Clan Alba

A folk supergroup, Clan Alba were formed in the UK in the mid-90s and featured veteran artists Dick Gaughan (b. Richard Peter Gaughan, 17 May 1948, Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, Scotland), Mary Macmaster, Brian MacNeill, Fred Morrison, Patsy Seddon, Davy Steele, Mike Travis and Dave Tulloch. While the instrumental line-up featured guitars, harps, pipes, fiddles and percussion, just as much interest was focused on how well the distinctive singing voices blended as part of Clan Alba’s collective harmonies. The answer was based on the evidence of their self-titled 1996 debut album. A double compact disc spanning 87 minutes and an abundance of styles, the most effective moments included ‘Bye Bye Big Blue’, a lament for the closure of the Ravenscraig Steel Works, and Gaughan’s evocative ‘Childhood’s End’. ~ Rovi