Auchies Spikkin' Auchie Reviews
Klof mag
It’s one of the most engaging and evocative albums I’ve heard this year.
In addition to being a remarkable debut, Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie is a work of cultural preservation. Its greatest strength lies in the seamless fusion of the personal and the historical, where family heirlooms, such as poems from a beloved grandfather, conversations that would otherwise be forgotten, become the foundation for a wider community archive. Grace Stewart-Skinner’s innovative approach—framing authentic conversations and stories with her own evocative compositions—elevates the project beyond simple documentation. The result is a profoundly moving and essential tribute that not only preserves the Avochie dialect for future generations but also celebrates the spirit, humour, and resilience of the community that shaped it.
fatea
It's a very brave choice for a début album but one that works. Grace has gone out and interviewed the residents and then added music to provide a story that deserves its place in the archives.
Folk music, if anything, is about people and places. Grace Stewart-Skinner
has taken that to a logical conclusion and produced a début album of some charm about her home village and its people. They speak in their own words, the local dialect being called Auchie, and provide a fascinating insight into social history, accompanied by music composed by Grace and played on the clarsach.
folking
Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie is an enjoyable album, restful, amusing and informative – an insight into the past life of Avoch and its people.
Grace prioritises the music to the benefit of the casual listener – had she done it the other way round it wouldn’t have worked so well – but the spoken word remains at the heart of the album.