Angus Lyon
Album: 3G
Label: ElTen97
Tracks: 8
Website: http://www.anguslyon.co.uk

The impact of Celtic Connection continues to reach further and further beyond the live event, becoming more like a better focused SXSW, but also one that commissions music, rather than just showcasing it. "3G" from Angus Lyon is an album that comes out of that commissioning process.

Accordionist, Angus Lyon, has a reputation for bringing the twin worlds of folk and classical music together, something that has been happening is Scotland for a while and I suspect another reason for that might be the intermingling of students at the RSAMD, regardless, it's an approach that you can hear in the way "3G" has been constructed.

The classical influence is most at play in the construction of the album, for a start it's a triptych with each movement representing the gradual transition of heritage from grandfather to grandson, reflecting change and influence along the way. "Yes" I can hear you say, but what does that actually mean in practice?

A fair question, if I were to ask you to imagine a Scottish Frank Zappa, would that help? "3G" brings together ten Scottish musicians and Lyon throws them into a melting pot of jazz, classical and folk and the steadily and subtlety produces a series of tunes that each take influence from the preceding song.

Over the three movements the changes are subtle, but if you compare the opener, "The Firm Of WR Angus" with the closing, "The Stone Call" you realise just how far the album has travelled and what a wonderful metaphor "3G" is.

Neil King