Country & Northern was a foolish idea, executed haphazardly, and with little regard for the feelings or opinions of others.

As any islander will tell you, the traditional sound of Shetland is not the fiddle it is country and western. And due to a mutual love of this music, Malachy, together with friends Eve Eunson and Jordan Ogg, decided to write an album of country songs about their native isles.

Unfortunately, the plan failed.

Most of the 21 songs written for the album were not really country songs, and most of them weren't really about Shetland either. But never mind, they were recorded anyway, very roughly and very quickly. And now they are going to be given away. For free.

All of the songs from the album will be gradually posted on this site. We'll also be offering a free album download early next year, and a special limited edition CD will be available too. So keep checking.

Parts one, two and three are now online. The final part will be uploaded in the new year.

This is a true story. The sad tale of a young man who was tragically dumped on his way to the roller disco, it was written by Eve and Malachy. The young man's full identity has been concealed in order to preserve his dignity, and to make sure he doesn't take out his anger on the writers or performers.

This song was written for Astryd Jamieson on her birthday because Malachy had forgotten to buy her a present.

Country music is filled with tales of honest outlaws and morally ambiguous heroes. This is one of those tales, set in Shetland. It was written by Malachy and Jordan, and includes gratuitous banjo.

A song about homesickness and the foulness of cities.

As soon as this little riff came dancing from the ukulele, Malachy and Jordan knew they were on to a good thing. A sincere and heartfelt tribute to Shetland's capital, this is quite possibly the first calypso number ever to be written about the town.  The song also features not one but two stunning mouth-trumpet solos by Rory Tallack. 

One of those post-breakup songs in which the singer wonders why he stayed in the relationship for so long. This one includes a couple of borrowed lines, and is all the better for it.

A great deal has been written about the dangers of global warming, but to date little comment has been made about what will happen to Santa when his frozen home has finally melted. This song imagines a future in which Saint Nick has become a refugee, wandering alone in a snowless world. It is a sad song, and I hope it doesn't come true.

Another post-breakup song. This time the singer's former beau has been spreading rumours all around town, much to the displeasure of the singer. The song features harmony yodelling in the chorus, which is surely to be applauded.

Malachy has a good friend called Rob, who is a student. Or at least he was until very recently. Now he is a teacher. But mark my words, he will be back at university very soon, and then this song will ring true once again.

So much is lost to us in time, and yet, mercifully, some things are not. This is a song about memory.

This is a song that is partly about seal bashing and partly about the closure of the North Star nightclub in Lerwick, and the end of Shetland's club scene. Don't ask me how these subjects got tangled up. Eve Eunson wrote the words, I just strummed along. You've got to admit though, it's the catchiest song about seal bashing you've ever heard, isn't it?

A sinister tale of neighbours watching out for each other, but not for the right reasons. Wouldn't happen round here, I'll tell you.

True love, seen through binoculars.

This song was written to try and convince Jordan Ogg not to go back to university. It didn't work. But so much time has passed since it was written that he's now returned to the north again, so everything is alright.

A letter to a long lost lover.

Sometimes Malachy would like to live all alone in a cabin, on top of a hill, all covered with trees. So he sings this song.

Country & Northern features Malachy Tallack on guitar and banjo, Steven Laurenson on guitar, Graham Malcolmson on bass, and Rory Tallack on fiddle and mouth trumpet.

Malachy Tallack, Helen Bradley and Louise Thomason sang stuff.