THE DOUGLAS FIRS - Backroads by Armellodie

The Furious Sound is the new record by The Douglas Firs, loosely based around the East Lothian witch trials of 1590.

Seventy persons, mainly women, were tortured, tried and burned for their supposed involvement in witchcraft.

The record became an investigation into outsiders, madness, extreme internal states, physical degradation and the brevity of human life. Many parts of the record were improvised, inspired by the locations used. No fortuitous sounds leaking onto the tracks were excluded.

"This Great Generation", "Fortress", "Black Forest", "The Possessed", "Backroads" and "Eulogy" were all recorded in South Leith Church, the parish of David Lindsay, who led the witch hunt on behalf of James I & IV.

"Devils" was recorded in the church at Old Kirk Green, North Berwick, from where the witches practised their sermons. It was also recorded from within the lower dungeons at Tantallon Castle, East Lothian where, in the latter days of religious persecution on those who performed witchcraft, women met for a similar purpose.

"Vastations" was recorded outdoors at Hawkhill Wood, Craigmillar, at night, at twilight.

"Monument" and "Apologia" were recorded outdoors in Blackford Hill forest.

The Douglas Firs live, work and play in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Furious Sound is their second record following last year’s Happy as a Windless Flag. It is released on CD, cassette and download on Monday 10th December 2012.

"Sometimes I ain't so sho who's got ere a right to say when a man is crazy and when he ain't. Sometimes I think none of us are pure crazy and ain't none of us pure sane until the balance of us talks him that-a-way. It's like it ain't so much what a fellow does, but it's the way the majority of folks is looking at him when he does it." – Faulkner