"Seoladh Dhachaigh" means "Sailing Home," and is the title of Kenneth Thomson's first album of traditional Scottish-Gaelic songs. Prior to this release, Thomson had a long career in health service administration. He also has a longstanding interest and involvement in Gaelic song, having conducted the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association choir and having himself been a former National Mod gold medal winner.

I'm pleased to have the opportunity to listen to these lovely songs, and it's refreshing to hear them sung by a male voice offering such clarity of tone and clear pronunciation of one of Britain's most endangered languages.

The album was produced by Mary Ann Kennedy and features some of Scotland's most prolific and well-known acoustic musicians -- Kennedy herself, Allan Henderson, Ingrid Henderson, Fiona Hunter, Angus MacPhail, Andrew Robertson, Chaz Stewart and Nick Turner. Production and mixing are elegant and keep Thomson's voice to the fore -- his voice has a characterful resonance, and his thoughtful singing perfectly conveys the emotion behind these songs of lament and loss. Instrumentation is lyrical, restrained and a pleasure to listen to.

These songs are beautiful -- especially beautiful is "He Ro Nighean, Ho Ro Nighean." "Fuirich A Ribhinn (Wait My Darling)" features wonderful whistle and harp playing, and "Eilean Scalpaidh na Hearadh" describes Scalpay in eulogized terms. Songs such as "Muile nam Mor-bheann" have rousing, anthemic choruses. Many offer words of wisdom, too: who could ignore the Gaelic proverb in "Gruagach og an Fhuilt Bhain" that translates as, "Who can take shellfish from the shore at high tide?" Which roughly means, grasp opportunities when they present themselves!

This album has introduced me to more than a dozen previously unheard Gaelic songs. If you're interested in this genre of Celtic music culture, you will find this a fascinating, rewarding, pleasingly sung collection -- and it's so relaxing to listen to.

- Rambles
written by Debbie Koritsas
published 29 January 2005