"Highland Strands" cd by Kevin Macleod

[kmmando]

Thank you kindly Mike, I look forward to seeing some vids in good time.

[kmmando]

Kevin MacLeod Highland Strands (Beag)
Herald on Sunday 7 September 2014

"Scottish traditional music on mandolin, fiddle, resonators, bouzouki, flute, cittern and guitar" runs the subtitle to this handsomely presented new album from one of Scottish traditional music's lesser-sung exponents.

It might also have proclaimed the presence, in spirit anyway, of the bagpipes because pipe music forms a large part of the repertoire, and MacLeod (who plays mandolins, bouzouki and various guitars) and his confreres do a fine job of conveying the essence and feel of pipe marches especially, alongside fiddle reels, song airs and other tune styles that form the nuts and bolts of the tradition. The opening tribute to MacLeod's late colleague in the Occasionals dance band, fiddler Ian Hardie, sets the tone of backroom session intimacy blended with care and fidelity as old friends, including Ossian and Easy Club fiddler John Martin and De Danann bouzouki stalwart Alec Finn, join younger acquaintances Luke Plumb and Matheu Watson in lively, characterful tune sets and a couple that a multi-tracked MacLeod handles splendidly alone.

Rob Adam

[Bertram Henze]

Thank you kindly Mike, I look forward to seeing some vids in good time.

I'm not Mike, but I am gatecrashing this invitation here with my favourite tune from the CD

[kmmando]

Nice one Bertram, it's is so good to know that folk appreciate Ian Hardie's tunes, which are available as free download pdfs here, including this tune.

http://www.ian-hardie.co.uk/scores.php

best wishes, Kevin

[Bertram Henze]

Thanks for the link, Kevin - I will use it for session giveaway sheets in case somebody's interested there.

[kmmando]

Waltzin' with Finn 'n Ryan!

[Bertram Henze]

That black suit really suits you and goes well with a resonator instrument. That's what I call a holistic style concept.

[kmmando]

The resonator is not so hot with a kilt and sporran, Bertram!

[Bertram Henze]

The resonator is not so hot with a kilt and sporran, Bertram!

Figure that. Kind of like Braveheart in a Porsche.

[kmmando]

Here's a tenor guitar duet version of "The Fiddling Solicitor's reels", the first track on "Highland Strands, performed with the superb fiddler Mike Vass at a recent concert celebrating the vibrant life of fiddler Ian Hardie, who died 2 years ago of cancer. It was a wonderful night for an amazing guy, sorely missed.

[Teejay]

Hi Kevin

Great set - lovely live feel to it - Ian would have enjoyed that.

Thanks for sharing

Tim

[kmmando]

Here's an interview I gave recently on a local Scottish Borders radio station, chatting about my new cd "Highland Strands" - there's a track first then some chat with TD1s "Sunday Getherin's" Karin Ingram and so on .....

[kmmando]

A 4* review of "Highland Strands" in the world music magazine Songlines - if you are interested it's available through me at the website link below.

[kmmando]

Phew, another review ... no bribes were paid!

KEVIN MACLEOD - Highland Strands
Private Label BEAGCD003


This is the fourth solo album by this esteemed member of The Occasionals (Scotland’s leading ceilidh band) and features most of the extended members of the mandolin and bouzouki family in various permutations, with regular co-conspirators including Luke Plumb from Shooglenifty, Alec Finn from De Danann and John Martin and Phil Smillie from Tannahill Weavers. Here we have 14 medleys of tunes, divided approximately equally between traditional and contemporary.

Six months in the making, it has all been worth it as the recording is probably one of the top albums I have heard this year. My particular favourites are the six tracks that feature John Martin on fiddle, as the interplay between him and Macleod is stunningly good. Luke Plumb is in fine fettle as he contributes to most tracks (bouzouki / mandolin / resonator mandolin). The appearance of some of the tunes is as much a tribute to Kevin Macleod’s research as to his own sensitive arrangements. Of the contemporary tunes, Dónal Lunny’s delightful Fairfield Mirage stands out as do Andy Statman’s Waltz For Mum and The Beltable Waltz by Maurice Lennon and Kieran Hanrahan of Stocktons Wing.

Some of the pipe tunes that have been reverse engineered for stringed instruments have taken their own career path - and are none the worse for the experience. If Scottish and Irish tunes on mandolin, cittern, bouzouki and the like are down your street, you will love this. I’m now enthusiastically hunting down Macleod’s previous albums, as I am now a convert (mind you buying a bouzouki last year has helped steer me in this direction…).

www.kevinmacleod.co.uk

Grem Devlin

[Loretta Callahan]

Congratulations, Kevin! I'm a little slow here … just bought some of the tunes from your new CD. I'm really enjoying it.

Cheers,

L

[kmmando]

Thanks Lorretta, that's very good of you to do so - I have no idea yet as to whether anything has been downloaded, it takes a while to filter through the e-ther! best wishes

Kevin

[BBarton]

Hi Kevin, Are you aware of any suppliers on this side of the pond (Canada, or USA) for your new CD (the hard copy)? Cheers, Bruce

[kmmando]

Hi Bruce, I can easily send you one over direct, and signed too if you want - just go through my website and it works perfectly using the cart and paypal. Hope that helps?

[kmmando]

Toasting "Highland Strands" in Sandy bells with Alec Finn, a year on from the recording.

[kmmando]

Toasting "Highland Strands" in Sandy bells with Alec Finn, a year on from the recording.

[kmmando]

Available now through my website

Kevin Macleod “Highland Strands” (42 mins)
**** Four Stars
Scots trad tunes on mandolin

Highland Strands is a rare beast: an atmospheric recording that captures something of the very best pub session. Macleod has enlisted a number of old friends for this, his fourth album, including Luke Plumb from Shooglenifty on bouzouki and mandolin, Alec Finn of De Danann on bouzouki and Tannahill Weavers very own John Martin on fiddle and Phil Smillie on flute along with the man himself on mandolin, bouzouki and cittern. The album comprises traditional tunes and some new sets by such stalwarts as Macleod himself, Ian Hardie and Ali ‘Beag’ MacLeod. And a rich mix it is too.

Opener ‘The Fiddling Solicitors Reels’, a fine set of tunes played with verve by Macleod, Martin and Finn sets the scene for the enjoyment to follow. ‘David Glen’s Old Pipe Reels’ is an invigorating set while ‘Fingal’s Weeping’ includes a beautifully soft flute accompaniment from Smillie. Immediately attractive for anyone interested in traditional Scottish Music, Highland Strands showcases the ample pleasures to be gained from good tunes played well. Macleod is a fine exponent of the mandolin and traditional Scottish music and there is much to delight on this new recording.

A pure pleasure from the first notes.

Billy Rough Songlines Issue 104 October 2014

[kmmando]

A review in Scotland's Box and Fiddle Magazine, dedicated to the accordion and fiddle world in Scotland.

[kmmando]

Alec Finn in action recently.

Didn't get at title ....

[Mike Anderson]

Alec Finn in action recently.

Didn't get at title ....

It's Marbha Luimní aka the Lament For Limerick, and a lovely rendition at that.

[kmmando]

It's Marbha Luimní aka the Lament For Limerick, and a lovely rendition at that.

Thanks, that's the name!