Cruising Down Route 66, Did You Dream of Lochs and Highlands? Ballads of the Book--A Conspiracy of Scottish Poets and Musicians

The Scottish label Chemikal Underground released a very interesting collection of songs in 2007. Or maybe they weren't really songs? Because Ballads of the Book is a project where Scottish musicians collaborated with Scottish poets and writers to create songs, or more accurately, putting poems to music. Even the album cover was designed by the estimable novelist and poet Alasdair Gray. In reality the project began with Roddy Woomble of Glasgow's Idlewild, a band I regard highly. At the end of the final song of 2003's epic album Remote Part, Remote Pt 1/Scottish Fiction, poet Edwin Morgan intones poetry over the bands instrumentation at the conclusion, with effective results. I didn't know Edwin Morgan at all, but I certainly do now. I don't believe Morgan went on tour with the band---he was rather elderly.

That this collaboration involving multiple musicians and writers actually happened is probably remarkable. Definitely one of the most singular tribute albums I have heard. But this sort of thing often ends with less than memorable results. The idea of putting this out is commendable, but the ultimate litmus test would be listening to the results and enjoying them. On that basis, I would say that Chemikal Underground did a great job. The list of contributors is impressive; King Creosote, Emma Pollock of  The Delgados, Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton of Arab Strap, Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub, James Yorkston, Vashti Bunyan, Sons and Daughters, Idlewild (of course), and Mike Hern (Incredible String Band). The writers include Edwin Morgan, Alasdair Gray, Ali Smith, Louise Welsh, and Ian Rankin, and many others of whom I must claim ignorance (It's probably me, not them).



But one of my favorites tracks here is performed by an artist I am unfamiliar with, Karine Polwart, singing The Good Years, by Edwin Morgan. Another artist I need to learn more about is King Creosote, who performs Where and When?, by Laura Hird. I know his new collaboration with Jon Hopkins, Diamond Mine has received critical accolades--I just haven't heard it yet. Aerogramme and DeRosa are also good, but I also don't really know their body of work. Aidan Moffett and crime novelist Ian Rankin make a complementarily jaded pair on The Sixth Stone, which sounds like it's about Ian "Stu" Stewart, adjunct keyboard player for the Rolling Stones. Worthy of John Rebus' creator.




From Beggars through to Exile
you dug out rhythms like black diamonds
but cruising down Route 66,
Did you dream of lochs and highlands?

Though the bulk of this collection is of a folk nature, there are some notable exceptions like Sons and Daughters' performing A.L. Kennedy's The War On Love Song, which is a dark edgy little number in the manner of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Impressively creepy. Dreamcatcher is Scottish Cowboy music by Rody Gorman performed by Foxface. Malcolm Middleton and Alan Bisset's rough electro-pop The Rebel on His Own Tonight is another gem on this record.

Pure as vodka, Pure as snow
She kisses like its a terrorist's act
"Everythings about ghosts you know,"
she said, then dressed, then packed....

Of course the big boys delivered here also, though it's never a given. Trash Can Sinatras are as good as you would expect on Ali Smith's Half an Apple. Breathy exquisite balladry. Norman Blake channels Chris Bell on Girl By John Burnside. Emma Pollock shines on Louise Welsh's Jesus on the Cross. The musical arrangement on this is impressive, excellent piano. Idlewild is also in fine form on Edwin Morgan's Sappho and the Weight of Years, though clearly there is a lot of folk instrumentation here. The song sounds more like an outtake from Roddy Woomble's first solo album. James Yorkston and Alasdair Roberts also perform excellent introspective folk numbers here.



Overall, this is a pretty ambitious project, and I think everything turned out quite superbly. I would hope some day for a Ballads Part II, maybe with writers like James Robertson, Irvine Welsh, or James Kelman. But maybe the success of this undertaking might not be able to be duplicated again. But I certainly appreciate the effort and cooperation it must have taken to get this recording done. Let's hope more projects like this get green lighted.