The McCalmans, Scots Abroad (Greentrax, 2006)
This is the latest in a long list of albums from Scottish trio, The McCalmans. Their first album was released in 1968, and there have been almost as many albums as there have been years since their debut. Founding member Ian McCalman remains in the band, whilst the other two current members, Nick Keir and Stephen Quigg, were not part of the original line-up.
There is no questioning the quality of musicianship on display here, nor the classy, tight harmony vocals that create a delicious Scottish-accented wall of sound, but for me that's about as far as it goes; I didn't find this recording particularly engaging.
I found the lyrics to be generally insipid and unimaginative. "American Accent" finds the band complaining that you'll never get played on the radio "unless you sing in an American accent." I'm not sure what radio stations they're listening to, and I'm sure there are much more burning issues facing minority music genres these days! The lyrics didn't even cleverly dissect the matter -- this would have been better placed on the BBC television programme Grumpy Old Men. "Leaving Denmark" is little more than a "paint-by-numbers" ballad, whilst "Extra Time" is a rumbustious romp of a song that you could expect to hear from any ten-a-penny pub band. Several clumsy attempts at political commentary also lack the muscle and cunning needed to engage with the intelligent listener.
"The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes" brings much-needed relief, and shows the harmonious McCalmans at their finest on this traditional piece -- this is the sort of stuff that they should be filling albums with. Similarly "All Over This Town" demonstrates that they can write original material that is both moving and pertinent, and a judiciously chosen cover of Karine Polwart's excellent "Follow The Heron" shows that they do know a great song when they hear one.
Overall, I found Scots Abroad disappointing, with little to engage or excite. I expected so much more from a band of such experience and stature. Perhaps they're just having a bad day at the office.
