Neither Is, Nor Ever Was

Neither Is, Nor Ever Was
Cover art for constant follower's album neither is, nor ever was. Original painting by US artist Seonna Hong. The painting depicts a mountain made from abstract brush strokes. There are bare, red treed scattered around. A group of young girls play at the foot, there is one girl disappearing and leaving a light blue outline. There is a bear on the mountain watching the girls.
Studio album by
Constant Follower
Released1 October 2021
Recorded2020–2021
StudiosCFFC, Stirling; La Chunky, Glasgow
Genres
  • Experimental folk
  • slowcore
LabelsShimmy-Disc; Joyful Noise Recordings; Golden Hum Recordings (CD)
Producers
Constant Follower chronology
Neither Is, Nor Ever Was
(2021)		 The Smile You Send Out Returns to You
(2025)

Neither Is, Nor Ever Was is the debut studio album by Scottish experimental folk band Constant Follower, led by Stephen McAll. It was released on 1 October 2021 by Shimmy-Disc and Joyful Noise Recordings, with a compact disc edition issued by Golden Hum Recordings.[1][2] The album was shortlisted for the 2022 Scottish Album of the Year Award.[3]

Background and recording

Writers report that Stephen McAll composed the material largely on Scotland's West Coast following a violent assault in his teens and a prolonged period of recovery.[4] [5]

Recording was led by McAll at his CFFC studio in Stirling, Scotland with further sessions at La Chunky in Glasgow; Mark Kramer, professionally known as Kramer, mixed and mastered at Noise Miami. Sources describe the album as co-produced by McAll and Kramer.[6][7][8]

Release

The album was issued on 1 October 2021 by Shimmy-Disc and Joyful Noise Recordings, with a Golden Hum Recordings CD edition.[9][10]

Composition

Critics align the record with Experimental Folk and Slowcore, pointing to sparse instrumentation, close-miked vocals and an emphasis on space and restraint.[11][12]

Artwork

The sleeve features Seonna Hong's painting The Disappearing Act.[13]

Critical reception

The Scotsman called the album "gentle, understated, fully formed and utterly beguiling," noting it was composed in isolation in a Hebridean cabin.[14] Clash (magazine) praised the project's "simple poignancy" around the campaign singles,[15] while Under the Radar (magazine) covered the video cycle around the album's release.[16]

Accolades

Track listing

All songs written by Stephen McAll.[19]

  1. "I Can't Wake You"
  2. "The Merry Dancers on TV"
  3. "Set Aside Some Time"
  4. "Spirits in the Roof Tree"
  5. "Altona"
  6. "Weave of the World"
  7. "One Word Away"
  8. "Little Marble"
  9. "What's Left to Say"
  10. "WEICHA"

Personnel

Credits per label and release pages.[20][21]

  • Stephen McAll - vocals; guitars; synths; keys; bass; production
  • Andrew (Kurd) Pankhurst - guitars; vocals
  • Kathleen (Kessi) Stosch - vocals; synth; bass
  • Amy Campbell - vocals; keys
  • Jim Chadwin - electric guitar (track 1)
  • Kenny Bates - electric guitar (track 4)
  • Mark Tranmer (GNAC, The Montgolfier Brothers) - piano (track 6)
  • Kramer - production; mixing; mastering
  • Johnny Smillie - engineering
  • Seonna Hong - cover art
  • Ryan Hover - design

Studios

  • CFFC, Stirling - recording
  • La Chunky, Glasgow - additional recording
  • Noise Miami, Florida - mixing and mastering[22]

Singles

  • "Set Aside Some Time" - released 29 July 2020.[23]
  • "I Can't Wake You" - released 7 November 2020.[24]
  • "Weave of the World" - released 22 September 2021.[25]

Videos

  • "Set Aside Some Time" - directed by Martin J. Pickering.[26]
  • "I Can't Wake You" - directed by Nathalia van der Kerst.[27]
  • "The Merry Dancers on TV" - stop-motion animation by Fiona Burton.[28]
  • "Weave of the World" - directed by Martin J. Pickering.[29]
  • "Spirits in the Roof Tree" - directed by Michael Prince.[30]
  • "What's Left to Say" - stop-motion animation by George Farrow-Hawkins.[31]
  • "WEICHA" - digital animation by Alejandro Colunga (Paper Brain).[32]

References

  1. ↑ "Neither Is, Nor Ever Was — SAY Award album page". The SAY Award. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Constant Follower – Neither Is, Nor Ever Was (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "The SAY Award reveals its 2022 Shortlist". Creative Scotland. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Album reviews: Billy Bragg | Constant Follower | Wyndow". The Scotsman. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  5. ↑ Mosk, Mitch (13 October 2022). "Scotland's Constant Follower Debut with 'Neither Is, Nor Ever Was'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Constant Follower – Weave of the World (Video Premiere)". Triste. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Constant Follower – Neither Is, Nor Ever Was (Official Full Album Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. March 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Neither Is, Nor Ever Was — Monorail Music listing". Monorail Music. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Neither Is, Nor Ever Was — SAY Award album page". The SAY Award. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Constant Follower – Neither Is, Nor Ever Was (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Album review: Constant Follower – Neither Is, Nor Ever Was". Is This Music?. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Album Review: Constant Follower — Neither Is, Nor Ever Was". SNACK Magazine. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Seonna Hong — Work: The Disappearing Act". Seonna Hong. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "Album reviews: Billy Bragg | Constant Follower | Wyndow". The Scotsman. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "Constant Follower's 'Set Aside Some Time' Is Hopelessly Beautiful". Clash. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Premiere: Constant Follower Shares New Video "WEICHA"". Under the Radar. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  17. ↑ "History: 2022". The SAY Award. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "The SAY Award reveals its 2022 Shortlist". Creative Scotland. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "Neither Is, Nor Ever Was — Bandcamp". Bandcamp. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "Neither Is, Nor Ever Was — Monorail Music listing". Monorail Music. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "Constant Follower – Neither Is, Nor Ever Was (Official Full Album Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. March 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  22. ↑ "Constant Follower - Neither Is, Nor Ever Was (Official Full Album Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. March 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  23. ↑ "Constant Follower's 'Set Aside Some Time' Is Hopelessly Beautiful". Clash. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  24. ↑ "Video Premiere: Constant Follower – I Can't Wake You". Joyzine. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  25. ↑ "Video: Constant Follower – Weave of the World". Americana UK. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  26. ↑ "Constant Follower's 'Set Aside Some Time' Is Hopelessly Beautiful". Clash. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  27. ↑ "Constant Follower - I Can't Wake You (Official Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  28. ↑ "Constant Follower - The Merry Dancers on TV (Official Shimmy-Disc Video)". YouTube. Joyful Noise Recordings / Shimmy-Disc. 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  29. ↑ "Video: Constant Follower – Weave of the World". Americana UK. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  30. ↑ "Constant Follower – Neither Is, Nor Ever Was (Official Full Album Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. March 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  31. ↑ "Constant Follower – Neither Is, Nor Ever Was (Official Full Album Video)". YouTube. Constant Follower. March 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  32. ↑ "Premiere: Constant Follower Shares New Video "WEICHA"". Under the Radar. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
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