IAN GREIG - Look For Me

Coming home, we have a really enjoyable album from Elgin based IAN GREIG, who has just released his first album “Look For Me” on Manson Grant’s Pan Record label.
Ian had the idea of recording some of his favourite songs to leave for his grandchildren, and a conversation with Robert Cameron on The Dynamos in Aberdeen led to this album’s release.
It’s an unashamed piece of personal nostalgia, but it’s not an album of tired and overdone hits. The songs come from way back, but most have been long forgotten
We will recognise “My Dixie Darling”, “The Old Lamplighter” and Bill Clifton’s “You Go To Your Church”, but “I’ll Tell The World I Love You” isn’t one of Jim Reeves most obvious covers, nor is “You Cant Divide A Heart” from Willie Nelson’s pen.
From the opening track, “Let The Children Pick The Flowers”, originally done by Webb Pierce, through the catchy treatment of “Far Side Banks Of Jordan”, and the JFK sentiments of “The Emigrant”, I enjoyed every track.
His version of Chris LeDoux’s “Paint Me Back Home In Wyoming” is a beautiful part song/part narration, that really suits Ian’s deep voice.
Recorded in Wick, and Nashville, with musicians like Manson, Robert & Keith from The Dynamos, Phil Anderson, and Nashville pickers Glen Duncan, Hank Singer and Steve Hinson, the production is excellent.
It’s old fashioned country, which still has a huge following. Ian Greig does it really well.
www.panrecords.co.uk

YARD OF ALE - Tracks From The Shack

YARD OF ALE are a Fife based folk band, who have been on the scene since 1972. They’ve been a various TV shows, including New Faces & Thingnmmyjig.. The current line up features Colin McKenzie, Alastair McDougald and Peter Gillan.
Although a folk band, there’s a lot of Country interest on their new album “Tracks From The Shack”.
The 12 track collection, recorded at The Shanty Shack in Aberdour, features songs from Steve Earle (Galway Girl & The Mountain), Buddy Mondlock (Coming Down In The Rain), Steve Goodman (City Of New Orleans) and Rick Nelson (Garden Party).
Dave Smith , from Grass Routes (and ex Peacemakers/ Scots Country Comfort) adds pedal steel to “Flower In The Snow”. There’s also a good version of “Wagon Wheel”. And I liked the catchy original “Lay Our Money Down”.
Yard Of Ale may be a folk band, but they have a sound that blends into Country quite nicely.
www.yardofale.net

SUNSHINE DELAY - Keep It Together

Crossing the country now, where Edinburgh’s THE SUNSHINE DELAY have built up quite a following with their “Alt-Country” sound over the past ten years. The Sunshine Delay, are Paula McKee, David McKee, Iain Barbour and Brendan O’Brien.
This month, they release their second album “Keep It Together” (Wrong Train) , and it features a strong selection of their original material.
The album kicks off with the strong tempo-ed “Last Generation To Die” which should do well on radio. Other uptempo numbers are the racey “Leaving Song”, and the catchy “On Our Own”.
Of the slower tracks, “Roll Off The Treble”, led by David works well
Other ballads include “Slow Day For Love”, “Angels Share” and “Don’t Have The Heart”.
It’s an interesting selection of songs, well produced and performed.
They should win many new fans with this collection.
www.sunshinedelay.com

RAINTOWN - Hope In Troubled Times

Staying with the homegrown acts, I was very impressed with an album from RAINTOWN, They are Glasgow based duo Paul Bain & Claire McArthur, but have a definate modern Nashville approach to their music.
Indeed they have been called “The UK’s Lady Antebellum”, and were given rave reviews from former 3C, now Voice Of Country host Pat Geary, after they appeared at the CMA Global Artist Party in Nashville.
“Hope In Troubled Times” is their debut album, which is an all original affair. All the songs have been written by the couple and Greg Friel.
They have already achieved quite a bit of success with two radio singles “Picture Of Us” and “Just One Kiss”
“What Matters Most”, “Light The Fuse Up” and “Loves Got A Hold On You” are particularly catchy upbeat radio friendly songs .
“The Road Never Ends” sounds quite loud, but has a good beat, and I liked it at lot.
I also liked the title track.
They also feature a couple of well crafted ballads, including the very strong “Falling Backwards” “I Wont Dance Alone”and “The Last Song”.
It’s not too often Scots can show their stuff in Music City.
Check them out : www.raintownmusic.com

ROCKIN' HORSE - Barstool Cowboy

Good to see quite a few homegrown recordings appearing on my CD player.
ROCKIN HORSE, led by George Inglis, has been building up quite a reputation from their Borders base over the past few years. Their music is at the more traditional end of the scene, and original, at the same time.
“Barstool Cowboy” features 10 originals from George’s own pen.
The title track, is a popular song already on the linedance floors, but there’s also a good tribute to the “Man In Black”.
There’s also a catchy beat to the latest single, “Catch A Train”, and “Children Og The Sixties” has quite a nostalgic feel to it.
I also enjoyed “Still Think I’m Gonna Win” quite an uptempo number, and the catchy “Smoke Filled Room”, before the album closes with the “Rockabilly Ball”.
I really enjoyed this album. Quite a diverse choice of material.

INNES CAMPBELL & PRESENT COMPANY - Present Company Included

Although this next release is from Australia, it has good Scottish connections.
PRESENT COMPANY are a quartet of musicians who have a lovely blend of bluegrass, folk and alternative music. “Present Company Included” is their second CD release, and came out just in time for their recent Scottish tour, which saw them perform everywhere from Edinburgh to Dunnet Head, and festivals in Guildtown, Beauly and Stornoway.
They were previously called “Innes & Present Company”. Innes, is Innes Campbell, who grew up in Stirling, before emigrating down under where he is a doctor by profession. Innes is a Tamworth guitar champion. He is joined by George Jackson. Tamworth’s Bluegrass Fiddle champion in 2010 & 2011. George also plays banjo .
Markus Karlsen is on acoustic bass , and Michael Patrick is on mandolin & violin, and they all share the vocals.
Their sound features some good songs, most notably the opening “Say Something Nice”, and the really Country sounding “You Belong Here”. I also enjoyed “The Light Of Day”, which is a bit more folk-country sounding, in the same way Lindisfarne blended the genres.
There’s some fun stuff too, like “Aliens”, and “The Dark Of The Matinee”, one of the folkier numbers on the album., and a number of instrumentals from the fast paced “Ride The Wild Turkey” and “Lethargy”, to the relaxing “Lead Me Away”.
A good listen, well worth checking out.
www.present-company.com.au

BUZZARD CREEK - Pure County

BUZZARD CREEK are one of the most popular acts on the Central Scotland circuit, and have just brought out a new CD.
“Pure Country” is quite an apt title for this 15 track collection, which shows the duo’s versatility on the Country scene, and not just appealing to dancers alone.
Here we find some current favourites like “People Are Crazy”, and “Walk The Line Revisited”, but lots of classic oldies too, like “Please Help Me I’m Falling” , “Ramblin’ Fever”, “Margaritaville” and “Louisiana Saturday Night”.
There’s a couple of Eagles tunes just for good measure too.
Being primarily a gig album, therer’s no sleevenotes, but the production is of a good standard, and certainly an album to be picked up by fans.

TREVOR JAMES MAIR - Mair Cash

Many performers across the world were inspired by Johnny Cash, and there have been many tribute albums to The Man In Black. If you’re going to do a cash album, you have to do it good.
And , I’m glad to say Moray based TREVOR JAMES MAIR has done a good job on his Cash collection. I was especially impressed with the project title, “Mair Cash” !
The album contains 14 Cash classics, done very authentically, yet fresh for today’s audience.
“Give My Love To Rose” kicks off the album, and is follwed by “I Still Miss Someone”, “Busted”, “I Got Stripes”, “I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow”, and there’s a few gospel numbers to round off the album, including “The Old Account”, “Peace In The Valley” and “In The Garden”.
If you want Mair Cash, be sure to check out this album.
www.trevorjames-tjmmusic.com