Steer by the Stars

As one of the strongest live acts on the trad scene for the last couple of decades, and following the huge success of their 2017 release The Seventh Wave, the band have followed up with a fine celebration. Opener ‘Anchors of the Soul’ sets the scene for a reflective and resilient introduction, complete with rousing chorus, while ‘The Lads from Mull’ delivers a fiery set of tunes. The majority of the album is self-penned, except for a few traditional sets and jigs and a rather fetching cover of Phil Cunningham's ‘The Youngest Ancient Mariner’. The instrumentals are perhaps where the band are at their strongest, with a fine series of tunes on ‘The Atholl Set’ and the closing set of ‘20th Anniversary Jigs’. It's a sweat and toe-tapping conclusion to a rather nice album.

Steer by the Stars is a typically beautifully produced release, with superb musicianship from the band. Perhaps not that rare enough to capture a new audience but a fitting note on 20 years. If you like your pipes and fiddle, you won't go far wrong here.