Rain, Hail Or Shine
It's amazing that no matter what personnel changes this band is forced to make, they still come back strong, still sounding liketheScottish band. As Alan Reid is the only original member in this incarnation and John McCusker is a relative newcomer, the loss of Alistair Russell and Iain MacDonald should have been an irreparable blow to a small, tight unit like this. But tenacity and daring have been an element of this band through good times and bad, so once again they stare down adversity and move. Mike Katz replaces MacDonald on the pipes, with a more aggressive style. Russell's heir is Davy Steele, a former member of Clan Alba and Ceolbeg. He not only offers formidable talents as an instrumentalist and singer but adds a new songwriting viewpoint to the band. The album breaks no major new ground here but rather offers determined continuation of the Battlefield sound, with McCusker's fiddle and Reid's keyboards and vocals acting as the grounding and the new blood taking the band down small but interesting new paths. The CD is also enhanced for the computer buff with some video interviews and pictures--nothing astounding, but fun for the fans. --Louis Gibson