Various Artists
Album: For Freedom Alone: The Wars Of Independence
Label: Greentrax
Tracks: 18
Website: http://www.greentrax.com

Greentrax's themed series of releases providing illuminating perspectives on battles and other key events in Scotland's history continues with this typically well-researched and impeccably sourced collection of rousing anthems, war-songs and powerful laments. Only three of the tracks are drawn from the existing catalogue of the Greentrax or Culburnie labels, with (perhaps inevitably) two from The Corries' perennially popular Flower O' Scotland album and one item apiece licensed from the Linn, KRL and Corban labels, the whole compilation ending with Dick Gaughan's celebrated recording of Both Sides The Tweed (from his landmark Topic album A Handful Of Earth).

The remainder of the tracks have been specially recorded for this compilation, and these include some magnificent performances from the likes of Sylvia Barnes, accompanied by Sandy Stanage (on The Lament Of Wallace and Field Of Bannockburn); Robin Laing (Bruce At Bannockburn); Alex Hodgson (Bannockburn's Over and the narrative song Sword Of Bannockburn); and two brief readings from BBC Radio Scotland presenter Iain Anderson.

There's also a pair of contrasted instrumental pieces composed by Alasdair Fraser, of which the lovely six-minute tone-poem Bannockburn proves a disc highlight (although you may find the second piece, The Referendum just a little too chirpy!). Music aside, the pivotal role of Bannockburn is placed in due context by Jim Paris's intensely erudite eight-page booklet essay, which forms an integral part of the top-quality Greentrax presentation - a standard which other labels should aspire to, indeed.

David Kidman