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‘Where Are The Heroes?’ – Taken from the new MHS album ‘In My Mind There’s A Photograph’  (due for release on 29 May via LFNG)

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Colin’s 10th studio record features lyrical contributions from a panoply of world-leading authors, all of whom were asked to reflect on a single significant photo to them. This latest glimpse into the upcoming album finds Colin putting music to the reflections of the Scottish-based, Welsh-born nature/travel writer & journalist Dan Richards (‘Holloway’, ‘The Beechwood Airship Interviews’).

Inspired by a vintage photograph of his grandfather, Bob, who worked on the Great Western Travelling Post Office between Bristol Temple Meads and Plymouth, “Where are the Heroes?” finds Dan stepping into his shoes to imagine the kind of life he had. Known as the B&P TPO, Bob served on its trains from 1949 until the service closed in 1972. He can be seen pictured, at work, in the single artwork included below.

Imagining the breathless pace of the role, Dan Richards provided a vivid account of how he imagined day-to-day life, with an extract as follows: “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.”

Capturing the essence of these words, Colin MacIntyre then did what he does best, and worked them into song. As Colin explains: “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.”

Bob’s overnight mail train adventures (and this photograph) feature in my new book Overnight which is currently Observer book of the week.

Set to be the opening track of the upcoming ‘In My Mind There’s A Photograph’ album, an official video for the new single can also be viewed here: https://youtu.be/QTdv08kpSbU Pictured: Dan Richards’ grandfather, Bob, who worked on the Great Western Travelling Post Office ***** Following on from the critical and commercial success of the previous record, ‘In My Mind There’s A Room’, Colin MacIntyre AKA Mull Historical Society delivers its direct successor ‘In My Mind There’s A Photograph’.

Due for release on 29 May via the LNFG label, this brand new collection of songs will feature lyrical contributions from a panoply of world-leading authors, all of whom were asked to reflect on a single significant photo to them. Amongst the collaborators this time are best-sellers, Pulitzer, Booker, Costa, Women’s Prize & Saltire Award-winners, including: 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, on recent single “Cattle Bells” hear it here: https://youtu.be/metUbK92V-4?si=IoLna9y8Q2httg0T With Colin playing the ‘Elton to their Bernie’, coupling his musical idiosyncrasies to their affecting words, together they have created 12 songs of vivid photographic realisation and a very real emotional resonance.

Alongside the album’s release on 29 May, 2026 finds Colin in the most creative and prolific form of his career. An established author in his own right, MacIntyre’s fifth book, and the second in his Mull Mysteries Crime series, ‘An Island Burning’, is also out in April on Black & White Publishing/Bonnier Books. Set in the early days of the new millennium, this new adventure steps back into the shoes of Sgt Ivor Punch. As two burnt-out cars are discovered on a barren glen on the isle of Mull, Punch searches for the crux of the mystery by looking to the past – and this time, it’s personal.

With the new album and book just around the corner, in other recent news Mull Historical Society recently announced a series of innovative shows in their honour. Set to combine songs, stories, readings, audience Q&As:

AN EVENING WITH… MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

JUNE:

4 – LONDON St Pancras Old Church

10 – TOBERMORY, ISLE OF MULL Aros Hall

11 – STIRLING Tolbooth

12 – GLASGOW King Tut’s

13 – EDINBURGH La Belle Angele

SEPTEMBER:

11 – HEBDEN BRIDGE Trades

15 – BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds 2

16 – READING South Street Arts Centre

17 – MANCHESTER St Michael’s

18 – CAMBRIDGE Storey’s Field Centre

19 – SOUTHAMPTON The Joiner’s Arms

22 – BRISTOL The Wardrobe Theatre Tickets on general sale now: http://mullhistoricalsociety.com