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The Whistlebinkies’ approach to playing Scottish traditional music without recourse to gimmicks or the wiles of fashion has served them well and their clear melodic presentation continues on this latest album. The now eight-piece group’s loyalty to the traditional instrumental line-up doesn’t stop them importing from other cultures, however, as the Catalan air Muntanyes de Canigo illustrates. The one song included, Toys and Brooches, is a bit drawing-roomish, but Eddie McGuire’s multifaceted The Albannach and Rab Wallace’s haunting marching Coronach are fine examples of using the tools of the tradition to create vivid, original music.
Rob Adams, The Herald, April 2006
In the face of pan-celtic homogenisation, the Whistlebinkies have steered a proud and true course. Based around a core of traditional Scottish instruments: pipes, flute, fiddle and clarsach they have much in common with their Irish counterparts The Chieftains. As soon as you hear their first notes they sound instantly Scottish - in the same way that the Chieftains for many are the epitome of the Irish sound. Like them, they use no instrumental gimmicks - no electronics, no guitars driving the rhythm section - and rely on both the quality of the music and their own superb musicianship to produce the desired results.
Paul Burgess, Living Tradition, May 2006
THIS once ground-breaking Scottish band now operate in a much more crowded musical environment than when they launched four decades ago, but they have retained both their dedication to traditional Scottish music and their core instrumentation, which incorporates the pipes, fiddle and clarsach.
This mix of traditional and more contemporary material is well-chosen and artfully arranged, with Eddie McGuire's Albannach, a suite originally composed for a 7:84 production in the mid-1980s, as the powerful centrepiece of the album.
They may sound a little tame alongside many of their brasher successors, but their approach remains highly musical.
Kenny Matheson, The Scotsman, May 2006
A fascinating mixture... arrangements and new compositions based on Scottish traditional material provide an interesting example of joint creation, with all the members of the group contributing and discussing ideas.
Ailie Munro: The Folk Revival in Scotland
Their repertoire is about as wide-ranging as it is possible to be.
Kenny Mathieson: The Scotsman
Well, they're just lovely. They don't sing sentimentally... they sing straight, and with some kind of dignity. It is that quality of people doing their work well that I admire.
John Cage: Tempo 1991
Punctilious attention to detail is typical of the group. They led the revival of interest in Scottish traditional music precisely by their willingness to dig deep into neglected territory, and played their findings with great attention to authenticity, as well as palpable affection.
George Mackay: The Scotsman
There's real spirit and energy about the whole set which, allied to inventive orchestration, makes it highly commendable.
Nick Beale: Folk Roots