The Scottish Stepdance Co. are committed to the re-integration of the almost extinct danceform back into this country by marrying the dancing to an inventive and exciting approach whilst always remaining respectful of the tradition. This is fresh and stimulating album that is strongly centred on the west coast tradition of Gaelic song, piping and fiddle playing. I defy anyone not to tap their feet to this, it’s just so infectious. Fiddle, guitar, song whistle, pipes (small and Highland) and double bass are all skilfully deployed to produce an album of depth as well as variety e.g. one track has only quiet vocal and guitar (Thig am Bata), whilst jazzy bass and vocal do something else again on Seinn O. Whilst both are excellent it is on the faster tunes that the hard percussive shoes come intricately leaping into play. It is then that the whole endeavour is lifted onto a new plane. And that’s without even seeing them!
Media Reviews
a feisty, pepstepping collection that'll rise the hardiest couch potato...
Sole Music soars where Riverdance struggled - artistically at any rate. This young Scottish outfit's seamless interleaving of music and step dance has resulted in a feisty, pepstepping collection that'll rise the hardiest couch potato from the cosiest of seats in jig time. Powerful percussive force welded to tunes that'd whup the pants of a Prozacgeneration, given half a chance.
It’s all eminently fresh-sounding and great fun...
I found the combinations of different types of music from the tradition particularly beguiling – as on the Alison’s Solo set for instance, where puirt a beul (mouth music) and smallpipes are used to back a set of strathspeys and reels danced in the traditional style. It’s all eminently fresh-sounding and great fun, and I bet the SSC’s brand of Sole Music’s a hell of a hoot live to boot!