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Buy Even in the Rain by Deaf Shepherd
This is the third album from this fine band featuring the well-loved combination of fiddlers Clare McLaughlin and Marianne Campbell combined with John Morran's distinctive singing and guitar, Rory Cambell on Highland pipes and whistles, Malolm Stitt on bouzouki and Mark McGuire on bodhran and percussion. The band started in 1993 and they got their break when they came second in a folk band competition (Burach came first) and Ian Green had the foresight to record them (only the winner was meant to record a CD with Greentrax). While a lot of bands would have fell by the wayside by now Deaf Shepherd have stuck to their guns and got better and better. This CD has the familiar mix of driving bagpipes and fiddles, complemented with John's beautiful versions of Scots song and underpinned by Mark and Malcolm. A favourite set of mine is the title track - Even in the Rain - a jig written by Rory - it really drives along. My favourite of John's songs on this CD is 'The Mermaid Sang' written from Robert Stephen's poem. He learned it in the doric dialect and changed it to the Lallans dialect of Scots. There's a special guest appearance from Sam Brown (Stop, Jools Holland band) on the final track. When they were recording the CD at her husbands studio (T- Cup) she heard the song 'Lost for Words' and loved it so much she asked if she could sing it! A great CD.
Media Reviews
"This CD from Deaf Shepherd has a fresh and strong sound with it. You are taken on a journey through a lively and exciting set of different moods with a variety of reels, ballads and airs, across traditional Scottish traditions.
The musicianship is very line with a good mix of pipes, fiddles, bouzouki, guitar, whistles, vocals and percussion. I enjoyed the way the musicians led off different tunes in turn, giving a variety of expression and tone. The band line-up is John Morran, Malcolm Stitt, Rory Campbell, Mark Maguire with Marianne Campbell and Clare McLaughlin on fiddle. Tracks include traditional tunes as well as compositions from members of the band and other contemporary musicians. Expanded track notes are available on their website. The CD comes with band photos and video footage of the band at their sell-out gig at the Edinburgh Festival 2001, and it was fun to watch the band enjoy playing together. Superb."
2002 has started auspiciously with this opening gambit from Scots band Deaf Shepherd. The future of folk is in safe hands while we have artists of this calibre.
Featuring the high octane twin fiddles of Clare McLauglin and Marianne Campbell, Rory Campbell on pipes and whistles, John Morran on guitars and vocals, Malcolm Stitt on bouzouki and vocals and new boy Mark Maguire on percussion. Opening with what sounds suspiciously like a Battlefield Band or Ossian arrangement (no bad thing!) the skirl of the pipes and rhythm guitar takes off like a rocket when the fiddles are given the lead and you can just tell this is going to be a great recording. The arrangements are crisp and dynamic and the addition of Mark’s snare drum, which brings to mind the glory days of Five Hand Reel, gives the band a new dimension. I must admit that the final track ‘Lost For Words At Sea’ with special guest Sam Brown (yes, she of ‘Stop’ fame!) takes a bit of getting used to but after repeated listening makes more musical sense than I thought at first. For those of you looking at value for money, the disk (played on your computer) also includes video footage and photos for good measure. Take my word for it, this is a must have CD for any discerning lover of good music. Pete Fyfe, folking.com
"Even in the rain" sees Scotland's best traditional band in its very best shape. It features the usual eclectic mix of wild traditionally based tunes, beautiful songs in Scots and wonderful calm tunes.
The first tune "Millenium Village" directly bursts with energy and passion, while the second number provides a calming down with a quiet song, "The bonnie Lass o wellwid ha'", showcasing the talents of singer John Morran. Deaf Shepherd are without doubt the best traditional folk band that Scotland has produced since a long time. The band is still not playing full time; most members have "normal" day jobs, and maybe it is just the fact that they are a hobby band that keeps their music so lively, fresh and original. Deaf Shepherd gather the best talents of the Scottish music scene: John Morran can be claimed as one of the best singers in Scots language, Marianne Campbell and Clare McLaughlin are two highly skilled fiddlers, Rory Campbell is not only one of Scotland's best pipe and whistle players, but also one of the most talented composers of tunes in the Gaelic tradition. Then there is Malcolm Stitt, probably the most sought-after bouzouki players in the Scottish scene today (playing also with the Boys of the Lough); and finally, Mark Maguire is a great bodhran player. "Even in the rain" is the third CD of Deaf Shepherd, after the celebrated releases "Ae Spark o Nature's Fire" and "Synergy". The concept has stayed the same, and the result is even more stunning. "Even in the rain" gives you the kick, more than any other traditional music release since a long time; and without doubt, this album will make Deaf Shepherd again many more fans. One of their fans is by the way Sam Brown (of "Stop" and Jool Holland Big band fame) - she was that fascinated by the music that she directly asked if she could join in. And as an offer of a good singer can be hardly rejected, we find on the CD a bonus track, Deaf Shepherd feat. singer Sam Brown: The song "Lost for words at sea", to be found in its original version at the debut album of Deaf Shepherd, is beautifully mastered by Sam with the band. Her comment: "It's really different for me, and I loved it." For anybody who has never seen the band playing live, Deaf Shepherd have added a CD ROM part to the CD, featuring a video of a live concert well presenting the unique power, spark and flair so typically for this young band, mixed with some interview statements. This is probably the best album of Deaf Shepherd so far, and confirms their status as the very best folk band that Scotland has on offer. A gem from the first to the last minute; an absolute must-buy! Michael Moll, Folkworld
Live Concert Review
DEAF SHEPHERD **** ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE @ ST BRIDE'S: YOU know what to expect with a Deaf Shepherd gig: a high-energy line-up – seven-strong on this occasion – of Highland pipes, whistles and twin fiddles propelled by guitar, bouzouki and bodhran, with the tempo generally notched up to full speed ahead. And that's pretty well the formula at their St Bride's appearance, leavened occasionally by the fine singing of John Morran.
Finlay MacDonald opens the show with a lordly pibroch prelude and they're off, like a whippet out of a trap at the kind of rate you might expect for the finale (and, yes, that was pretty fast too). Reels, and particularly pipe jigs, were the tunes of choice, one set especially agile, with the jig passing deftly between the pipes, fiddles (Claire McLaughlin and Gillian Frame) and whistles (Marc Duff) as the rhythm section cranked up the tension with the help of Mark McGuire's bodhran.
The author of this contemporary poem is Robert Stephen from Ardallie in Aberdeenshire and was passed to John by Angus McLaughlin, the founding member of the band.
11.
Even in the Rain
Even in the Rain/The Quebec Breakdown/Unknown/Gregor Lowrey’s
12.
Lost For Words at Sea - featuring Vocals by Sam Brown
This song was initially recorded on our first album ‘Ae Spark o Nature’s Fire’. When Sam said she’d like to sing on it we jumped at the chance to include her.
£13.27
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