IN THE PRESS
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★★★★★ “The Woods is a beautifully constructed, evocative and distinctive album…a splendid and rare treat.”
SONGLiNES Magazine
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★★★★★ “Scintillating…brilliantly vivid”
The Scotsman (on THE RIVER)
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★★★★★ “Napier has the composer’s gift of painting a picture with sound, more evocative that an artist. Superb.”
FATEA Magazine
★★★★★
“Napier has the composer’s gift of painting a picture with sound, more evocative that an artist. Superb.”
FATEA Magazine
★★★★ “Warmly evokes the glory days of the long-closed Speyside Line…a lament for a lost world.”
THE SCOTSMAN (on THE RAILWAY)
★★★★ “Top class…capturing the emotions and atmospheres of his Speyside inspiration…The River brought history, myth and mood into the present.”
The Herald (on THE RIVER)
★★★★ “Napier carries off this commission with skill, creating contrasts between sweeping grandeur, maverick engineers, the deadly intervention of Dr Beeching and the jauntiness of a family day out.”
The Herald (on THE RAILWAY)
★★★★ “A very personal and inviting little gem. A stellar line-up.”
SONGLiNES (on THE RAILWAY)
★★★★ “A strong cast…Evocative and varied tunes – just close your eyes and imagine”
R2 Magazine (on THE RIVER)
“An excellent flute player.”
The Guardian (live review)
“A stellar live ensemble…”
Sunday Herald (live review)
“A compelling and dramatic album, standing on its merits as a piece of contemporary folk music…This is certainly one of the best Scottish CDs of 2018.”
Irish Music Magazine (on THE RAILWAY)
“For those with a love of experimentation and innovation within the Celtic world this is an album well worth exploring.”
Bright Young Folk (on THE RIVER)
“Through his music he paints portraits of the river’s endless moods and mysteries…with such care and depth of emotion it’s impossible to avoid the irresistible pull of the current.” Folk Radio UK (on THE RIVER)
“Visually, as well as musically, The Railway is a perfect follow-up to The River. It is a truly delightful journey. As expected, this is music that makes the heart sing.’ Folk Radio UK (on THE RAILWAY)
“The River is a glorious album, one of vigorous desire and plentiful absolution.”
Liverpool Sound & Vision(on THE RIVER)
“fantastic tunes…full of life and vitality, just like the river that has inspired them…”
Fatea (on THE RIVER)
“Groundbreaking.”
The Leopard (on THE RIVER)
“A crackin’ album…reflecting on the river’s mysteriously dark depths and unrelenting power.”
Aberdeen Voice (on THE RIVER)
“This music is inventive depiction at its most delightful, impressionistic and programmatic without being clichéd or “obvious”, [his] gift for felicitous scoring is showcased to the full…Hypnotic…enchanting…lovingly detailed and intensely appealing.”
Folk & Roots (on THE RIVER)
“..a splendid recording, well worth donning the headphones or turning up the hi-fi for.”
Penguin Eggs (on THE RIVER)
"One of Scotland’s busiest and most multi-faceted folk musicians."
Sunday Herald
“The playing is exceptional, and every piece is a moving experience…a stroke of genius. If I ever get to the bottom of this CD, it’s going on my 2016 Top Ten list.”
The Living Tradition (on THE RIVER)
“Called to mind a Celtic ‘Tubular Bells’…the standard is impressive…a skilled multi-instrumentalist. Recommended.” The Scots Magazine (on THE RIVER)
“The tracks surge with energy…a remarkable effect.”
The Musician (on THE RIVER)
“You could enjoy these pieces knowing nothing of the River Spey…but the stories…will draw you into the land and the life of and along this river, and, perhaps, enlarge your vision of other rivers and watersides you may encounter. ”
Music Road (on THE RIVER)