SLANGE AVA - From The DVD

SLANGE AVA are one of the North of Scotland's top groups, who will be hardly recognised in the Central belt. The Caithness quartet features Keith MacLeod , Donny Mathieson, Chris MacIntosh and Jim Davidson, featuring a musical mix of guitars, keyboards, drums and mandolin.
Last year they brought out a DVD recorded at the Lyth arts Centre, before they recorded a CD. Now the CD has arrived, and what they've done is to copy the live set in the DVD, but went into the studio to re-record the tracks, so the sound qualityis better, especially for radio play.
“From The DVD In Concert” (Pan Records), was recorded in Wick, and features 15 tracks.
The material ranges from the uptempo “Why You Been Gone So Long” and “Every Second” to Country classics like Haggard's “Back In Love By Monday”, and Nanci Griffith's “I Wish It Would Rain”. They do a great version of “In The Shadows Of My Mind”, and it's no surprise that their version of “Walking On The Moon” is one of their most popular songs.
There's a couple of nifty little mandolin instrumentals which are really catchy.
For those who haven't seen the band yet, I'd recommend giving this CD a listen, and spread their popularity beyond the Caithness border.
www.panrecords.co.uk

JACQUI SHARKEY - A New Dawn

JACQUI SHARKEY is based in West Donegal, but grew up in Glasgow, and found her musical footing in the city’s folk scene many years ago.
Despite her roots, “A New Dawn” is first album, and has been getting reaction everywhere from Shetland to Argentina.
Recorded in Donegal, the album has a lovely easy listening feel to it. She’s a big fan of Mary Chapin Carpenter, and has covered three of her less obvious songs, ”This Shirt”,”Haley Came To Jackson” and “Shut Up and Kiss Me”. She also covers Jessie Colter’s “I’m Not Lisa” , Anne Murray’s “You Needed Me” and Beth Neilsen Chapman’s “Sand & Water”.
The first single, and video, from the album, which has been featured on the “Hot Country” TV Show is a beautiful version of “When I Dream”. originally an early hit for Crystal Gayle.
“Restless Heart”, one of the strongest cuts on the album, was written by Ian Smith, from Kilmarnock, who also played acoustic guitar on the album. Ian co-wrote “Midnight Symphony” with Jacqui, and she wrote “Be My Valentine” on her own.
The album is really well produced, and Jacqui has chosen a nice set of songs which really compliment her vocal style, and the simple arrangements.
It is hard to pick a favourite, but her version of Tom Kimmel’s “If I Fell From Grace With You”, really clicks for me.
If you like the easy listening Anne Murray sound, then you’ll just love Jacqui Sharkey.
www. Jacquisharkey.com

SARA DOUGLAS - Rocket Ship

Another homegrown release comes from Glasgow based SARA DOUGLAS, whose latest album “Rocket Shop” was recorded in Nashville.
Sara has quite a variety of styles, a strong vocal , and proves herself a strong songwriter as well, having written or co-written all but one of the songs.She has already supported the likes of Kevin Montgomery. Her band has only been together or a few months, but already getting noticed.
It’s not all Country. There’s folk and pop influences too, but the opening track “Jenny’s Song” is certainly Country enough to catch my attention.
On “Hoping”, Sarah delivers a strong Country ballad.
“The Beating Of My Heart” has a catchy beat, and although quite bluesy, does have a kinda Judds feel to it. The more uptempo “Tightrope Walking” also has a Judds influence to it.
The album’s closing track, “Shame, Shame,Shame” has quite a raunchy feel to it. It doesn’t sound like a Nashville recorded album, but I really liked her sound.

KENNY WATSON - Roots Of My Raising (Pan Records)

I really enjoyed Aberdeenshire’s KENNY WATSON’s first album, and he’s been quick to follow it with another. Like his first outing, “The Roots of My Raising” (Pan Records), is a bouncy easy listening set of popular covers, like Glen Campbell “Gentle On My Mind”, Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors”, Milsap’s “Back On My Mind Again” and of course, the title track, best known for the Hag’s version.
He comes a bit more up to date with “Love Me” (Collin Raye) and “Tonight We Might Just Fall In Love Again” (Hal Ketchum).
There’s a nice Irish feel to “Someone From Home”, written by Nick McCarthy , and featuring some nice accordian from Alistair MacDonald.
“Able Bodied Man” caught my attention, as a song I didn’t recognise. It’s a Charley Pryde song, but not one of the obvious ones. Kenny does a good version of it.
There’s an impressive list of players, including Keith MacLeod, Richard Nelson, Phil Anderson, Gordy Gunn,Stewart Shearer, Manson Grant and Robert Cameron.
The whole album is nice easy listening.It’s an album I really enjoyed.
www.panrecords.co.uk