BLAIR DOUGLAS was a founder member of bands as diverse as Runrig, Mactalla and Cliar, and has created a series of idiosyncratic and highly-regarded recordings under his own name. The latest, Angels from the Ashes , marks a return to top form for a musician who admits he reached a low ebb in the wake of a fire that destroyed the family home, and all of his instruments and music in 1997.
The title of the new CD is clearly a reference to Blair's own misfortunes as well as a composition inspired by the horrors of 9/11. This one has large cast of supporting musicians, not only from folk music but also from the Scottish jazz scene, and even some guests from the Cajun scene in Louisiana. (Kenny Mathieson, Hi-Arts Journal)
The CD is released on Ridge Records which is owned by Rory and Calum Macdonald, Malcolm Jones and Donnie Munro, all members of the Scottish Celtic Rock band Runrig. It was set up to allow the band the degree of artistic freedom and control they needed to record their unique musical style.
This CD features delightful airs (the composition of which is a speciality of Blair's) waltzes, pipe tunes which are destined quickly to become part of the many pipers' repertoire, laments including An Gaidheal Uasal for Donald Archie MacDonald. The album also introduces a strong Cajun flavour to Blair's work and on this showing, what a rich musical seam it promises to be.
Musicians: Drums: Dave Stewart, Jim MacDiarmid Bass: Ewan Vernal, Ross Hamilton Percussion: Sandro Ciancio Guitars: Malcolm Jones, Morph, Chaz Stewart Pipes/Whistles/Flute: Dougie Pincock Uillean/Border Pipes: Simon MacKerrell Saxes: Phil Bancroft, Graham Wilson Cello: Wendy Weatherby Guitars/Bouzoukie: Stevie Lawrence Mandolin/Frattoir/Fiddles: Iain MacFarlane, Chris stout, Jack Tyldsley Concert Harp/Clarsach: Ingrid Henderson, Catriona MacKay Piano /Hammonf Organ: Paul Harrison Pipe Drums: Barry Wilson, Dave Proudfoot Cajun Accordion/Fiddle/Acoustic Bass: Dirk Powell Fiddle/Vocals: Courtney Grainger ‘Titfer, Guitar: Christine Balfa Keyboards: Robin Rankin Voice: Eoghan O’Riada, Eva Russell Acordion/Piano/Keyboards: Blair Douglas All titles composed by Blair Douglas except track 12 Douglas/Powell
Media Reviews
Blair Douglas breaks an eight-year silence on disc with a superb new recording...
BLAIR Douglas breaks an eight-year silence on disc with a superb new recording. The title refers to a tune inspired by the terrorist attacks on 11 September, but also to his own return from a disastrous fire that destroyed his family’s home in Skye in 1997, and all of his music and instruments with it. The accordionist’s roots are firmly in Scottish traditional music, but with an exploratory contemporary sensibility and a liking for a bit of genre-hopping along the way. The album features a large cast of folk, jazz and Cajun musicians, and explores many different musical tangents from his fertile musical imagination.....Kenny Mathieson *****
If ever an album had it all, this one does.
Ever since his early days with Runrig, Blair Douglas has been one of those rare visionaries who can drag Scottish music into the mainstream without ripping its guts out on the way. Angels from the Ashes is the latest step in Blair's successful sexing-up of accordion and bagpipe tunes. Its winning mix of power and pace, poignancy and passion, characterises the best of traditional music and incidentally makes it a more appealing product for the mass market. Granted the arrangements can be a little OTT at times, and there's a conscious sentimentality which smacks of Country & Irish, but that's all part of the fun. Remember De Danann's Star-Spangled Molly, or almost anything decent by Van Morrison? Nuff said. Talking of Van brings us to the other side of Blair's music. Swing, funk, Latin, Cajun, Kilt'n'Kongas, if it fits then he's used it. The steamy sax track dedicated to Mr Morrison is surrounded by the lush New-Age Country groove of New Island Waltz and the Spartan beauty of super-slow Night Falls. Later on there's a wee Cajun section which starts with Blair's Rockabilly Reel and includes the song La Fleur de Bayou Noir and two more stomping dance numbers. The 15 tracks on Angels from the Ashes are almost entirely Blair's own compositions, and the music stays fresh for all 72 minutes. If ever an album had it all, this one does. The dozens of supporting musicians provide variety without excess. Enchanting slow airs like An Gaidheal Uasal, storming ceilidh sets like the aptly-named Storming The Ceilidh (which includes The F In Jig), an ode to Michael Collins in Gaelic verse, that Cajun song, and of course the title track remembering the victims of 9/11. Blair excels in every aspect of his music here: composition, arrangement, playing and production. Get it while it's hot. Alex Monaghan.......FolkWorld
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