HEATHER DICKSON - Eventually

Now onto our homegrown artist of the month. HEATHER DICKSON from Fife, caught the ear of Texan songwriter Terri Sharp, who asked her to record some of her songs. The result is “Eventually”, an 11 track album, recorded in Nashville with producer Rick Durrett.
The album has a nice mix to it. It kick’s off with “Right Where I Wanna Be”, an uptempo number, which should earn her some good radio airplay. It’s followed by “Perfect Common Stone”, a nice ballad, which, personally, stood out for me.
The title track, “Eventually” is a soft ballad, which really suits Heather’s vocals.
There’s a nice Celtic feel to “Right Out Of The Blue” and “Look Out My Window” thanks to the pipes of David Goodman.
“If You Only Knew” has a good modern Country sound, Heather’s vocals are quite raunchy on this one.
“You Cant Blame The Train” is a good catchy number, originally a Country hit for Don McLean. It’s one of the stand out tracks.
“That’s Love” has a different feel to it again. It’s an uptempo number, with quite a catchy summer feel to it. And the album ends with “Smokin’ Gun” another uptempo number.
A really good, well produced album.

KEITH & SHANNON - Lay Down Beside Me

I don’t usually review singles here, but “Lay Down Beside Me” from Keith & Shannon is well worth a mention.
Keith Macleod started his musical career after leaving school, by playing for Maggie & Tennessee Express. Now some 23 years later, Keith, best known for playing these days with Manson Grant & The Dynamos and Slange Ava, has teamed up with Maggie’s 17 year old daughter, Shannon Petrie for a cover of the Don Williams classic.
The pairing goes back to last year’s Caithness Festival when Shannon did a guest spot with Slange Ava. Now, we hear Shannon on CD for the first time. Keith, of course, is an old hand in the studio, having recorded a solo album of his dad’s songs on “In My Father’s Words”, as well as recording with Manson & Slange Ava.
Their voices blend nicely together, and they’ve chosen a good song for this duet release. Available on ITunes.

JOHN HINSHELWOOD - Lowering The Tone

Our home grown album this month is from JOHN HINSHELWOOD, who has been part of the scene for many years, through bands like Honest Sam & The Dealers and The City Sinners, as well as a solo act.
Like his previous albums, most of the songs on his latest album “Lowering The Tone”, are self penned, and the musicians on the albums are the same team that you’ll see joining John on stage at a live gig. They include steelie Malcolm McMaster, guitarist Tim Black, Ed McGlone on bass, Frank McHugh on drums, and harmony vocalist Kathy Stewart.
Gram Parsons still has a major influence on John’s music, most evident on this album on “A Few Shallow Moments”.
“American Lifestyle” is a fun sounding number, with strong harmony (I’d actually say duet) vocals from, Kathy Stewart. It also features some neat banjo. Kathy is also quite evident on the album’s opening track, “Radio Angel”.
“What’s Left Is What’s Right”, is also an uptempo catchy number.
In contrast, a few tracks like the 71/2 minute epic “A Poet’s Life” is quite a strong ballad. The same can be said for “Look Back In Anger”, one of John’s older songs which fits nicely into this collection.
A few of the tracks have quite basic arrangements, such as “Little Rowdy”, which only features John on acoustic guitar and Iain Barbour on lap steel.
Two of the songs are not from John’s pen. They include an interesting version of “Crying In The Rain”, and a cover of a Pure Prairie League song, “The Cost Of Doing Business”. Great to see hear it recreated here.
A good album from one of Scotland’s leading singer songwriters.
Well worth checking out.
John will be talking about the album on Celtic Music Radio and Dunoon Community Radio on Sunday 8th June between 12-2pm.
www.littleroots.com

RED PINE TIMBER COMPANY - Different Lonesome

Our home grown offering this month comes from Perth based RED PINE TIMBER COMPANY, which emerged five years ago from the embers of the band Southpaw.
Now they have released their debut album, “Different Lonesome” on their own Red Pine Record label.
They have, at one stage featured 11 band members, but eight have settled into the current line up for this album, recorded in The Fair City’s Clearwater Studios.
With so many musicians, playing everything from banjo and harmonica to saxophone, it’s reasonable to expect quite an array of musical styles on offer.
All the songs were written by front man Gavin JD Munro.
The title track is a 6 ½ minute epic, featuring song great harmonica, and beautiful harmonies between Gavin and Katie Burgoyne.
Indeed the harmonies work well throughout the album, especially on tracks like “Dark Clouds” and ballads, like “Save My Soul” and the stand out track “Speaking Of Your Name”. Their voices certainly give an air of Gram & Emmylou.
Other tracks, like “Bad Taste”, “The Way I Was” and “Sermon On The Street” are more uptempo, whilst “No Direction” is a soft ballad that showcases Katie’s vocals.
Altogether, a very interesting album.
www.redpinetimberco.com

DAVID LEASK - Underneath

DAVID LEASK is an accomplished singer songwriter from the Toronto area, but originally hails from Edinburgh. His first claim to fame was for taking top honours on the BBC National Rock School. That was 30 years ago. Since making the transatlantic trip, and basing himself in Canada, David has released three highly acclaimed albums, and won numerous accolades for his songs.
“Underneath” is his fourth album, and features a mix of celtic, country, folk and rock sounds that blend together nicely.
Leask co-wrote 11 of the album's 13 tracks. Songs such as the title track "Underneath", “Photosynthesis” and “One Second Look” shed refreshingly mature perspectives on personal relationships. Others like “Freedom by the Barrel”, “Ready to Buy” and “Breathing” go even deeper to tackle and examine social conditions such as war mongering, rampant consumerism and the struggle for peace amidst chaos.
Some of the tracks are a shade pop or rock (notably “Photosythesis” and “Ready To Buy”), but there is plenty to shout about this emigrant. “Stronger Back”, one of the songs that he didn’t write, caught my attention. It has a nice folksy, yet gutsy feel to it. “Highway Home”, another song with a soft celtic lilt to it, really stood out for me. It’s the sort of song fellow exScot Canadian, Johnny Reid would have a huge hit on.
There’s some nice fiddle in the opening of “Burdens & Blessings”, which also caught me attention.
I also liked to bouncy “One Second Look”, with its catchy instrumentation, and “All My Love”, which has quite a crossover appeal.
The album closes with a Darrell Scott & Beth Neilsen Chapman song, “This Time Round”, which has a simple piano cello and whistle arrangement, which really shows off David’s vocals and the songs simplistic beauty. It’s a lovely version.
David is another talent that has had to move from Scotland to pursue his career. But we can still enjoy his music. “Underneath” is available from the usual download sites or www.davidleask.com

COLIN MACKAY - Do What You Love

Our homegrown album this time around, comes from Aberdonian COLIN MACKAY, whose album “Do What You Love” was recorded in Nashville.
Colin achieved a 3rd place in a national TSB Rock School competition at the age of 16, by performing his own songs. A chance meeting with two Nashville musicians at a SpeyFest Music Festival led him to making the trip to music city, and the rest as they say is history.
Of the 10 tracks on the album, Colin wrote six of them. Other writers include respected writers like Mike Reid, Karen Staley and Harley Allen.
The music does have a contemporary edge to it, but the songwriting talent that Colin has honed certainly leans towards Country.
I have to say that it’s Colin’s originals that impressed me most.
The album kicked off with “Do What You Love”, quite a poppy number, but fits nicely with what Nashville calls Country these days. “Whiskey Morning” is another uptempo number, with a bit more of a natural Country feel to it. “Let You Go” is a bit more laid back, whilst “Your Love” is a bit more pop than the other self penned tracks.
“Handle With Care” is a particularly nice ballad that Colin delivers really well. The closing track is also a pleasant ballad,
The album cover shows Colin on stage at the legendary Tootsies Lounge.
From a listen to the album, I can see Colin back in Nashville for more recording work before too long.
www.birnamcdshop.com

WYNNTOWN MARSHALLS - Long Haul

Country music is such a broad church. The styles range from bluegrass to pop, from the sentimental to Americana.
Our next new release is from a well established, and highly acclaimed quartet from Edinburgh called THE WYNNTOWN MARSHALLS.   The band features Keith Benzie, Iain Sloane, Murdoch MacLeod and Kenny McCabe.  I’m willing to bet that many readers haven’t heard of them, and others may only recall them opening for Marty Stuart at Celtic Connections a few years back.  But that sums up the diversity of Country music in Scotland.
Their new album, “The Long Haul” was recorded in Edinburgh, and is the follow up to “Westerner”, which, apparently, was regarded as one of the best European Americana releases ever.
If you enjoy the likes of The Eagles then these guys are worth giving a listen to.  There’s a clear Eagles sound, but they’re much more than that too.
The album kicks off with a couple of driving country rock numbers in “Driveaway” and “Canada!”, before one of my favourite tracks “Low Country Comedown”. It features some great harmonies, and is inspired by their regular visits to the continent.
I also enjoyed “The Submariner”, a neat story song about a modern day Captain Nemo. The number includes some really neat steel featured on this track. It’s probably the most Country track on the album.
There’s also some nice steel guitar evident in “North Atlantic Soul”, a strong song vocally, which may just be the track that will attract radio play.
“Crashing” (Like The Reds)” has a very strong Eagles sound, with lush harmonies and instrumentation.
“Whatever It Takes” and “Curtain Call” are quite slow numbers, as is the album’s closing number “Change Of Heart” , which features some nice harmonies from Diane  Christiansen from Chicago based group Dolly Varden.
It rounds off a very interesting and pleasant album.
Check them out at www.thewynntownmarshalls.com

INNES CAMPBELL - Click To Like

INNES CAMPBELL is flying the Scottish flag down under. Originally from Stirling, Innes moved to Brisbane to work as a doctor, but a few years ago surprised himself at winning an award as top bluegrass guitarist in Tamworth.
He came home on a visit a couple of years ago with his band Present Company, and played the Guildtown Bluegrass Festival, and other venues from Edinburgh to Dunnet Head.
Now Innes is back with an album that is all him.
“Click To Like” features ten tracks, all composed and performed by Innes, recorded in his home studio, Although, he is particularly focussed on bluegrass, it’s very much an alternative sound that he has developed here.
Indeed there are a couple of tracks, where he has even enabled some electronic sounds and voice effects to give the songs a completely different feel.
The album kicks off with a short little bluegrass guitar instrumental, and is followed by a wide variety of styles, from the easy listening “Two’s Company”,   the catchy “Brown” and the fast paced pickin’ on “Pig Dog Man”.
It’s an  interesting album. Alternative Bluegrass.
www.innescampbell.com

CAMPBELL SCOTT - Scottish Working Man

I don’t know much about CAMPBELL SCOTT, but his self penned album, “Scottish Working Man” tells quite a story.
With the strongest Scottish accent I’ve heard on record, he lives in France, and recorded this album in Prague. But his homeland is in the forefront of his mind, with the songs of the album.
His voice is not the most tuneful, and the instrumentation is fairly basic, but that all adds up to give the album quite a homesome charm.
He’d probably be more at home in a folk club, but there are some Country influences, especially on the lilting “Tennessee To Loch Maree”, and the closing track “Going Home To Scotland”. Both have some nice steel licks.
There’s also some Rock’n’roll on “Boy Who Cant Say No”, but it’s the more folksy numbers like “Beautiful” and “Fair Farfochan” , which  Campbell sounds most comfortable with.
www.campbellscottmusic.com

TONY COLLINS - Just Passin' Through

The first of our home grown recordings this time comes from Dunoon’s TONY COLLINS. “Just Passin’ Through” is what Tony describes as his “retirement project”, but it’s probably more like a life long dream.
Tony has been involved in music all his life, through the pop and gospel scenes. He wrote his first song at age 14, and was the writer of the official Glasgow Marathon song, “Marathon Man”.  But Country music has always been part of Tony, known as the “Tartan Cowboy”, so it’s no surprise that this album is Country!
The album has twelve self written songs, was recorded in Ballymena, and features the likes of Richard Nelson on pedal steel, and Eamon McLoughlin on fiddle.
I really enjoyed the mix of music, from the toe tappin’ “There She Goes” to the Tom T Hall styled “You Say”.
There’s also a good bit of “DooWaa’s” and “Hot Bananas” on the honky tonk inspired “AWOL”.
The opening track “Back On The Road Again” is a good upbeat number, and “America” is a good song which sums up several generations obsession with Uncle Sam’s land.
I was quite intrigued to listen to a song titled “Rocky Mountain Home”, with a lazy gulf coast / calypso arrangement, which surprisingly works well.
The title track, ”Just Passin’ Through” is a slower number, with some neat sax.
I’d say that Tony’s influences were the Elvis inspired balladeers. He’s not an Elvis clone- nothing like it, but I do hear influences I also hear similarities with Mickey Gilley and Billy Crash Craddock.
It’s a really good album, which I enjoyed listening too.

GLG BAND - Both Side Of The Pond

Next up, a new CD from THE GLG BAND, led by George L. Goodfellow, from Hawick. As an aspiring songwriter, he joined the Tennessee Songwriters Association which led to him making contact with an exiled Scotsman, Jim McParland who asked George to collaborate with him on some of his lyrics. A few contacts on the other side of the pond, and the GLG Band was formed. “Both Sides Of The Pond” (Smallboy Records) is their fourth album together.
All 13 tracks on the album are originals from the band. The arrangements are simple but effective. The project was recorded and produced in Bristol ,Tennessee (where The Carter Family recordings were made) and finished off in Galashiels at David Little’s Sound Studios. The songs range from the catchy “I’ll Put Me Life On The Line” and “Maybe In Time” to the slower “Number Three” or “More Than Welcome”
“Without Doubt” and “He Was My Friend” are the two tracks which stand out for me, and most likely to get a bit radio play.
www.GLGband.com

TOM HOGAN - Keeping It Real

The first of our home grown Scottish releases this time comes from Hamilton based TOM HOGAN, who was most recently been touring around the clubs as one half of Tequilla. “Keeping It Real”, is all Tom’s own work. He wrote all 10 songs (one co-written with Frank Young), played all the instruments, and produced the whole project, which was recorded in Strathaven.
The album is given a full sound, and features a good variety of songs. The album kicks off with “Heart Of The Country”, a good foot tappin’ number, which features some nicely placed harmonies from Irene Hulme, before he mellows a little for “Never Let You Down”.
Moving along, “Thinking About You Now”, which has a good uptempo beat to it.  “Words Alone” features keyboards a bit more, and perhaps more of a crossover appeal rather than straight Country!
But “Movin’ On” brings him back home. It’s a good driving guitar number, which suits his vocal style.
“It Aint Me” slows the pace again, and features some impressive instrumentation in its’ 47 second intro.  “Rollin It Over”, “For The Other And Me” and “Thought You Were The One” are also quite slow.
The album closes with a rather haunting number, “Tonight The Cowboy Rides Away.  Again featuring some interesting instrumentation.
Tom’s quite an accomplished guitar & keyboard player, and this album shows that side, as well as his vocals and songwriting skills.
Quite a talent.
Tomhoganx1@hotmail.co.uk

DEAN OWENS -Cashback

DEAN OWENS has been part of the Scottish scene, originally with his acclaimed Country rock band The Felsons, and then as a solo singer-songwriter. His new album is “Cash Back – Songs I Learned From Johnny” on the Drumfire label.
This is the recorded work following an evening of  Cash songs that Dean was part of at this summer’s Southern Fried Festival in Perth.
Will Kimborough, who plays on the session, claims that “this is not your everyday Johnny Cash tribute album “ (of which there have been a few) .
Dean has certainly put his own stamp on these songs. Although he has avoided the tried and tested “Ring Of Fire” and “Thing Called Love” and the like, he does include “I Still Miss Someone”, “Give My Love To Rose” and “I Walk The Line”. He also covers songs, that Cash recorded, but didn’t write, such as Dylan’s “Girl From The North Country” and Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down”.
I particularly enjoyed his cover of Nick Lowe’s (one time son in law of Johnny) “Without Love”, and The Stones ”No Expectations”.
From Dean’s own pen, comes “The Night Johnny Cash Played San Quentin”, a catchy , effective tribute, with lots of title dropping into the lyrics.
It’s not Johnny Cash as you know him. By the same token, it’s not Dean Owens, as you’ve come to expect.
His most Country outing to date. One that will appeal to the Cash fans too.

MANSON GRANT & THE DYNAMOS - Country

There’s no question that MANSON GRANT & THE DYNAMOS are one of Scotland’s most successful  bands playing Country music. They are also quite different to any other group on the local scene, being the closest thing we have to the old Irish showbands.
Of course, that means when you see them, you’re in for a full blown entertainment experience, rather than a full Country show.
Having said that, their new album is simply called  “Country” (Pan Records) and reinforces their place in Country music.
There are twelve tracks on the album, mainly covers like “Daydreams About Night Things”, “Silver Haired Daddy”, “Streets of Bakersfield” and “Pass Me By”, which are performed in a good time dancing beat, as you’d expect.
Manson is featured on vocals on 8 of the tracks, including “The Mountains Are Higher In Scotland”, an original song, written by George Mack, and Keith MacLeod leads the vocals on Vince Gill’s “Pocket Full Of Gold”. The Dynamo’s also feature teenage award winning accordion wizard Brandon McPhee, who is featured on the instrumental “Celtic Cajun”, and on the vocals on Marty Robbins’ “Castle In The Sky”. Brandon proves to be as good a singer as he is on the accordion.
The album was recorded in Wick, but with additional work by Nashville’s resident Orcadian Phillip Anderson, who has added the talents of Steve Hinson and Fiddler Hank Singer into the mix.
It all comes out sounding good & fresh. Another winner from the far north!
www.panrecords.co.uk

SYDNEY DEVINE - Tiny Bubbles And The Signature Songs

Like him or loath him, you cannot deny that SYDNEY DEVINE is the most recognised Country music performer in Scotland. Everybody knows him.  He may not be everyone’s idea of what Country music is, but having been on the scene for 45 years, and still selling out the Glasgow Pavilion for three nights last month, the guy is a force to be recognised.
His latest Scotdisc release is a double album, “Tiny Bubbles And The Signature Songs”, with 43 instantly recognisable songs.
CD1 is all new recordings, but not new songs. These are new versions of the songs Sydney has been known for years. Songs like “Legend In My Time”, “Maggie”, “Almost Persuaded” , “The Answer To Everything” and “Crying Time”.  CD2 has more of the songs that he made his own, like “Laura”, “The Lightening Express”, “Scotland Forever”, and of course, “Tiny Bubbles”.
All recorded in Kilsyth, produced by Tommy Scott and Bill Garden, and featuring Steel guitar from Dougie Stevenson, guitars by Chas McKenzie, and harmonies from Eve Graham and Kevin Finn (from The New Seekers), this is just what you’d expect from Sydney.
No surprises. Just great singalong songs.
His fans will love it. If you’re not a fan, then this won’t win you over.

SIENNA - Lonesome Man EP

Our homegrown recording this time around is “Lonesome Man”, a 6 track EP from Kinross based SIENNA.
Formed in the Summer of 2011 as an acoustic trio, they quickly grew to be a five piece band by the end of  last year.  The current line up features Danny McAtear and Stella Reilly on vocals, with Ross Mathieson, Andy Clarke and Benn Watt. They are a bit hard to box into any particular label, with influences of Americana, folk & rockabilly.
The music on this short collection will certainly appeal to Americana fans, with some neat harmonies between Danny & Stella. The instrumentation is simple but effective.  All six songs are originals, five written by Danny, and one , “Weekend Girl” by Andy. Most of the songs are quite slow, a style that seems to go down well on the Americana circuit.
“Slow Down” and the title track are the stand out tracks for me.  “Lonesome Man” picks up the tempo quite nicely.
A pleasent listen.
www.siennabandmusic.com