|
|
REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk
|
|
|
|
ALASDAIR
FRASER, MURIEL JOHNSTONE, NATALIE HAAS - Legacy of the Scottish
Fiddle Vol 2 (Tunes from the life and land of Robert Burns) Culburnie
CUL120 |
One of these days,
Alasdair Fraser's going to make a below-average CD. This isn't it.
This is clearly aimed at the folkie/tourist "crossover" market, within
which it will provide a welcome antidote to Tommy Scott and the egregious
McCountry and Western hogwash (masquerading as Scottish music) that he
spews out of listening posts in a woollen mill near you! From the atmospheric
"Edinburgh by twilight" cover, with Burns' mugshot in the sky, to the
little twist of tartan, this new offering from Allie Fraser and Co is
aimed firmly at attracting the eye of the tourist, who will not be drawn
in by the conventional folkie image. I applaud this thoroughly, as the
music inside is 24-carat folk, with no compromises made. Most of the tunes
are well-known as Burns' songs and they have seldom sounded better. Alasdair's
ever-lyrical fiddle is supported by tasteful piano and 'cello - giving
the whole thing a slightly classical feel. In fact, just about the only
thing this CD doesn't do is to get down and dirty. It's almost all fairly
genteel, tuneful and tasteful, so it won't frighten the horses, or unwary
tourists!
I like this a lot. It's nice to hear the tunes Burns chose for his songs
in this form, even if it does remind us why some of Burns' songs are quite
hard work for the singer. I commend it both to you, dear folkie, and also
as another example of "the acceptable face of folk" to educate folk-free
friends and family.
Alan Murray
|
|