By far the most outstanding album yet released by Donnie Munro in his solo career. The album contains 12 excellent tracks.
Since his departure from Runrig, Donnie Munro has been deeply involved in the development of his native Gaelic language and culture through his work with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the international centre on the Isle of Skye and also in being able to develop his own work as a singer/songwriter.
'Heart Of America -Across The Great Divide' is a very powerful collection of songs, that tell of displacement, travel, hardship and opportunity and the very contradictory nature of the images America has presented throughout its history.
"Getting into the studio to record new songs is really such a privilege and particularly where you find yourself surrounded by so many great players. I approached this album in a very direct way, with the songs at the centre of everything and everything being performed as live, simply and directly."....Donnie Munro.
The Donnie Munro Band are: Donnie Munro (vocals, acoustic guitar); Jim Drummond (drums); Dougie Coulter (bass); Foss Paterson (keyboards); Chaz Stewart (electric/acoustic guitar); Morph Dobie (electric guitar); Chris Harley (backing vocal).
Guest musicians: Blair Douglas (accordion); Fraser Fifield (soprano sax); Duncan Chisholm (fiddle); Viv Scotson (backing vocals); Donald ‘Doc’ Livingstone (backing vocals); Richard MacIntyre (guitar on Love will never die).
Customer Reviews
Thoughtful music with delicate, intimate or wistfully poetic moments Joe Ross
Playing Time – 54:41 -- Eight of the twelve tracks on “Heart of America” span four minutes or longer. Donnie Munro’s evocative mood pieces are carefully arranged to dynamically allow them to breathe with expressive vocals and rhythmically enticing instrumentation. Munro is a Scottish singer/songwriter whose thoughtful music has delicate, intimate or wistfully poetic moments. Born on the Isle of Skye in 1953, Donnie’s musical growth eventually led to him becoming frontman for the band, Runrig, until 1997.
Runrig presented much Gaelic and Highland dance music, but they also incorporated influences from rock and other genres. Donnie’s final album with Runrig was the 1995 release, “Mara.”
In more recent times, Munro’s been touring extensively and has built a large legion of fans for his Donnie Munro Band. Songs on this new album (his third as a soloist but first in four years) focus on new beginnings, hopes and expectations. The title track was written after a journey he took with his family through the northeastern U.S. and to Ellis Island. It’s nice for an album to present as much emphasis on the songs as the singer.
Donnie sings in a warm, conversational style. Of special note are a few numbers in Gaelic (with translations provided in the CD’s jacket). He continues his work with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (the Gaelic college on Skye), to support and preserve his native language and culture. Of course, the themes of migration, displacement, travel, hardship and opportunity are very well documented in music from Celtic lands. So what’s Donnie’s hook? A healthy dose of original material indicates that he can be both stirred and stirring. Donnie’s eloquence may be best realized in such pieces as ‘Winds of Our Time,” “Where the Roses,” and “Love Will Never Die.” His band also has an expressive signature sound, with somewhat of a dream-infused groove.
Besides his singing and playing acoustic guitar, The Donnie Munro Band has Foss Paterson (keys), Chaz Stewart (guitar), Morph Dobie (guitar), Jim Drummond (drums), Dougie Coulter (bass), and Chris Harley (vocals). Paterson is also known for his arranging and composing, but he does not apparently wear those hats in Donnie’s band. He has an album out entitled “Then Came The Wheel.” A foremost and highly sought after guitarist (actually multi-instrumentalist) in Scotland, Chaz Stewart released a solo album called “The Angel Falls” in 2001 and played with Scottish band Cliar until 2002. Chris Harley and Donnie Munro have worked together often over the years, as Chris had produced most of the Runrig albums as well as Donnie’s latest releases.
“Heart of America” also features some excellent guest Scottish musicians -- Blair Douglas (accordion), Richard Macintyre (guitar), Duncan Chisholm (fiddle), Fraser Fifield (sax), Vivien Scotson (vocals), Donald “Doc” Livingstone (vocals). Also born and raised on the Isle of Skye, Douglas was a founder member of the bands Runrig, Mactalla and Cliar, and he has released many highly-acclaimed recordings. His self-penned “Strangers to the Pine” on Donnie’s new album praises both the emigrants and their homeland on Skye. “The blood runs deep and the ties they bind.” A up-and-coming singer/songwriter in her 20s, Vivien Scotson’s beautiful voice can be heard in about five of the tracks on “Heart of America.”
“Heart of America” is a significant achievement for Skyeman Donnie Munro. It’s a splendid thematic set full of diversity, imagination and encouragement. With respect for both traditional and contemporary idioms, Donnie Munro builds a musical bridge from Gaelic culture, across the waves to opportunistic shorelines. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, Oregon)
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