A True Delight
'Ballads Of The Book' was going to be a fascinating album whichever artists got involved; a collaboration of Scottish writers and musicians masterminded by Idlewild's Roddy Woomble, this is a triumphant of lilting folk melodies and truly expressive music. Taking someone else's words is perhaps a dangerous thing to do, but all of the artists here seem to breathe new life into the literary snippets creating a engaging and varied literary and musical pastiche.
We start off with the softly spoken Mike Heron's interpretation of John Burnside's 'Song For Irena' a tense piano-based tune that ripples delicately along. De Rosa give 'Steam Comes Off Our House' by Michael Faber a electric jump start; there's a shuffling rhythm that captivates the listener before an edgy but mellow chorus. Alasdair Roberts' bleak version of 'The Leaving' is a traditional folk ballad that aches with cold and despair, but also proves that a good Scottish yarn is always the best as his broad accent wraps around the barren tale. Another touching rendition is that of 'If You Love Me, You'd Destroy Me', from Aerogramme, a tender, half-whispered tune that builds to a swelling atmospheric peak and washes sweet nothings over you.
He may be a newcomer, but James Yorkston adds the perfect character to Bill Duncan's woozy, 'A Calvinist Narrowly Avoids Pleasure' with his reedy vocals unfolding the poem like a drunk winding his way home. Karine Polwart's version of 'The Good Years' by Edwin Morgan turns into a breathy tongue twister with its flourishing rhymes, "All I ask if that you may bask, all I ask", an effortless lament, this tune embodies the rolling Scottish hills in its slow-burning, spirited melody.
The darkly disarming style of Sons and Daughters is always a winner with creepy guitar riffs haunting the tune as Adele Bethel wraps her menacing vocals around 'The War On Love Song', with such stunning lines as, "I make the law you'll beg me for, the one that lets you see". Malcolm Middleton breathes more dark life into poetry wanderings, this time 'The Rebel Is On His Own Tonight' by Alan Bissette; a tense rippling guitar riff punctuates the tune before a brief pause where Middleton reads the words to a looming background of synth noise, it's powerful enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end and alone proves that this project was a success.
King Creosote's beautiful melody for 'Where And When?' suits the poignant words perfectly, "You tell me that you hate yourself and that loves hates you" sighs Kenny Anderson above a charming folk lilt. Emma Pollock's breezy, 'Jesus On The Cross' is a quirky little number that suits the sweet lyrics of Louise Welsh, "Jesus in the ash lying in the rain, let me leave you my umbrella to help to ease your pain". Of course Idlewild have the final say with Edwin Morgan's 'The Weight of You', a stoic poem matched with a tune that is steeped in gravity, with sighing violins and acoustic arpeggios lending a rousing hand.
'Ballads of the Book' is on the whole a truly delightful compilation with every tune deserving its place and a handful outshining themselves enough to merit their own releases. Long live Scotland's artists - both literary and musical!