Tag: Paul Sinclair

I think I’m detecting a trend here. A few years ago Scottish instrumental music was all massed pipes and thundering drums, or so it seemed. Now it’s subtler, more melodic – not that it lacks passion or excitement, it’s just different. Àirdan comprises Paul Sinclair, a fiddler from Fyfe, squeezebox specialist Coll Williamson, Irish multi-instrumentalist/guitarist David Lennon and … here comes the twist … multi-instrumentalist/percussionist Ewa Adamiec, born in Poland. They came together in Edinburgh and Cosmic is their debut album.

Ewa brings her knowledge of eastern European music to the band without dominating the music although, once you know, you can hear the influence in her drumming. The band’s material is a familiar mix of original compositions, traditional tunes and covers with Paul and Coll being responsible for the majority of the writing. The opening set, ‘Cosmic Joe’ is shared between them and is particularly exciting with clever twists and turns. They follow that with the traditional pairing of ‘Dinny O’Keefe’s’ and ‘Merrily Kiss The Quaker’s Wife’ under the title ‘Lucky Dip’.

It’s back to another Sinclair/Williamson pairing with ‘Triple Hundred’ and, with no disrespect to Paul, I’m becoming particularly fond of Coll’s writing. ‘Stargazers’ is the first of two tunes by Brother Sean Paul Wood and if you want to see a fiddling friar in action search him out. ‘Gibson’s Patter’ is the set in which Ewa’s heritage comes to the fore. ‘Senpolska Frán Torp’ is traditional and typically eastern with Ewa’s drums pounding and Coll’s accordion deep and dark. Paul’s fiddle squeezes in and pairs with David’s guitar for the second tune, ‘Mrs Gibson’s Patter’.

‘Delighted’ is by the late Angus R Grant and a particularly splendid tune it is with Paul, appropriately, taking the lead. ‘Dug’s Lugs’ pairs two more Williamson compositions and then comes the second composition by Br. Sean Paul Wood, ‘Nightfires’, relatively slow and sensitive. ‘Loopy Paddlers’ is another Sinclair/Williamson combination and, finally, Paul’s ‘Together Again’ paired with ‘The Rakers’ by American pianist Dave Wiesler in ‘Last Drop’.

A couple of times through and I’m very much at home with Cosmic. It’s a most enjoyable album and I think it’s OK to say that the future of Scottish music is in very safe hands.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: https://airdanmusic.com/home

‘Nightfires’ – live: