Iain Sutherland
Album: Back To The Sea
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 14
Website: https://www.facebook.com/sutherland.brothers

A career with brother Gavin as duo The Sutherland Brothers before joining forces in 1973 with rock band Quiver to become The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver, which in 1976 charted with 'Arms of Mary'. Since these heady days that included recording 'Sailing' (penned by brother Gavin) and later a hit for Rod Stewart, extensive US and European tours with Elton John, The Kinks, Traffic and Free, Iain has recorded 2 solo albums Mixed Emotions (1983) and Learning To Dance (1985) prior to latest release Back To The Sea.

Recorded in Iain's home studio, who plays all instruments apart from reunion with brother Gavin providing additional percussion, the final mix and mastering completed at Arc Studio in Aberdeenshire.

Sounding that little has changed since the early successes 'Back To The Sea' seems firmly entrenched in the 1970's. Revel in a mix of emotion across the album which at times reaches the depths of despair, however the lows outnumbered by the highs which reward greater comfort in their positivity.

Within the blurred lines we catch first glimmer of hope revealed within the sleeve notes and the quotes attached to all of the 14 songs, each acting as premise to the subject within. Lead song 'Diamond' carries the quote "Home thoughts from abroad" starts on a downward spiral, twisted by the end of third line as we are lifted knowing that however distant the horizon a reunion is promised.

Much like anyone who has spent much of life living on or near the sea, Iain and Gavin as children were regular visitors to their Grandparent's home on the Moray Firth coast, it is easy to share the solace found in 'Watching The Waves'.

Waiting for no man 'Time and Tide' the first in a sequence of 5 songs ('Keep Believing', 'Shelter', 'Walk In the Night' ,'The One') rich in optimism before the darkness approaching.

The haunting throb in 'Spider and Fly' dragging things to earth again, 'Your Heart Knows' shows a sadness to overcome. Welcome reprise then in 'Another Generation' offering an age old message of love while recognising how in modern life everything needs to be so instant in the lyric "Another world to find, love online, in real time". 'Wildest Dreams' clutch your cards tightly and embrace a faith and discover true love.

'Back To The Sea' closes with it's 3 darkest songs. 'Dark Side Of The Man', hope seemingly lost for a man not recognising the love around him as he drifts toward his ending. Quote "Long, long ago we crawled out onto a beach" to the title song harkens back to the ascent of life on land and gloomily that despite of all our dreams we one day will return to our origins.

Finally bleakness too in "Seabird", a farewell to 'Jock', our writer now seeking consolation beyond the white mountains. Taken as a whole 'Back To The Sea' draws comfort on sentiment so tightly bound between family or faith it is hard to distinguish where the lines cross. No barrier and neither the 30 years wait since the last album to pull up a comfortable chair and welcome home an old friend.

Tony Wilding