Cornwall-based duo Meles Lutra return with their third album, Seven Stones, taking listeners on a musical journey through the landscapes, wildlife, folklore and stories of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Blending folk, jazz and classical elements, the album moves between atmospheric instrumentals and lyrical storytelling, with every track inspired by a particular place, creature or story.
From the very beginning, Seven Stones grabs your attention. Opening track “In Like a Lion” starts dramatically, with a dark introduction that immediately made me wonder where the album was going next. I’ll be honest, I couldn’t quite figure out what the instrument taking centre stage was, but I actually loved that. I found myself listening out for it throughout the track, and there’s something about its sound that instantly made me think of old folklore stories.
The track gradually changes as the harshness of winter gives way to a much more optimistic, dance-like spring theme. More layers are introduced as it develops, representing the colours beginning to appear across the Cornish hedgerows. It’s a brilliant opening track and sets up the mixture of storytelling, atmosphere and changing moods that continues throughout the album.
“The Bell and the Stag” follows and it’s lovely to hear Annabelle’s voice come in after such a dramatic instrumental opener. The song tells the story of Saint Kea, a fifth-century Cornish saint who supposedly saved a stag from the local king’s hounds. When the king takes away Kea’s oxen as punishment, the story takes another turn when a team of deer come along and pull his plough instead.
There’s something really enjoyable about how Meles Lutra tell these stories. Rather than simply singing about them, the instrumentation helps build the setting around them, making each track feel like another chapter. That’s probably the best way I can describe listening to Seven Stones; as reading a book but everything is being told through music.
That continues with “Reun Loos Ow Koska yn Kres”, meaning ‘Grey Seal Sleeping Peacefully’ in Cornish. The instrumental is inspired by seals encountered around the Cornish coast and in Scilly, particularly the way they float almost completely still in the water while bottling. The music gently rocks along, mirroring the movement of the sea, and after the more dramatic opening tracks, it provides a beautiful moment of calm.
Then comes “The Mermaid of Zennor”, based on one of Cornwall’s best-known legends. The story of Matthew Trewhella, the choir boy who was supposedly lured out to sea by a mermaid, is brought to life through the music, with the track capturing the mystery of the coastline around Zennor. There’s something slightly haunting about it, which suits the story perfectly.
“Fulmar Pt. 1” takes us over to the Isles of Scilly, inspired by a misty kayak trip around the uninhabited island of Annet. The track is sparse and piano-led, with plenty of space around the melody. It paints a picture of the quietness of the island, with a fulmar flying low over the water through the haze.
Later in the album, “Fulmar Pt. 2” returns with a much bigger arrangement. Hearing the same idea transformed into something more fully orchestrated is one of the album’s nicest touches. The first version feels like quietly watching the bird from the kayak, while the second opens everything up and brings in the scale of the surrounding Atlantic.
Sitting at the centre of the album is the title track, “The Seven Stones”. The reef itself sits between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and has been responsible for numerous shipwrecks over the centuries. The track is written in 7/8, giving it an unusual rhythm.
It’s a clever choice. The music never settles completely into something predictable, which suits the dangerous waters around the reef and the history of the lightship that has warned ships away from it for generations.
“Trelissick Dolphin Lullaby” is one of the album’s most touching tracks. Inspired by the rescue of a young dolphin stranded in a creek near Trelissick, the song is written as a lullaby sung to the dolphin throughout the rescue. Knowing that Annabelle is a Marine Mammal Medic with British Divers Marine Life Rescue makes the track even more meaningful.
From there, “Fearfully, Wonderfully Made” takes a more personal approach. Written for anyone who has felt unseen, unloved or unloveable (isn’t that everyone at some point of their life?) and based on Psalm 139, it stands apart from the songs about particular places and legends. It’s a reminder that underneath all the stories about Cornwall, wildlife and the sea, there are also some very human emotions running through the album.
Then comes “Running from the Wolf”. Inspired by journeys on the Scillonian III, the instrumental starts with the excitement of leaving Penzance before things become increasingly chaotic as the ferry reaches the rough waters around Wolf Rock. The changing time signatures make the whole thing feel unsteady, almost as though the boat is being thrown around by the waves.
Then, just as things seem to be getting more intense, the music settles down as Scillonian reaches the calmer waters around Scilly. I really liked the way this track tells an entire journey without needing a single word.
The album closes with “The Turks Head After Dark”, inspired by the pub on St Agnes where Meles Lutra have spent many evenings. It’s a much more relaxed and joyful way to finish, bringing together the folk and jazz influences in a track that sounds like the musical equivalent of sitting outside with a drink and watching the sun go down.
Overall, I like how much the album relies on instrumental storytelling. You don’t always need lyrics to know what is happening. The rhythms change, the arrangements grow and shrink, and the instruments create their own characters. At times I found myself trying to picture the places behind the music and at others I was simply enjoying the melodies without giving them too much thought.
Meles Lutra have created an album connected to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, but there’s plenty here for anyone who enjoys folk, jazz, classical influences, folklore or simply music that tells a good story. Seven Stones takes you from spring arriving across the South West, through ancient legends and misty islands, out into rough Atlantic waters and eventually back to the warmth of a pub on St Agnes.
So start at the beginning, follow the stories and see where Meles Lutra take you.
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