Track Listing

1. Old Boys
2. Proterra
3. Day of Days
4. Empty Glens
5. Gabriel's Sword
6. From the North
7. Toll Dubh (The Dungeon)
8. There's a Need
9. Faileas Air an Airigh (Shadow on the Sheiling)
10. Heading to Acadia
11. All the Miles
12. Reiteach (The Reiteach)
13. Angels from the Ashes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11521 in Music
• Released on: 2003-08-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Customer Reviews

From the old to the new
After the phenomenal sound of their Stamping Ground album only just having sunk in, Runrig are back, and how do you follow an album like that? well with one like this - Proterra!
To give the album it's full title 'Runrig with Paul Mounsey' hints that things may be a little different, Paul Mounsey contributed to the arrangement on the stamping ground's 'Running to the Light' and certainly brings a greater depth, if a more studio produced sound to this CD, the album also tends to move slightly more towards the rock side of folk/rock, although there are some lovely slower numbers to keep the balance, 'The Old Boys' a reworking of an early Runrig song, starts of quietly and slowly builds, and 'Gabriel's Sword' (written by Bruce Guthro) really shows how gentle as well as powerful Bruce's voice can be.

Unlike the previous two albums there isn't really a main stand out track such as 'May Morning' or 'Book of Golden Stories' but I think this is because they are all unique enough to stand out on their own - although I do think the upbeat 'Prottera' & 'Empty Glens' would make great singles, and bring the group more into the limelight.
Apart from the collaboration with Paul Mounsey there is another change to the line up, we say farewell to Peter Wishhart on keyboards and welcome the fresh young talent of Brian Hurren, who as well as being a great keyboard player, just wait until you hear his vocals on 'There's a Need' (If Bruce hadn't been found I think we could have been looking at the new lead singer here!) I really hope in the future we get to hear a lot more of this stunning voice!
The only track that took me a little while to appreciate was 'From The North' which I felt it was a little too heavy, but this is one that steadily grows on you and and has a kind of film like quality to it, you can almost imagine an ancient battle in a mist filled glen!
The album also contains 3 great Gaelic tracks, which even if you don't speak Gaelic you'll be singing along to! As well as two instrumentals 'Heading to Arcadia' a tune slightly reminiscent of the stamping grounds 'The Engine Room' and 'Angels From The Ashes', (written by previous founding member Blair Douglas) a quiet piano based piece, reflecting on the events of September 11th, that brings you gently down at the end of the album.

In summary - a great album to celebrate 30 glorious years of Runrig, which is certainly a little different from usual but still firmly held in Runrig's roots, as fresh & varied as ever, and with a band with such great talent, from the writing skills of Roy & Calum and now Bruce, as well as 3 great vocalists and a vast array of instruments and percussion,(Malcolm Jones even adds the dulcimer & jaws harp to his already vast repertoire of pipes, accordion and guitars!) - lets just hope that runrig finally get the recognition they truly deserve!

A beautiful, lyrical album retains a rocky edge
This is a different album for Runrig. The input of Paul Mounsey (of Nahoo fame) gives it a melodic feel. There's a return to some of the simplicity seen in the early Runrig albums, such as Heartland and The Highland Connection, but this album is a good showcase for the talents of all members of the group. The only downside is that Brian's vocals are still a bit thin - keep practising! Top tracks are The Old Boys, which is vintage Runrig, and From the North, which has echoes of Siol Goraidh. The influence of Paul Mounsey is perhaps strongest in An Toll Dubh - it's a nice arrangement of a Runrig classic. Faileas Air An Airigh is a beautiful track, which reminds me of the lovely Cearcal a Chuain. Heading to Acadia is a nice showcase for the piping skills of the inimitable Malcolm Jones.

Overall, this album displays the richness of Bruce's vocals, and marks the final departure of the band from the Donnie Munro years. It will delight both the existing fan, and those coming to explore the band's music for the first time.

30 years on - welcome Paul Mounsey & "The Project"
The release of the latest Runrig CD coincides with the bands 30th Anniversary and starts off with a version of "The Old Boys" originally featured on the 1981 "Recovery" CD. Only this time it's not Donnie Munro, but the Cape Breton voice of Bruce Guthro doing justice to the haunting melody backed by a simple but effective arrangement, with just a hint of the Paul Mounsey signature that becomes more prominent on later tracks coming through. The tried and trusted sound of brothers Rory and Calum Macdonald prevails and longstanding Runrig fans will not be disappointed. What makes this album different is the sound brought by the keyboard/programming skills of Paul Mounsey, giving the CD an up to date 2003 "feel". Along with the Macdonald brothers, there are tracks penned individually by and in collaboration with Bruce Guthro ("Gabriel's Sword")& Malcolm Jones ("Heading to Acadia") & the Guthro/Jones "All the Miles", along with a track from one time/founder member Blair Douglas, "Angels from the Ashes". Great musicianship and production throughout, with the most recent recruit Brian Hurren adding his contribution on piano, keyboards and vocals. The CD, of course, includes the familiar sound of bagpipes, fiddle/violin and last but not least the renowned rhythmic drum/percussion section.