MAY & MACKIE - Long Way Down The Road (Nel Music)

This husband & wife team from Shetland have been part of the Country scene for 20 years now, yet this is only their third album. They recently played the Thomas Fraser Memorial Festival (in honour of May’s father) and have been booked for next years Northern Nashville Festival. The album, produced by Phillip Anderson is a truly international affair, being recorded in Shetland, Orkney andNashville !
There are four songs written by Mackie, which he also leads the vocals on. The stand out track has to be “When I Called To Say Hello”, which has some really outstanding twin fiddles.
Mackie also does a good solid job on Springsteen’s “Lucky Town”, and Vince Gill’s classic “Kindly Keep It Country”
May leads the vocals on the other tracks, which tend veer more to the modern ballad. She kicks off the album with the song that started Martina McBride’s career, “The Time Has Come”, and closes with the beautiful folksy “You’ll Never Be The Sun” ( which also features May’s daughter Rhonda). It really is quite a masterpiece. I also enjoyed “What If We Fly”, which really captures May’s vocals.
A superbly produced album, well worth seeking out.
Obtainable from M&M Band, 28 Blydoit, East Voe, Shetland ZE1OUG.