The project entitled Salm (Gaelic for Psalm) has been the passion and the brainchild of Lewis musician Calum Martin. As a singer / guitarist / songwriter, he fronted the local Lewis band Island Express, and has been involved in various solo projects. He is currently working as a music singing specialist in schools on the Island of Lewis.

Gaelic psalm singing is a unique music form: a type of music that those brought up in the Western Isles, within the Presbyterian religious tradition, know so well from childhood and beyond. Although various recordings have been made over the years, ranging from archive recordings undertaken by the School of Scottish Studies in the 1960s, to amateur point and press cassette and reel to reel tape recorders, they have been largely unprofessional. In many such recordings the Gaelic Psalms are lost in a hissing ambient haze interspersed with an annoying assortment of coughing, muttering and spluttering. It all does this glorious sound a great disservice. In short, psalm singing has never been captured for posterity in a high quality, state of the art recording.

This was Calum's prime motive in getting this project off the ground. As a leading luminary of this musical genre, he knew that it was a national treasure, which for too long had been hidden from the outside world, and that anyone hearing it for the first time could not but recognise its unique qualities. It is a genuine and authentic World Music.

This CD was recorded live at Celtic Connections 2005 and features both the Gaelic Psalm Singers from Scotland as well as a Black Gospel Choir from Alabama USA.

"Salm & Soul" is dedicated to the memory of Martyn Bennett who sadly passed away during its preparation after losing his own battle with cancer. Martyn was very much involved with the whole Salm Project and it is fitting that the whole project would finish with Martyn's own playing, showing us all what an incredible talent he really was. This is him playing the smallpipes aged 16 years.

Track List:-
1) Bethesda Salm 23 Calum Martin
2) Trust in the Lord
3) Dundee Salm 103: Ronnie Morrison
4) Bangor Salm 51 Isobel Ann Martin
5) It's Gonna Rain
6) St. Kilda Salm 143 Rev Dr I D Campbell
7) Tiverton Salm 30 Rev James MacIver
8) Sing Halleluiah
9) Kilmarnock Salm 21 Kristine Kennedy
10). Montrose Salm 9 John Murdo Martin
11) I Love to Praise His Name
12) Torwood Salm 31 Rev Calum Iain MacLeod
13) Amazing Grace
14) Stornoway Salm 133 Rev James MacIver, John Murdo Martin, Rev Calum MacLeod
15) Satisfied with Jesus

Bonus Tracks
16. Oran do Mhartainn (Song for Martyn)
17. Bethesda/Bangor (Instrumental)
18. Loch Rannoch / The Gale Warning / The Kitchen Piper Martyn Bennett on Scottish small pipes