Some Other Land

Perhaps best known for his work as fiddler for The Treacherous Orchestra, Session A9 and Peatbog Faeries, Adam Sutherland is a superb musician in his own right and Some Other Land is a vibrant, exciting and joyful piece of work. All the tunes are self-penned and the album is rich in riffs on trad tunes while illustrating Sutherland's talent for writing, filtered through his 20 years on the scene.

Some Other Land opens with ‘The Wizard’, a tribute to the late Angus R Grant of Shooglenifty. The influence of Grant is certainly felt in the Indian-inspired ‘Alap’ while ‘Emma's Waltz’ is a sweet little piece for Sutherland's wife. ‘The Lada’ is a frenzied track, referencing Sutherland's occasional car trouble while ‘Somhairle Dubh’ is a jazzy little number. ‘Sushi 7/8’ is probably the most exciting track on the album, all racy fiddles, pounding percussion and some very funky bass. More traditional and reflective notes can be heard in the evocative ‘Dusk on Loch Ness’. It's another fine release from Sutherland, with superb accompaniment from John Somerville on accordion and John Paul Speirs on bass, among others. Traditional tunes for a modern ear.