Kathleen MacInnes
Album: Cille Bhride (Kilbride)
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 14
Website: http://kathleenmacinnes.com/

The saying, "A rose amongst the shrubbery", does not apply to this review, because there is no shrubbery in this album, just roses. Originally from South Uist, singer Kathleen MacInnes is also known for her work as a television presenter and actress. Her work as a musician has led her to perform with bands such as Salsa Celtica, collaborate with equally talented artists like Julie Fowlis and be asked to perform as part of the BBC's transatlantic sessions. She recently released her gorgeous new solo album, entitled Cille Bhride, (or Kilbride in English).

The album includes a host of musicians, including one track, (track 8), with banjo extraordinaire, Bella Fleck. This track, almost works as a two for the price of one deal, by having two, connected waulking songs on it. There are many reasons why this track stands out as a real gem. The main, being that the style of singing is very traditional throughout, yet the accompaniment, (supplied by Andy Stewart on Double Bass, Donald Hay on Percussion and Fleck on Banjo), is the total opposite. This crosses the bridge between the old style of traditional music and the contemporary musical developments in that have happened in the folk music world in recent years. Another reason that this track stands out from the rest, is the beautiful singing from Kathleen MacInnes herself. A general point to make about the album is that the tone of MacInnes' voice and the phrasing that she applies to her music are both rich and beautiful. This track does a fantastic job of showing both of these things off.

Another track that shows genuine beauty and emotion is track 13, the song, "Oran A 'Phrionnsa", (or, "The Song of the Prince,"). It is the love story of Bonny Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald, set to a simple melody. It has a charmingly traditional feel about it, aided by John McCusker on Fiddle and Allan Henderson on Piano, (which I personally feel is a real treat, as Henderson is known for being a fiddler in the band, Blazin Fiddles, and not so well known for being a very sensitive and sympathetic accompanist). The other factor, contributing to the traditional feel of this song, is the graceful and relaxed style of singing in this song. It feels as if there is nothing holding MacInnes back, giving it a flow and lucid feel like none of the other tracks. It also maintains the mood of the story and the theme of love and romance.

Whereas the previous two tracks are undoubtedly jewels, track 11, "Song of the Highland Soldier," or in Gaelic, "Oran an t-Saighdeier Ghaidhealaich," is by far my favourite! It has a highly emotional feel to it but becomes much more intense for the listener once they read the story behind it, which is about the composer of the song, Iain Cameron, and his experience in waiting for orders to board a ship, and go to war in 1939. I think it is defiantly a case of being the simplest route being the most effective in this case, however, that is not to say that it is an uninspiring piece of music. On the contrary, I personally think the simple arrangement of this song is not far off the work of a genius, and therefore the contribution of MacInnes' accompanists, Rick Taylor on Brass and Donald Shaw on Harmonium, must deserve a mention! The combination of these three musicians is incredibly powerful. The chords provided by Shaw's Harmonium, give a soft, yet atmospheric bed, for MacInnes' rich and fluid voice to lay on and we are minded of the connotations of this song by Taylor's bugle like passages, filling out of the space that the vocals cannot.

The album on the whole is a total triumph on MacInnes' part. It is a highly recommendable album to people who listen to a large amount of Gaelic song, but also to people of want to try something new.

Matthew Tighe