REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk

KEN CAMPBELL’S IDEAL BAND
Fellside FECD226

The reformed Ideal Band brings together three of Scotland’s most respected and experienced musicians: Ken Campbell on vocals, 12 string guitar, Spanish lute and Northumbrian pipes, Seylan Baxter on cello and vocals, and Gavin Paterson on piano, guitar and vocals.

In the 1980’s the Ideal Band was one of Scotland’s most highly respected celtic folk bands.  They performed throughout the UK and beyond at many festivals and concerts, as well as TV and radio broadcasts.  Both bands take their from “Bob Smith’s Ideal Band” who, during the 1930’s took their material from a wide range of contemporary and traditional sources.

Pipers Refrain tells the story of Duncan Campbell who foretold death of the Black at Lake Champlain in 1758.  Northern Winds from the 19th century Poets Box Collection, proves nothing has changed in the past 200 years.  My Madonna is based on a Robert Service poem.  The Blue, The Black And The Green is written about the Clan Campbell history.  The Glencoe Hotel still has a sign up reading “No Hawkers or Campbell’s”.  The Old Tune is an interesting concept – a fusion of two poems by Christina Rosetti.  It was found in a 1906 publication purchased from Mr McGonnigal and his cat in Glasgow’s oldest second hand bookshop – Voltaire and Rousseau!  River Song is written by the very talented Paul Metsers.  Clydeside was written by Ken’s parents in the 1940’s – they watched the “Little Ships” leave the River Clyde to join the Dunkirk evacuation.  Even now, on Dunkirk beach, some remains of the sunken little ships can be seen at low tide.  Quiet Flows The Don uses traditional song words from Mikhaul Sholokhov’s 1916 Russian civil war novel, set to a melody of a Cossack recruiting song.

The trio are joined on various tracks by Blair Cowan, Stevie Lawrence, Wendy Weatherby and Hamish Moore with a wealth of instruments.  A very entertaining CD.

Kathy & Bob Drage