The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Parallel Tracks (2002) feat Mark Knopfler

 

 

 

1. 01. Going Home.mp3
2. 02. The Bells of Dunblane.mp3
3. 03. The Gael.mp3
4. 04. Top Deck in Perth.mp3
5. 05. Lewis Jig.mp3
6. 06. Raigmore.mp3
7. 07. Celtic Cottage.mp3
8. 08. Erin Shore.mp3
9. 09. Hector the Hero.mp3
10. 10. The Ceilidh.mp3
11. 11. Ashley's Thinning Napper.mp3
12. 12. She Moves Through the Fair.mp3
13. 13. Piobaireachd.mp3
14. 14. Amazing Grace.mp3
15. 15. Auld Lang Syne.mp3

 

This CD has a wonderful mix of traditional and modern pipes and drum music. Everyone who hears it has their own favourite track, whatever their age. The musicians have proved the versatility of their talents.

 

This is a weird album. The Scots DGs can't seem to decide if they're inspired by Rock or New Age here. The sounds are way modern for sure. Since losing their regimental band in 1994 the pipes & drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have been struggling to maintain their innovative edge. Here they have plunged into a modern sound with pipes which certainly contrasts with anything traditional. Some newer pipe tunes are re-tuned for keyboards and the like, exploring potential new sounds and combinations. The whole CD is experimental in nature. "Amazing Grace" gets a bit of a face-lift, but remains essentially the same.

The most effective piece is probably the extended Pibroch selection. Too bad there is not at least one semi-traditional pipes & drums medley to contrast all the modern stuff here. The Scots DGs use to mix the old with the new more than they seem to be doing these days. This CD has much in common with their recent release "Spirit of the Glen".

The Scots DGs have embraced a new sound for the pipes, and those that like a weird combo of Rock and Celtic might get a tickle out of this. To me it seems they have taken a leap into the dark here, embracing the new, while perhaps neglecting some of the tradition that always made them so special in the past.

Review by Roger Kennedy, Amazon.com

 

 Tracklist:

01. Going Home (03:23)
02. The Bells of Dunblane (03:16)
03. The Gael (07:28)
04. Top Deck in Perth (04:35)
05. Lewis Jig (02:57)
06. Raigmore (00:44)
07. Celtic Cottage (02:37)
08. Erin Shore (04:33)
09. Hector the Hero (04:24)
10. The Ceilidh (04:17)
11. Ashley's Thinning Napper (02:44)
12. She Moves Through the Fair (06:02)
13. Piobaireachd (09:44)
14. Amazing Grace (02:17)
15. Auld Lang Syne (02:02)