Link to Living Tradition Homepage

REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk

 


 

 

 
IAN HARDIE - A Breath Of Fresh Airs

IAN HARDIE - A Breath Of Fresh Airs
Greentrax Recordings CDTRAX001

Originally released on LP and cassette only, this recording has an historic significance on a few levels. It was the first release on Greentrax Recordings back in 1986 and it came about because Ian Green was selling the tune book which Ian Hardie had published and commented that, “it really needed a recording to accompany it.” 32 of these tunes have made it on to this recording – testament to a prolific talent for tunesmithing. Modern compositions form a surprisingly significant part of the traditional music of Scotland and Ian’s tunes have been widely adopted and played over the years.

Back then, Ian was active with a couple of folk groups and now, with hindsight, we can see his stamp on a whole thread of Scottish music. His work with Jock Tamson’s Bairns gave him a foot in the centre of the folk music camp, but through bands like The Occasionals he has also had a foot firmly in the world of the Scottish Dance Band. A master musician who not only plays fiddle, but also viola, bass and smallpipes, this is an album with varying styles and moods, that at times features Ian very much to the fore, and at other times has more of a “band” feel.

Being re-released some 26 years after its first outing, this album stands up well to the passing of time. Ian Green was keen to re-release it as part of Greentrax’s 25th Anniversary celebrations as it is a particularly special album to him. It’s a great collection of tunes, and I am sure it will be special to many others too. A breath of fresh air? – absolutely!

Fiona Heywood

Secure On-line mailorder service
Buy 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 93 of The Living Tradition magazine.