Netrhythms [Website link]
November 2009

If Eddi Reader’s recent collection of songs by Robert Burns left you hunkering for more musical settings of the work of Scotland’s National Bard, then this will hit the spot. For their choice of material to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth, Smith (2002 winner of the Young Tradition Musician of the Year and voted Scots Singer of the Year 2008/09) and New Zealand born musical partner McLennan have chosen a collection of lesser known poems (well, save for Silver Tassie and A Man’s A Man For A’ That), that is) for what their "upbeat, happy, optimistic album" with "no broken hearts, no sad endings, just songs celebrating love, beauty and good times."

With uncluttered acoustic arrangements that throw Smith’s pure, peat and heather tones into full relief, the poems are mostly set to traditional Scottish (or in the case of The Brave Lads Of Gala Water, Irish) tunes but Smith herself provides the melody for The Soldier’s Return (the name of the soldier’s sweetheart Nancy likely inspiring a tune reminiscent of Farewell Nancy) and not only gives Lassie Lie Near Me a new lullaby feel but also adds a couple of verses to the original.

Performed with a sprightly gait, sounding fresh and newly minted, and with an annotated booklet of lyrics, this could well be a late contender for traditional folk album of the year. www.emilysmith.org www.jamiemcclennan.com

Mike Davies