Ballads of the Book
By Milo | February 26, 2007
Ballads of the Book
The
numerous musicians, authors and poets who have contributed to this
record evidently share a love of Scotland’s rich folk and literary
traditions, and the resulting collaborations are as fascinating as
you’d expect. Some highlights: Aidan Moffat and The Best-Ofs bring Ian
Rankin’s tale of the little known Fifer who was almost a Rolling Stone
to ramshackle life, Moffat’s erstwhile partner in Falkirkian grime
Malcolm Middleton teams up with Alan Bisset for a brutally grim
character portrait and Sons & Daughters bring a noirish pulp
fiction feel to proceedings with their A.L. Kennedy collusion. Alasdair
Roberts’ voice spills out Robin Robertson’s gut-wrenching parting shot,
The Leaving, his words like slowly-twisting knives, while Foxface and
Rody Gorman contribute a celtic battle march that’s part Rawhide, part
Ennio Morricone. To boot, Lord Cut-Glass (the Delgado’s Alun Woodward)
and Alasdair Gray give us A Sentimental Song, a sea shanty set to
mournful Cat Power-esque piano, fiery strings and rollicking percussion.
Written for The Skinny, February 26, 2007
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