Toils Obscure is the right title for an album if ever there was one. For the son of a Scotsman, who is familiar with most of Robert Burns's songs, it comes as a bit of a shock. The reason is very simple: the style and performance of the songs isn't quite what I expected to hear. But I have to ask myself, where is it written that the songs have to be performed in any particular way? Indeed this is folk music, and as such should be open to any individual's interpretation of genre. The shock factor comes from the band being from Athens, GA, USA, and are probably more at home with the instruments used in playing bluegrass music. To take on the task of performing what is essentially traditional Scottish folk music in this fashion deserves to be applauded.

Robert Burns was born January 25th 1759, and despite being the son of a poor farmer, he was educated. He grew up on the family farm in Ayrshire, where he was known as a bit of a blade, and fell in love several times. He had a way with words, and the ladies liked his poetry, and so he turned to writing. At the age of 27, when his lover and future wife had given birth to twins, and her father was opposed to them marrying, given Robert's reputation, he began publishing his work to support them. As a result of his success, his lover's family relented and they were eventually married.

After playing the album a few times it grows on you and you can then identify with what Bob and the Beggars are trying to do. I liked the live sound of the album; the balance of the instruments plus the odd note slightly out of tune and the breathlessness of the singer easily identify this as a live recording at times.

The band are Bob Hay, vocals & banjo; Ken Starratt, bass; Diana Torell, fiddle; Dave Dowless, guitar; and Bill David, mandolin. Bob Hay takes all the vocals on Toils Obscure and on the last three songs: 'Collier Laddie,' 'Crowdie' and 'For a' That', he plays solo with just his guitar. On the rest of the album he plays banjo with the band. Most of the popular Burns songs are here and include 'Rantin' Rovin' Robin', 'Green Grow the Rashes', 'Bard of no Regard', 'Hughie Graham', 'Willie Brew'd a Peck o' Maut' and 'Bonnie Doon' to name but a few.

This is an album that may be different to what you might expect to hear, given the album's theme of 'Songs by Robert Burns' and the fact that they are not performed by a Scottish band. For this reason, and this reason only, I recommend you listen to some of the tracks beforehand to avoid any disappointment. It may not be as you quite expect. On a plus side, without the heavy Scottish accent, you can hear and make out most of the lyrics. Whether this is a good thing or not is open to conjecture! This subject would likely start months of debate in at least one traditional music magazine published in Scotland that I can think of.

The band has a Web site here allowing you to download some MP3 files.