macAlias are the hottest vocal duo on the Scottish music scene, combining the voices, intricate guitar work and sharp wit of Karine Polwart and Gill Bowman. Together they perform a cool collection of songs from their new CD HIGHWIRED on Greentrax Records (CDTRAX199; released 22/7/00) in a quirky, genre-defying repertoire that encompasses lush arrangements of Scots murder ballads, breezy country waltzes and songs about guys called John.

Producer Rab Noakes tints the Scottish Lowland roots of macAlias with the shades of Americana which shine through much of their original material.

Joined for most of the album by the very best of Scottish sessionists, the "highwired" groove captures the on-stage energy and attitude of Gill and Karine, whilst a scattering of sparser, more reflective tracks conveys the intimacy and charm of a live macAlias performance. Either way, the voices are right up front throughout in sublime harmony.

Gill already has several solo albums to her name and, despite being a self-confessed Rabbie Burns anorak, is a sharp contemporary songwriter.

Karine also performs with Battlefield Band and the four-piece group Malinky but writes a mean catchy wee country-pop song too. She is generally reckoned to be one of the most talented Scots traditional singers of her generation.

Less than one year after coming together at the April 1999 Edinburgh Folk Festival, Karine and Gill have travelled to the United States of America, New Zealand and Germany and made a great impact in their first forays south of the Border too (charming the socks off Westhoughton Folk Club -- BBC2 Folk Club of the Year 2000 Award winners).