Breaking the spell of loneliness

"It's no understatement to say that I feel privileged to have been given a chance to write about this album. It's a challenge. The eloquence of both George Monbiot and Ewan McLennan in raising these issues says far more than any music critic can. Breaking the Spell of Loneliness doesn't merely tackle the issues raised, it offers solutions; it offers hope. It's a moving, thought-provoking work that has relevance for all of us".

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""Guardian" writer and environmentalist George Monbiot did a piece about the social breakdown of society and the resultant virus of loneliness this has caused ... It struck such a chord with so many people that publishers asked him to expand his theories into a book but, adopting the principle that the most unifying artistic form of all is music, Monbiot approached instead Ewan McLennan with the idea of making an album together reflecting these ideas. Not the easiest topic to encompass in a thematic album ... Largely shaping and honing Monbioot's sketches into musical form, this turns out to be a quietly beguiling and humane collection of stories on the topic of alienation .... There's an engaging beauty in these songs and delivery ... There is an underlying sense of optimism. "Such A Thing As Society" is defiantly upbeat, "Reclaim The Street" is an anthem of sorts and the album concludes with a quietly moving "We Shall Overcome". Now go and hug your neighbours".