Mairearad and Anna
Album: Best Day
Label: Shouty
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.mairearadandanna.com

A new album from a well-established and highly-respected duo is always a treat and this latest offering from Mairearad Green and Anna Massie is no exception. To describe them as "two of Scotland's most revered multi-instrumentalists" is no exaggeration and their talent and technical prowess is on fine display from start to finish. The opening track is also one of the stand out original tunes, The Red Poppy Reel. The vibrancy and drive of this tune from Mairearad makes it perfect for an opening set. Moving effortlessly from guitar to fiddle, Jerry & Otis is a fantastic showcase for Anna's exceptional fiddle playing. The story behind the set also makes it beautifully personal and ties the duo together through Anna's Otis Tomas fiddle.

For a very different style, we have the beautiful waltz Musical Flowers from Mairearad's neighbour partnered with a traditional Swedish Polska. Another beautiful slow track is Julia & Simon's, another deeply personal tune. In contrast are two excellent pipe tracks, MSR and Pipe Reels. With a family background in the pipe bands of Aberdeenshire, these really appealed to me and reminded me of listening to the pipe bands back home.

Often on predominantly instrumental albums, songs can feel like an afterthought. This is most certainly not the case on Best Day. Two beautifully arranged songs delivered from the heart absolutely made this album one of the stand outs of 2015 for me. The first offering, She Loves Me (When I Try), from the legendary songsmith Dougie MacLean is emotive and effortless. If I've had the CD on in the car, I will be singing this all through the day, its beautiful lyrics really stick with me. The other, Always Will is equally moving and memorable.

Mairearad and Anna are touring throughout the UK this month and they are without doubt a duo well worth catching if you get the chance and definitely buy the album while you're there!

Nicky Grant