Deaf Shepherd

Even in the Rain

fROOTS #229, July 2002
Deaf Shepherd's third album firmly establishes them as one of the most
exciting Scottish bands around. They're firmly in the mould pioneered so
long ago by Battlefield / Ossian / The Tannahills (nothing wrong with
that!), but choc-full of the spirit, freshness and enthusiasm of youth.
New member Mark Maguire on percussion, together with Malcolm Stitt's
bouzouki and John Morran's guitar, provide a solid backing to the
tremendous duelling fiddles of Clare McLaughlin and Marianne Campbell (aka
CMC), while Rory Campbell's pipes and whistles always guarantee
excitement. Morran's plaintive and unusually phrased vocals are possibly
an acquired taste, but the overall passion and sheer exuberance of the
whole album certainly isn't. Rory Campbell also contributes several new
tunes sure to be picked up by other musicians, and Morran's not afraid to
have a crack at less familiar songs either (such as The Bonnie Lass O
Wellwid Ha' or I Coft A Stane O Haslock Woo). Finally, rock singer Sam
Browne's guest vocals on the closing Lost For Words At Sea are nothing
short of stunning - a fitting showstopper for a tremendous album. As a
bonus, the CD contains piccies, video clips and additional info for those
suitably equipped.
Bob Walton
•
01 Millenium Village: Islay’s Charms/Farewell to Millennium
Village/Pierre’s right arm/Alex C MacGregor
02 The Bonnie Lass o Wellwid Ha’
03 Mince: The world’s end/There’s time to wait/Mince in a Basket
04 Chessmen: The Alborada Rant/Chessmen
05 Yestreen I had a pint o wine
06 Póilín Ní Lionsaigh
07 Braemar Gathering: The Braemar Gathering/Morag MacNeil,
Tangusdale/Colin Clark Caruthers/New Hands/Donella Beaton
08 I Coft a Stane o Haslock Woo/Ben Wyviss
09 Jimmy Lothian's: Uist Dance/Lady Madelina Sinclair/Grant’s Reel/Dunse
Dings A/Haggs Castle
10 The Mermaid's Sang
11 Even in the Rain: Even in the Rain/The Quebec Breakdown/
Unknown/Gregor Lowrey’s
12 Lost For Words at Sea
•
Claire McLaughlin: fiddle
John Morran: vocals, guitars, bass pedals
Mark Maguire: bodhran, snare drum, percussion
Rory Campbell: highland bagpipes, whistles, vocals
Marianne Campbell: fiddle, vocals, piano
Malcolm Stitt: bouzouki, vocals, bass pedals
with
Sam Brown: vocals (12)
•
2002 • Deaf shepherd 1 (selfproduced and now hard to find)