This debut album from Scot Ewan McLennan (although now exiled in Yorkshire) is the perfect balance between contemporary and traditional folk, and his precise guitar playing and vocal delivery have much in common with Martin Simpson. While this is an easy comparison to make, McLennan is full of individual character, and this collection of 14 tracks clearly demonstrate why he’s been picking up great reviews in the past year or so whilst making his name as a live artist.
The album is beautifully recorded, the guitar in particular is detailed and natural, and the additional contributions from Jackie Oates and Peter Tickell add detail and colour with vocals & viola and fiddle respectively. Even with the accompanying musicians, the whole disc has a stripped back, almost raw feel and this suits the material perfectly – here he covers quite a mixture of themes; war, politics and love are all present, and there’s a scattering of beautifully constructed tunes over the disc that break up the songs.
The highlights come from the songs where his guitar playing and vocals combine into an effortless balance of detailed playing and powerful vocal delivery – his reading of ‘Arthur McBride’ is as convincing and compelling as any you’ll hear; ‘Jock Stewart’ is a somewhat reflective Scottish drinking song; and his own ‘Another Morning’s Beggar’ is a thought-provoking study of people living on the streets, and it’s a song that shows him to be a talented writer as well as a gifted interpreter of traditional material.
‘Rags & Robes’ would be an accomplished album from any artist, the fact that it’s a debut album from a new artist makes it all the more impressive; he has a direct approach that really connect, and the 14 tracks here offer much to the listener. Add to this the clear recording, unfussy production and extensive liner notes on each songs and you have the perfect package – very highly recommended.
Track listing
1 Tramps And Hawkers
2 Jamie Foyers
3 Arthur McBride
4 Old Man’s Tale
5 Jock Stewart
6 Another Morning’s Beggar
7 Joe Hill
8 Jer The Rigger/ Flowers Of Edinburgh
9 As I Roved Out
10 A Man’s A Man
11 Jute Mill Song
12 I’m A Rover
13 Yorkshire Regiment
14 Auld Lang Syne
