| REVIEWS |
| Interesting. While some of the younger folkies are desperately trying to offload the pop baggage of their teens, McQuillan seems to be saying: “Nae chance pal!”. Working virtually as a one man band, not only singing, songwriting and playing most of the instruments but coping with the programming and engineering too, the former Avalon vocalist throws his head back and delivers his lusty, exuberant brand of folk-rock with persuasive power and confidence. No, it’s unlikely to charm the ears of the true traditional anoraks, what with all the pounding percussion and electronics, and it may be too raw’n’roll to work on the intellectual fusion level, but when McQuillan hits top gear, as in his impassioned Heroes, he demands attention, and gets it. There’s a nice wee number about the transformation of the shore area at Leith and a version of the lovely old song Black is the Colour, but for most of the way the emphasis is on hard-driving rock riffs rather than folky chordings. (AC) |
| Edinburgh-based Dougie McQuillan turned up with some of his musician friends for a pubband night, and turned the whole thing into a roaring party. The boys launched into a selection of spectacular foot stompin' numbers. While McQuillan thrashed his guitar, clearly enjoying every minute of it, the others followed in his wake. His voice - powerful yet marvellously clear - was perfectly suited to the band's thundering versions of Dirty Old Town and Whiskey In The Jar. The playlist even included a couple of Waterboys' numbers. Not many bands could get away with recycling a classic like Fisherman's Blues, but the band was more than up to the task - which gives some indication of their musical ability. By skilfully combining violin, guitar and vocals with Lawrie Ball's keyboard skills and Roy Martin's driving bass, the band produced a marvellously rounded sound that had a significant section of the crowd spontaneously break into a jig. As the band piled on the pressure, more joined the dance which continued without a break for the rest of the night. With the hi-energy Irish material out of the way, McQuillan slowed the proceedings right down with a couple of numbers from his new album Full Metal Anorak. The remarkably talented Gregor Borland - fiddler with Burach - was a joy to behold as he laid down a sweeping background for the deeply moving Black Is The Colour. Other tracks from the album included the unbelievably bizarre West Highland Girl, Rovin' Journeyman and the spectacular Heroes. With John Swanney featuring on electric guitar Ali "Basher" Wilson thumped out a driving beat for the drum-led version of Will Ye Go, a number at which everybody from the Silencers to The Corries have had a crack at one time or another. However, none have produced a version as fine as this. It was an impressive performance, McQuillan's own material comparing favourably with the traditional classics. He is clearly a highly gifted individual - both as a writer and performer - with a talent that deserves a bigger stage. Drew McAdam |
| LIVE REVIEW EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS Dougie McQuillan and Cranachan Finnegan's Wake. **** Friday 8th October 1999 Reviewer; Drew McAdam |
| Album Review Scotsman I magazineSaturday 13th November 99 Reviewer; Alistair Clark |
| To download CRANACHAN Live Track Click Here |
 |