During my ongoing pandemic-induced exploration of older CDs I've overlooked or that otherwise went unreviewed, I've discovered a lot of music by bands I'd never heard before. Sometimes, however, it's nice to revisit an old favorite, and you can't go wrong with North Sea Gas.

The Scottish band is Dave Filfillan, Grant Simpson and Ronnie MacDonald. When Fire in the Glen was released, North Sea Gas was some 35 years old, and they're still at it as of this writing. The trio's lineup has changed a bit over the years, although I'm pretty sure Filfillan has been with them from the beginning and MacDonald has a pretty long tenure, too. Heck, even Simpson, the newcomer, has been with them more than a decade. So obviously these gents are comfortable with each other, and their music meshes accordingly.

Gilfillan plays guitar, banjo, bodhran and bass drum on the album, MacDonald plays guitar and bouzouki, and Simpson adds fiddle, guitar and bouzouki. All three juggle lead and harmony vocals. The songs are a mix of new (to me) and familiar, with standouts including "Maggie Gangs Away," "Over the Hills & Far Away," "Dream Angus," "Colliers Eight Hour Day," "Johnnie Cope" and "Tae the Weavers Gin Ye Go." Cliff Ferre's "Ain't It a Beauty" is a hoot!

The only track on the album I don't like much is NSG's arrangement of the title track, "Fire in the Glen," a song by the late Andy M. Stewart. I was particularly excited to hear it, since the title is also the name of my own band, but this version just doesn't work for me. Of course, I'm sure plenty of folks will love it.

Otherwise, this is a solid album by an always-reliable Scots band. It's hard to go wrong with North Sea Gas!

[ visit the North Sea Gas website ]