Under the Blue brings together two fine folk musicians for a varied program of mostly Scottish musical joys. Keyboard player and singer Alan Reid and singer-guitarist Rob van Sante are best known for their involvement with Battlefield Band, but they make up a fine if low-key duo on this CD, in which beauty rather than energy is the operative word.

Reid has written the lion's share of the songs here, and "54 Winters," the opener, is a touching ballad about an aging man whose only glory in life was his days in the Second World War. It's followed by "Ballantrae," another Reid ballad, slow and stately. The pace picks up with Reid's "Campbell's Sisters," a rollicking song with some witty lyrics whose musical lines get a bit repetitious by the end.

The traditional "The Bold Grenadier" gets a nice reading, and is followed by "Atlantic Bridge," a lovely instrumental waltz. Reid's "Covenanter," a historical song set during one of Scotland's many turbulent times, boasts some Scottish fire, and there's a cute little ditty about the benefits of drink in "A Jug of Charlie's Wine." The joviality doesn't last long, and we're thrust into the mines with "A Cage Load of Men." Van Sante wrote the music and Joe Corrie the lyrics, and it's a powerful musical indictment of the system.

Reid's "Across the Water" is a superb anti-war song about the Irish Troubles, and "Fair One" shows off the Reid/von Sante vocal blend to great effect. The two stretch their musical chops in a set of three Reid-written jigs, and the program comes to a strong end with "The Last Lighthouse Keeper."

Under the Blue is a fine, listenable album filled with solid songs and tunes, though I have to confess that I've always enjoyed Reid's voice, which is a bit thin and reedy for my tastes, more as part of a duet or ensemble than solo. Still, it's quite expressive and works well in this context. The instrumental work from both men and their guests is flawless throughout. Recommended to Celtic music fanciers everywhere.

- Rambles
written by Chet Williamson
published 9 November 2002