All-woman Folk quintet from the Scottish lowlands Stairheid Gossip bring us a well-crafted collection of traditional tunes. The South Aftrican song "Bahele Bonke" is about leaders imprisoned in Longweni Prison moves us even though we have no idea what the words mean. The children's chant "King of the Castle" by Colum Sands, is given far deeper meaning. "Rantin' Dog" tells the timeless tale of an unmarried mother worried about getting help to care for her child. Stairheid's versions "High Germany" and the great labor song "Women o' Dundee," and "Johnny I Hardly Knew You" touch the heart and bring a tear to the eye, and "Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby" from the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou" is particularly wonderful. Back to Scotland for "Aye Waukin O," a song of unrequited love, and they nail "Cotton Mill Girls," a spirited American working woman's song. 17 tracks, with some light percussion and guitar, which take us through the centuries and around the world with spirit, deep feeling and magic, which must only be multiplied in their live performances. |
