Mull Historical Society, the musical project of Scottish artist Colin MacIntyre, has released a new single titled “Where Are The Heroes?”, offering the latest preview of his forthcoming album In My Mind There’s A Photograph, due for release on 29 May via LNFG.
The track marks a collaboration with Scottish-based, Welsh-born author and journalist Dan Richards, known for works including Holloway and The Beechwood Airship Interviews. The single forms part of MacIntyre’s tenth studio record, a project built around contributions from internationally acclaimed writers, each reflecting on a photograph of personal significance.
A Concept Album Rooted in Photography and Storytelling
The upcoming album continues MacIntyre’s interdisciplinary approach, blending music and literature. Each contributor was invited to respond to a single image, with MacIntyre composing music around their words. The result is a collection of 12 tracks described as “vivid photographic realisation” with strong emotional resonance.
Richards’ contribution to “Where Are The Heroes?” draws on a vintage photograph of his grandfather, Bob, who worked on the Great Western Travelling Post Office route between Bristol Temple Meads and Plymouth from 1949 until its closure in 1972.
The image, which also features in the single’s artwork, prompted Richards to imagine the pace and intensity of life aboard the travelling post office trains.
He writes:
“Racing to sort mail by set times and locations so it could be wrapped up and dropped at speed – pouched mails off, pouched mails on – the bang and whip of the spring-loaded nets scooping leather bags in passing and bouncing them into the carriage… The beat of the loco, rhythm of the track. Mails off, mails on. Hatch open, bags set, mail out, mail in. And on.”
MacIntyre then set these reflections to music, shaping them into the finished track.
Reflecting on Modern Leadership and Everyday Heroism
Speaking about the inspiration behind the song, MacIntyre said:
“Where Are The Heroes? pictures Dan’s grandfather as hero, he was a postal (ghostal) train night worker. I feel given the disheartening way the world is being led right now, we need a few genuine heroes.”
The single is positioned as the opening track of the forthcoming album, setting the tone for a project that explores memory, history and personal narratives through a collaborative lens.
An accompanying video has also been released, drawing on MacIntyre’s long-standing fascination with silent film-era figures and their association with trains.
Star-Studded Literary Collaborations
In My Mind There’s A Photograph follows the success of MacIntyre’s previous album, In My Mind There’s A Room, and features an extensive roster of contributors. These include Irvine Welsh, Ali Smith, Len Pennie, Jehan Bseiso, Louise Welsh, Irenosen Okojie, Paul Lynch, Colum McCann, Yiyun Lee, Alan Johnson, Dan Richards and Sir Alexander McCall Smith.
Many of the writers involved are recipients of major literary honours, including the Pulitzer Prize, Booker Prize, Costa Book Awards, Women’s Prize and Saltire Awards.
The collaborative process has been described by MacIntyre as akin to being “the ‘Elton to their Bernie’”, pairing his compositions with the authors’ words.
A Prolific Year Across Music, Literature and Theatre
The album release forms part of a notably active period for MacIntyre. In addition to his music work, he is set to publish his fifth book, An Island Burning, in April through Black & White Publishing/Bonnier Books. The novel is the second instalment in his Mull Mysteries crime series and revisits the character of Sgt Ivor Punch.
Further expanding his creative output, MacIntyre is also developing a multi-genre musical titled Culloden, for which he has written the script, book and music. The production is scheduled to enter pre-production in the first half of the year.
The artist is also preparing to mark the 25th anniversary of his Mercury Prize-nominated and gold-selling album Loss, with additional announcements expected.
UK Tour to Accompany Album Launch
To support the album, Mull Historical Society will embark on a UK tour titled “An Evening With… Mull Historical Society”. The shows are set to combine live music with storytelling, readings, audience Q&A sessions and guest appearances.
Dates are scheduled across June and September, with performances planned in London, Tobermory, Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Hebden Bridge, Birmingham, Reading, Manchester, Cambridge, Southampton and Bristol.
Tickets for all dates are currently on general sale.
Release Details
In My Mind There’s A Photograph will be released on 29 May via LNFG, with “Where Are The Heroes?” available now as the lead single.
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