Linsey Aitken & Ken Campbell
Album: Kith & Kin
Label: Bridgegate
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.linskenscotland.co.uk/

This attractive record presents just over an hour of original songs and music by two of Scotland's foremost acoustic musicians - cellist Linsey and songwriter-guitarist Ken, who here add piano, Northumbrian pipes and laud respectively to their collective instrumental armoury. They both just happen to be darned good singers too, and are equally capable of taking lead and sharing harmonies. In this regard, I especially rated Linsey, who for some unaccountable reason I'd not heard sing before.

Good honest craftsmanship characterises Ken's writing, as demonstrated on Where The Scots Pine Grow, Time And Tide and Island Of Hope, all of which evidence Ken's strong national pride in particularly stirring fashion, and Redlegs (the tragic story of Scotland's lost tribe of sugar slaves in Barbados).

Just occasionally I find Ken's singing style a tad laboured, almost too insistent in making its mark, but the full and richly detailed instrumental backdrops provide ample compensation and don't feel as overblown as they might in a more expansive band setting. Just before its central point comes what I feel to be the disc's standout track, which artfully combines Ken's composition Ring Of Aber with Far Away Waltz, penned by New Yorker Peter Jung, which turns the spotlight all too briefly on guest melodeon player Frank Lee. The sun sets on the album with Ken's closing gesture, a Departing Song capped by a Hamish Moore pipe tune - and there'll ne'er be a dry eye in the house after that, I'm sure…

Four of the album's tracks are based on traditional songs - the opening Northern Winds turns out to be a 19th century Glasgow drinking song, intriguingly set by Ken to a traditional Scandinavian tune, whereas Dundee Bound is a spirited conflagration of fragments of Dundee whaling songs, and Wild Roving (yes it is that one!), sung by Linsey, which takes a rip-roaring uptempo approach with infectious clapping rhythms and a spirited bodhrán part from guest Stevie Lawrence; this one really pays off! Fine though Ken's contributions are, it's Linsey who's the star of the disc for me; not only is her singing exceptional and her cello playing superbly charismatic, but she's also responsible for penning four contrasted instrumental compositions: the gorgeous, atmosphere-laden Achachrome (which in addition to Ken's Northumbrian pipes also features sterling dobro work by guest Andy Shanks), the funky cello-led tribute The Giving Kind, and the lovingly evocative Bonnie Rose. The latter was written by Linsey for her daughters and her beloved cello, while daughter Gabby has a waltz to herself intertwined within Linsey's keen adaptation of the traditional song Wheel Of Fortune.

This is a fine album indeed, containing a large number of original songs that are well worth getting to know and some truly excellent musicianship to savour on repeated plays. Nicely designed and informatively annotated slimline digipack too.

David Kidman