May Ye Never Lack a Scone [Import]

Jock Tamson's Bairns | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Greentrax
• ASIN: B00005A7OC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #557,155 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Scottish Bands Around, August 8, 2008

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A reader (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: May Ye Never Lack a Scone (Audio CD)

While sitting in a pub called Sandy Bell's in Edinburgh in 2002, I was fortunate to hear some great traditional jamming going on in the back of the room. The next day I visited a local record store and asked the proprietor for recommendations. He handed me this CD, and when I looked at the photos I realized these were the same guys I'd heard the previous night for free.

Such humility belies the greatness of this seasoned and versatile Scottish band. Most Celtic bands tend either toward the old or the new, and while the Bairns are definitely a trad band, they have a mixture of sophistication and tradition that's unique. Take for instance the opening track, which sandwiches a traditional tune in between the "The Pink Panther" theme and ends on a dissonant jazz chord. As is characteristic of older bands with nothing to prove, the Bairns dispense with velocity in favor of beauty, depth and humor. Don't get me wrong -- these guys can play. But the music is the thing here, not the desire to impress. Their ensemble is impeccable and it's clear these guys love playing together. They should, since they've been a unit since the late '70's.

In looking over the set list, I'm challenged to find any one favorite, since there are no mediocre tracks. The songs, all traditional, are standouts: Bogie's Bonnie Belle, Woo'd and Married, and A', and Braes o' Gleniffer. The instrumentals are equally impressive, covering the full range of reels, marches, jigs and strathspeys.

Still going strong, Jock Tamson's Bairns is one of Scotland's best bands, and this CD is a treasure. They almost never come to the Western Hemisphere, so if you can't make it to Europe, grab "May You Never Lack A Scone" and enjoy.