), and Lily, Becca and Nicky (for adding daughter and sister voices to the Late Light Choir). Rob dedicates his work on the album to the late Chris Larkin, master luthier and maker of Rob’s beautiful acoustic guitars. We both thank Diarmaid, Paul, David, and Mike, whose contributions to ‘Late Light’ have added such beauty to the music, and Jonathan Scott, our engineer, mixer, guest percussionist and co-producer for his expertise, gentle patience and brilliant musical ear.
Heartfelt thanks to all of the people who supported us via the Kickstarter campaign or by other means. ‘Late Light’ would not exist without your help. We are especially grateful to Hilary Martin, Al Strode and Phil and Penny Weatherly, who have been unfailingly generous with their financial help and enthusiasm over many years. Thank you to The Bell Inn, Walcott St, Bath for the kind donation to the album from their Music Development Fund and for regularly hosting lovely gigs for us, including our final launch gig. To Louise for stellar door-person duties, Katie and Kyle for the Cotham bar, Roger and the Chepstow Priory Friends for helping us to launch the album in Chepstow. Some of our best musical experiences of recent years have been our collaborations with The Singing Clubs of Chepstow and Usk, and we are delighted that some of the singers were able to join us for the Late Light Choir recording. Thank you to our anonymous backers and, listed below, those of you who chose to be named or make a dedication: Neil Sellers; Graham Klyne; Michael Kinsella; Anita Roy; Assie Aukes; Louise Gethin; Maria A. Dedication to Lizzie and Seb; Dougal Wu; Scott M Manson CPA JD; Paula Cannings; Christopher Coates; Clare Hill; Geoff Collard; to B&C with love.
The album is dedicated to all those sharing the late light with us and the ones we’ll meet again on the stand. In memory of David Hill, aka ‘Big Dee’.
Meet me in the Crown Bar
When there’s nowhere left to go
And we’ll talk of heading westwards
We’ll dream of going home
We’ll take the road not travelled
As we answer to the call
Of the late light fading
On the edge of Donegal
Of the late light fading
On the edge of Donegal