Jul 02 2009 4:31 pm,
Colin MacIntyre
‘Island’
(Future Gods Recordings)
Although ‘Island’ was recorded on both sides of the Atlantic, it’s West Scotland and An Tobar where the heart of this LP lies. Rootsier than his old band, The Mull Historical Society, and his previous solo LP ‘The Water’, ‘Island’ sees MacIntyre take influence from traditional British folk music in a largely strippeddown effort. This is notable both on the tender ‘The Edge Of Nearly’ and the intensely personal ‘Samuel Dempster R.I.P’. It’s not all stories round the log fire, though; ‘Cape Wrath’ is a stirring conglomerate of strings, dry percussion and brass, whilst the closing ‘Ned’s Song (Brother)’ sees a community choir of An Tobar’s finest bring a well-paced and lovingly-crafted album to a rousing finish.
Simon Jay Catling
