Announcing our latest release - ECHO from Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita, releasing 27th May 2022
bendigedig is delighted to announce ECHO, the third album from harpist Catrin Finch (Wales) and kora player and singer Seckou Keita (Senegal), releasing worldwide on May 27th 2022.
The album celebrates the tenth anniversary of an extraordinary partnership between two virtuosos whose previous releases include 2018's acclaimed album SOAR, and their 2013 debut Clychau Dibon, both of which garnered industry awards across the globe. ECHO marks the third part of this remarkable trilogy.
It's been ten years since Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita formed a duo. The seamless virtuosic union of the 47 strings of Catrin Finch's harp with the 22 strings on each neck of Seckou Keita's double kora – two cultures, two histories and two personalities merged into one atmospheric musical journey – has become a rare global music hit. Described by Songlines Magazine as 'one of the most popular world music acts of this decade', Finch and Keita create music that not only champions their exquisite instruments but blends elements of new and old music from the Western Classical, Celtic, folk, contemporary and West African song traditions, each echoing the other in an evolving tale of mutual discovery and delight.
ECHO proclaims the tender triumph of an extraordinary partnership, the dissolution of opposites into one seamless musical expression of our common humanity. "With this album, it feels like we've reached our place, musically and creatively," says Catrin. This is the echo they will leave behind – the echo of dear ones now departed, of beating hearts, of music, of love. "That's what continues to travel through space and time," Seckou says, "even after the last note has been played, or the last word has been sung.” ECHO releases worldwide on 27th May 2022 on the bendigedig label, followed by UK touring starting in May 2022, performing at Galeri Caernarfon, Taliesin (Swansea), The Haymarket (Basingstoke), Chiltern Arts, (Henley-on-Thames), The Stables (Milton Keynes), Pocklington Arts Centre, Howard Assembly Room (Leeds), St Georges Bristol, Huntingdon Hall (Worcester), Y Tabernacl (Machynlleth), Mwldan (Cardigan), Hay Festival, St David's Hall (Cardiff), The Apex (Bury St Edmunds), Union Chapel (London) and The Queens Hall (Edinburgh). Visit catrinfinchandseckoukeita.com for full concert details.
