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ROBIN LAING - One For The Road

ROBIN LAING   - One For The Road
Greentrax CDTRAX 313

This is Robin Laing’s third cod on Greentrax dedicated to his first love-whisky.  All of the 13 tacks reflect the passion he has for his hobby although not all are written by Robin.  He is in fact chair of the malt whisky tasting panel - what a job but I suppose someone has to do it.  They are on a variety of subjects ranging from particular brands, distilleries on Speyside, reports on whisky making to warnings to young women when drinking with Scotsmen!  The lyrics for all the songs are to be found on his website, although I didn’t check this out.

Outstanding moment on the album is provided by his interpretation of Karine Polwart’s The Sun’s Coming Over The Hill - surely one of the best songs written in the last ten years.  By leaving the sex of the subject male there is another depth of meaning achieved.  Speyside Whisky Song shows Robin’s sense of humour as he sets it to the tune of Road to the Isles - well, as he says it is a Stathspey!  All tracks have sympathetic accompaniment provided by a range of studio musicians, sleeve notes are brief and to the point leaving the songs to do the talking.

Robin performs his Whisky and Song shows all over the world so this should do well especially if the nectar flows during the evening!  An enjoyable album demanding more than one listen, and it can be enjoyed by teetotallers although again I have not checked this out!

My only complaint — not a drop in sight with the review copy.  Or maybe there was!!!!!!!

Dave Beeby

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This album was reviewed in Issue 74 of The Living Tradition magazine.