Adam Holmes
Album: Heirs And Graces
Label: Gogar
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.adamholmesandtheembers.com

Adam Holmes has been a rising star of the Scottish scene for a while now, having been nominated for a number of young traditional music awards both in his own name and as a member Rura, a band that in many ways gave him an opportunity to hone his craft, rather than rush into the recording studio in his own right.

With support from Creative Scotland, an organisation whose example the Arts Council South of the border, would do well to follow, Holmes has now done just that, with "Heirs And Graces" giving him the opportunity to reach a wider audience.

Launched earlier this year at Celtic Connections with his live band, The Embers, and with the support of Creative Scotland, he has gained a number of prestigious slots at festivals around the wider country to begin to build on that home success.

"Heirs And Graces" has far more of an Americana bias than I had anticipated from his earlier outings, a surprise enhanced by having the likes of Lau's Kris Drever, amongst others, appear as guest musicians.

My first thought upon hearing the album was to immediately think of comparisons with material reminiscent of the American Songbook, rather than something instinctively Scots. Initially I thought this was a risk, but as the album progressed it appeared to be less so. Undeniably this is an American Songbook album, but equally undeniably it's one that has a Scottish accent and that actually takes him into an area that isn't particularly well trod.

As yet I don't think Holmes is the complete article, he needs to walk a little further along the road, but with "Heirs And Graces", he's definitely on the journey.

Neil King