Reviews
Artist:Alastair Savage and Alice Allen Album: Where The Good Ship Lands
Label: Woodland
Tracks: 14
Website: https://www.birnamcdshop.com/product/alastair-savage-alice-allen/
WHERE THE GOOD SHIP LANDS is Alastair Savage's seventh album, the third I have reviewed and the fiddler players first with cello player Alice Allen. The Scottish acclaimed cellist's playing runs through my music collection already and while they have been performing together as a duo for seven years this is their first album. Across two CD discs the musicians present classic 19th fiddle tunes, music from Ireland and America, closing with some of Savage's thoughtful compositions.
From the infectious dance in "O Kenmure's On And Awa' / The Craigellachie Lasses" which pairs Savage's violin against Allen's jazzy picked cello and bowing, to the shared melancholic melody on "Coilsfield House" this is an inventive album. The percussive cello and nimble fiddle create the sound and rhythm of a band on "Dunkeld Heritage". "Low Down In The Broom", the tune Robert Burns chose for "My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose" is beautifully played the duo, paired with the spirited "Major Graham Of Inchbake". Another album highlight is the achingly atmospheric "Roslin Castle" and its shift into the light as air "O'Carolan's Welcome" and "The Teetotaler's Reel" delivered with a touch of Irish sparkle. Moving steadily westwards the Cello and Fiddle duo replicate the American traditional banjo tunes "Angeline The Baker" and "Black Eyed Susie", sounding to these ears as warm, spirited and authentic as US band Crooked Still, or a foot stomping hoe down. "Railroad", a reflective Alistair Savage original inspired by the American underground network with stunning cello amd fiddle closes the first disc in this rewarding double. Exploring the connection between American and Scottish music is Savage's "Where The Good Ship Lands" with an infectious riff from Alice and some almost electric sounding fiddle from Alastair. Pulsing "Distillery March" and "Brewery Reel" are full of spirit and in terms of inspiration need no unpicking. Perfectly described by its title, "When The Sun Shined Over Brodick" is full of Arran light and sparkle. The "Flower O' The Quern" set, from the slow "Flower", through the more stately "The Duke Of Fife's Welcome To Deeside" and "The Queen's Welcome To Invercauld", then finally the more spirited "The Glenlivet" and "Spey In Spate", show both the bredth of James Scott Skinner's writing and the duo's playing. Moving seamlessly from pastoral through processional to the atmosphere of moving water. Stretching out to nearly 90 minutes this expansive album closes with "Capital Nights" a feast of light as air reflective picking and bowing.
Alastair and Alice in their excellent accompanying notes between Elly Lucas' fine photographs recommend listening with your favourite cuppa or drink. Having reviewed from a warm autumn armchair with a brew to hand I can attest to how perfect this combination of drink and impeccably played and recorded instrumental music is. WHERE THE GOOS SHIP LANDS is both excellent mood music and perfect for enhancing the mood
Marc Higgins
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