The Lost Words: Spell Songs is a musical companion piece to The Lost Words: A Spell Book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris (Hamish Hamilton 2017, ISBN 978-0-241-25358-8).

Commissioned by Folk by the Oak

Spells by Robert Macfarlane;
Illustrations by Jackie Morris;
Photography by Elly Lucas;
Designed by Alison O’Toole

Folk Radio UK review by David Weir
Upon photographing “The Lost Words - Spell Songs” by Elly Lucas

Musicians

Karine Polwart: vocals [1, 8-9], shruti box;
Julie Fowlis: vocals [2, 8, 10];
Seckou Keita: vocals [1, 4, 10, 12], kora;
Kris Drever: vocals [3, 11], guitar;
Kerry Andrew: vocals [7];
Rachel Newton: vocals [6, 12], harp;
Beth Porter: vocals [3, 11], cello;
Jim Molyneux: vocals [5], accordion, keyboards, percussion

Tracks

1. Heartwood (3.29)
2. Selkie-boy (5.05)
3. Kingfisher (4.37)
4. Heron (3.62)
5. Little Astronaut (3.21)
6. Acorn (3.36)
7. Ghost Owl (4.05)
8. The Snow Hare (2.13)
9. Conker (Magic Casket) (1.31)
10. Papa Keba (3.25)
11. Charm On, Goldfinch (4.29)
12. Willow (4.03)
13. Scatterseed (3.37)
14. The Lost Words Blessing (4.06)

Videos

The Lost Words Spell Songs ensemble at the Hudson Records Listening Club on 19 April 2020:

Commissioned by Folk by the Oak

Produced, recorded and mixed by Andy Bell;
Recorded at Real World Studios, Box, in May-June 2021, Gorbals Sound, Glasgow, in July 2021, Pre-Production Greta Hall, Keswick, in April 2021;
Mixed at Hudson Studios, Sheffield, summer 2021;
Wildlife sound recordings:
urban fox: Chris Watson Sound Recordings Ltd;
curlew, blackbird and swift: Magnus Robb and the Sound Approach;
moth: Leonie Thomas;
St Kilda wren: Jenny Sturgeon;
Edinburgh schools climate strike 2019: Karine Polwart;
Songs inspired by Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane;
Photography by Elly Lucas

Folk Radio UK review by Billy Rough

Musicians

Karine Polwart: vocals [1, 9, 13], tenor guitar, Indian harmonium;
Julie Fowlis: vocals [2, 8, 15], whistle, oboe;
Kris Drever: vocals [3, 11], acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar;
Rachel Newton: vocals [4, 14], electroharp, acoustic harp, viola;
Seckou Keita: vocals [5, 12], kora;
Beth Porter: vocals [6, 10], cello, ukulele, recorders;
Jim Molyneux: vocals [7], piano, rhodes, synthesisers, drums, percussion

Tracks

1. Bramble (3.44)
2. St Kilda Wren (2.12)
3. Oak (4.49)
4. Swifts (3.26)
5. Jay (4.04)
6. Daisy (1.44)
7. Swallow (4.35)
8. Bird of the Blizzard (4.34)
9. Thrift (Dig In, Dig In) (4.24)
10. Gorse (3.27)
11. Red Is Your Art (3.38)
12. Barn Owl (3.37)
13. Moth (4.09)
14. Curlew (4.20)
15. Silver Birch (4.15)

Videos

Oak:

Songs inspired by Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane;
Produced, recorded and mixed by Andy Bell;
Recorded live during the Spell Songs 2022 Spring tour at Birmingham Symphony Hall and within the Hintze Hall of the Natural History Museum in 2021;
Mastered by Sam Proctor;
Project managers: Adam and Caroline Slough;
Photography by Elly Lucas

Folk Radio UK review by Billy Rough

Artists

Kris Drever: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar;
Julie Fowlis: vocals, whistle, percussion;
Seckou Keita: vocals, kora;
Jim Molyneux: vocals, piano, percussion;
Rachel Newton: vocals, harp, viola;
Karine Polwart: vocals, tenor guitar, harmonium, bass;
Beth Porter: vocals, cello

Tracks

1. Bird of the Blizzard (5.04)
2. Thrift (Dig In, Dig In) (3.22)
3. Red Is Your Art (4.29)
4. Otter (4.17)
5. Charm On, Goldfinch (4.28)
6. Heartwood (3.03)
7. Curlew (4.28)
8. Little Astronaut (3.42)
9. Heron (4.01)
10. The Lost Words Blessing (3.43)

In Thin Air is a musical companion piece to The Book of Birds by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris (Hamish Hamilton 2026, ISBN 978-0-241-40473-7).

Songs inspired by Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane;
Produced, recorded and mixed by Andy Bell;
Recorded at Castle Sound Studio in Pencaitland, East Lothian;
Mastered by Sam Proctor;
Project managers: Adam and Caroline Slough, Andy and Helen Bell

Artists

Jackie Morris: author, illustrations;
Robert Macfarlane: author;
Kris Drever: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, noises;
Julie Fowlis: vocals, whistles;
Seckou Keita: vocals, kora, percussion;
Jim Molyneux: vocals, piano, keys, snyths, drums, percussion;
Rachel Newton: vocals, electroharp, viola;
Karine Polwart: vocals, tenor guitar;
Beth Porter: vocals, cello, ukulele

Tracks

1. In Thin Air
2. Make Your Heart a Cradle
3. Njan (Nest)
4. Nest Builder
5. A Life Begun
6. An Calman (The Dove)
7. Bells Fall Still
8. Tàladh nan Eun
9. Feathers
10. Fallen Feathers
11. Ride the World’s Winds
12. Flight
13. Migration
14. Senegal
15. We Only Save the Ones We Love