ANNA MURRAY - Into Indigo (Lochshore Records CDLDL 1249)
DEIRDRE CUNNINGHAM - City Of Tribes (Lochshore Records CDLDL 1246)
RORY CAMPBELL - The Piper's Whim (Lochshore Records CDLDL 1250)
VARIOUS ARTISTS - Northern Lights (Lochshore Records CDLDL 1255)
THE KELTZ - The Mystery Of Amerigin (Lochshore Records CDLDL 1247)
A bit like that wonderful children's story The Box Of Delights (or in this case a jiffy bag!) the postman arrived to hand me a package too big for the letterbox. Out popped a potpourri of albums by the rather excellent Lochshore record company. Again highlighting the state of Scottish music and its strength in the current celtic climate. Having enjoyed Anna Murray's debut album I was really looking forward to her latest offering. Combining the skill of Highland and Small Pipes with some beautiful Gaelic singing, it's surprising no one this side of divide has bought her and her musicians over for a tour - festival organisers please note. A good mixture of acoustic and electric backings helps to enhance a very enjoyable album. Keeping with the pipes, Rory Campbell is a dynamic piper of the Highland variety. Surrounding himself with a veritable star studded array of musicians including Capercaillie's Donald Shaw, Fred Morrison (who also produced the album) and Marc Duff among them adding that little something special to the low whistle on 'Jig Groove'. A slightly more laid back groove is on offer from singer/songwriter Deirdre Cunningham. Joined by Steve Wickham's fiddle and James Blenner Hassit on cello/bass the album conjures up those smokey cafe images created for scenes in Twin Peaks etc. Night time culture if you know what I mean. Various artists from the roster of the record company appear on the 'live' recording "Northern Lights". Drop The Box, open proceedings with a lively, slightly out of tune ceilidh bash with a goodtime had-by-all 'Glass Of Beer' followed by what has to be one of the best kept secret weapons of any record company Old Blind Dogs and a swingin' version of 'Barnyards Of Delgaty'. The Dogs can resuscitate any hoary old chestnut (and I should know).Take it from me, this band should be huge! The consummate virtuosity of guitarist Tony McManus showcases another more subtle influence to the record company catalogue. Other contributions come from Iron Horse, Tannas etc. As a calling card, this album should be required listening. With The Keltz, we have an intriguing mix of Indian percussion, guitar and utilising the flute/sax/bouzouki of ex-JSD Band main man Sean O'Rourke making for some very interesting listening. The main thrust of Sean's own tunes working around Indian music isn't the heavy mysticism you might at first think, in fact the coupling works surprisingly well.
(Pete Fyfe)