Burd Ellen The High Priestess and the Hierophant

The High Priestess and the Hierophant is the new single from Burd Ellen, a Glasgow-based project featuring Debbie Armour (Alasdair Roberts, Green Ribbons) and Gayle Brogan (Pefkin, Electroscope). Debbie says: “I’m a long-time collector and lover of tarot, and I’ve recently become drawn to the idea of finding parallels between interpretation of traditional song and the art of divination. Gayle and I are bringing together a new collection of songs that reflect the ideas, archetypes and imagery of the Major Arcana. 

The High Priestess and the Hierophant is the first of these works. It’s a version of ‘Fair Annie’ (Child 62), a song which looks at patriarchy, arranged marriage, the complexities of maternal love and the bonds of sisterhood”. The single follows Burd Ellen’s second album, Says the Never Beyond, which was released in November 2020. A collection of carols and wintersong from Britain and Ireland, the album was critically well-received, with The Guardian naming it ‘Folk Album of the Month’ for December, and the sixth ‘Best Folk Album of 2020’. Folk Radio named it as one of the ‘Best Folk Music Albums of 2020’.