ALI ‘BEAG’ MACLEOD AND KEVIN MACLEOD - Braes of Badentarbat
Private Label BEAGCD002
Coigach is the area just above Ullapool, round about Achiltibuie, and it’s from this area that box player Ali Beag MacLeod comes, as does the family of mandolin, banjo, cittern, bouzouki and guitar player Kevin Macleod. When they were conceiving the idea for this album, they moved on from the basic idea of musical duets to that of reflecting the bardachd, or poetry, of the area, especially that of Neil MacLeod, “the Polbain Bard”, here recited by Kevin’s father Roddie, and a new self-penned poem, Cairnearachd, by Sandy ‘Boots’ Macleod, Neils great-nephew.
The poetry of Neil MacLeod reflects on topics such as the harsh and cruel experiences of the people who suffered during the shameful Highland Clearances, and the difficulties of relying on lobster-fishing for a living. The insert booklet is illustrated by artwork from local artist Will Maclean, giving an extra cohesion to the whole package.
The music which intersperses all this is great West-coast style, with extra contributions from Freeland Barbour, piano; Luke Plumb, guitars and mandolin; and John Maclean, keyboard. Most are traditional, with a few of more modern provenance, and the overall feel is of a great, varied ceilidh, albeit one in which the musicianship is of the highest standards. The nimble fingers of Luke Plumb were also responsible for the recording, editing and mixing.
Everybody involved with this recording should be proud to have produced such a link from the older traditions of the area right up to the evolving traditions of today.
Gordon Potter
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this CD online from The Listening Post The Listening Post is the CD mailorder service of The Living Tradition magazine. This album was reviewed in Issue 86 of The Living Tradition magazine. |