COLIN MACDUFF
Halfway To Summer
Gently delivered with an overall upbeat feel, this is a collection of songs that focus very much on being present, the here and now. There is a celebration of receiving the news of the success of radiotherapy through to memories evoked by a scent, of feelings positive and challenging prompted by place and time, at once both personal to the artist and universally recognisable to his listeners.
While much of the accompaniment are an underscore to the lyrics, he has assembled an impressive range of players and instrumentation, a variety of fine guitarists scattered across the album, accordion, flute, pedal steel, organ, cello and mandolin all making appearances, along with a mellotron, but special mentions for the trumpet and clarinet contributions which are used, but are always particularly evocative when they make an appearance. Similarly, the backing vocals add a beauty of their own, especially in ‘When You Sing’ as does the voice of Shirley Barr when she takes the lead on ‘The Hands of The Hill’.
‘That Fiddle Knows’ starts with a spoken homage to a venerable instrument, sparked by its appearance on a previous recording, eventually merging into a demonstration of the emotional range that a fine violin can convey, from the mournful, through the playful, to the sound of joy, as it is brought to a conclusion with a spirited reel.
As we are taken from the deep to the wistful, there is still room for humour, supplied by both My Father’s A Songwriter Now, and Tattoos Can Dream, with the former offering truth throughout and two clever twists as it reaches its denouement, and the latter offering shades of Jake Thackray in both rhymes and phrasing – neither of which are a bad thing.
While the past has gone and the future is yet to arrive, the now is always present. Colin does a fine job in reflecting what can happen therein in a manner that offers us both enjoyment and reflection and a fine companion for a long drive.
Colin has come late to recording and sharing his songs, allowing both his experiences and maturity to shape this collection. As his songs suggest, having got the music and the lyrics right, we await his decision to obtain a rig, allowing him to gig, taking the high road from Aberdeen to Dundee, Arbroath and beyond. It would be worth catching him when he does!
Halfway To Summer