So it took me almost two years to finally listen to the Blazin’ Fiddles lead man’s latest solo album (the previous ones are from quite a few years ago). But who cares about time when the music is timeless, right?
This is the kind of modern Scottish folk I really, really love: the tradition is alive in his tunes but the vision and voice are all his own, realized by a super bunch of musicians.
And it does what a solo album by someone identified with a band should do: this is not a Blazin’ Fiddles style album but a Bruce MacGregor work.
I nowadays think of album falling into three categories, re: sequencing and atmosphere, Some are like one extended piece in several movements, some are boxes of chocolate (you never know what you’re going to get 😉) and some are like live shows, with a thought out dramaturgy, you might say.
For me, Road to Tyranny is in the last of those categories, I find it easy to imagine myself at a Bruce MacGregor solo gig where the tunes flow in a perfect order, creating a full experience where moods and colors alternate.
Road to Tyranny opens with in fairly typical Scottish folk style (the Josh’s 2 Secs set), continues with the beautiful Essich and goes on to the cèilidh-friendly waltz of Water O’ Buchat / The Caithness Cowboy.
But when we get to Linda’s Waltz, another lovely air (in memory of a special person), we approach the elegant “chamber celtic” that’s also very much present in Lament for Captain Simon Fraser. Both these tunes feature the brilliant cello playing by Su-a-Lee.
The title track is a special treat, with an intricate composition and great whistle work from Project Smok’s amazing Ali Levack.
A special mention must go to the two guitarist on this album. Tim Edey shines on the fiddle/guitar duet Emiy’s Oosh, it’s just fireworks all over the place and puts most metal bands in shame – you really don’t need all that gear and volume to shake things up when you have musicians of this calibre and energy. Also, his innovative guitar arrangement on Annie’s Waltz, a tune that already appeared on a Blazin’ Fiddles album, creates new colors and moods for the tune and makes this version very much worthwhile.
And Anna Massie – but of course – blazes across the sky on several tracks, especially on Dave Gifford’s Adventure Wrapped In A Dream (heaven knows where the title comes from…) where she also does the banjo duties.
As the album closes with the Americana howdown of The Big Yin’s and a new arrangement of the lovely Doddie’s Dream that acts a gentle epilogue, I feel like I’ve been to a great gig by a master fiddler and composer and his excellent friends. Road to Tyranny is a jewel and I don’t mind it took me a while to actually get to it.
https://brucemacgregor.bandcamp.com/album/road-to-tyranny-2
FolkNotes 