Description
Shona Williams and Phil Lester – Trail of Tears
CD review by Tony Smith
TN2609-41 – $20
TN180 Sep 26
The sleeve notes on this album remind the listener that although some of these songs are about difficult times, they reveal the ‘strength and resilience that beats in every Scottish heart’.
There is a balance in the 12 tracks between the popular traditional and more recent compositions.
The lyrics are mostly in English rather than Scots dialect, and are sung in clear diction without any complicating accent.
The choice of opening track was rather adventurous.
‘Chi Mi Na Morbheanna/ Hush Hush’ (Iain Camshroin/ Jim McLean) is perhaps the most challenging track on the album.
‘Mist on the Mountain’ was written in the middle of the 1800s to lament the genocidal highland clearances and ‘Hush Hush’, a bitter lullaby, picks up the sadness.
Where children once played, there were soon only sheep bleating.
‘Farewell to Tarwathie’ (George Scroggie) is a song about whaling, with the touch of nostalgia expected in a song of parting.
On the ‘Massacre of Glencoe’ (Jim McLean) the pace brightens with the strong female voice, although the presentation is perhaps not as poignant as might be expected of a song about a tragedy central to Scottish history.
‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ (Tannahill and Frances McPeake) is probably the most generally recognisable song on the album.
The song – aka ‘Will Ye Go Lassie Go?’- has been recorded by hundreds of artists but the take here is a very good addition.
It is grand to hear Dougie Maclean’s songwriting recognised in ‘Garden Valley’.
Most expatriate Scots choose to present ‘Caledonia Dreaming’.
Also, with the anti-Iraq war song ‘Were You There?’ by Alex Legg, it is good to be introduced to the work of an uncompromising ‘political’ songwriter.
The other tracks are ‘Sule Skerry’ (Child Ballad 113), ‘I Once Lov’d a Lass’ (Traditional 1680s Bothy Song), ‘Road to Dundee’ (Traditional 1908 Buchan Bothy Song), the ‘Bonnie Moorhen’ (Traditional Jacobite Song) and ‘Highland Cathedral’ (Alison Fearon, Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb).
‘Bothy’ songs came from rough barracks style accommodation which housed male farm labourers.
Alison Fearon’s contributions are worthy of special mention.
It is always good to hear the tradition updated respectfully.
The title track, ‘Trail of Tears’ (Alison Fearon and Shona Williams), especially is of interest and it allows Shona Williams to use the lower range of her voice to good effect.
Recording was by Dave Stergo, and Williams and Lester are supported by Ros Dawes (fiddle) and Stergo (melodica and backing vocals).
The guitar accompaniment throughout is sound.
The project was inspired by the 2019 Burke and Wills Festival and encouraged by the Troubadour Foundation.
Shona Williams and Phil Lester should continue to tap into the Scottish tradition, especially since they go beyond the cliched songs churned out by so many performers, and present such varied material.
Ed. This album is available for sale form the Trad&Now website and may be heard on Trad&Now Live! from time to time.
