Reviews

Review of "Singing the River" by Alastair McDonald
 
Singing The RiverThe place, Glenfarg Folk Club...the year, 1983 (I think!)...the occasion, a 24 hour singaround to raise attention & hopefully, some money, for world hunger, prompted by the increasing TV coverage of unfortunates sitting in the sun covered with flies, apparently waiting to die! That's where I first heard the singing voice of Ian Walker performing his own song, "Some Ha`e Meat", using Robert Burns` "Selkirk Grace" as the ironic backdrop chorus to a song about western greed, unheeded plenty & corporate waste (Note: dead fish thrown back into the sea rather than being landed to feed someone, seems to be an unresolved note of contention in Scotland even at this time of writing!). "Now that..." I said, "..is clever..." to remind us that the Selkirk Grace, which usually prompts coy chuckles or sporadic applause at Burns` Suppers, should be an expression of gratitude, NOT a precursor to that which our American cousins would call, "...a pig-out..".
Add to that, a later song describing Henri Dunant's prompting, after the bloody battle of Solferino, to establish a unit that was to become known as "The Red Cross", convinced me that I had encountered a writer with a heart for social history that touched the life & well-being of people & called for change. Now what else is social history meant to achieve?
 
No surprise then, that this new album from Ian Walker contains more songs from his prolific pen that focuses on a care about life, in all it's fullness - hope for peace, prayer for others, praise to The Creator, all in unambiguous & unapologetic terms.
If you seek, "...moon in June..." lu-u-rrrve lyrics or convoluted personal versified thoughts that can mean, "...anything you want it to, man..." this, I don't think, will be for you; although if you are open minded enough to listen beyond 16 bars you might just gain an insight into something earned through experience.
 
Speaking as one who has hardly ever had to scratch a lyrical line for himself, having been presented with great songs from a variety of truly wonderful writers over the years, I am personally in awe of anyone who can write a collection of songs & then summon up the wherewithal to present them to the public ear, so I am honoured to be asked to write these few words on this collection.
 
ALASTAIR McDONALD
2010
     
Review of "Singing the River" by Paul Davis

Quality American grassroots artistes rightly glory in what they call their “Americana” musical roots genre. In the UK, I’d like to birth the “Britannica” musical folk-genre for our quality grassroots artists. Top-of-the-crop would be this outstanding Scot, Ian Walker. Singing The RiverVisually, the stunning artwork and notes from Alastair McDonald rightly promote this hearty album that contains a healthy dose of self-penned, inspiring down-to-earth ballads. Ian’s plain-spoken, creative lyrics cut to the core-of-the-matter against a background of competent folk sessioners produced by Ian Bruce.  Well recorded and produced, this sharp-voiced balladeer has a plentifully warm, appealing sound that captures attention immediately.  Firmly into story-ballad material that’s gently evangelistic, clear, direct, and honest, Ian’s contexts are illustrative.  Very welcome, he must extend his reputation with this CD, fully paying his dues. Highlight tracks are multiple, his earthy art carves a unique path on this rootsy album. He records songs-of-reality with good stories straight-from-the-heart. Like a guided missile that seeks out its target, he has a ‘good ear for a good ballad’ as this CD clearly illustrates. Watch out for it! PAUL DAVIS www.pauldavisauthor.com 


 
Review of CD "Beats of the Heart" by Hector Christie
The Living Tradition Magazine, Issue 54 - January/February 2004
 
CD Cover for Beats Of The HeartThis (Beats of the Heart) is a re-release on a single CD of two previous albums by Ian, "Flying High" (1987), and "Shadows in Time" (1989). The second album was a good'un, and it's nice to hear again Ian Bruce's "Blodwen's Dream".
 
However, it's "Flying High" that brings the real glow of meeting again, an old friend you haven't seen or heard for far too long. You know the feeling where you realise you've been starved of their company, and are incredulous that you've actually managed to get by without them for so long? You'll deduce from this that I more than liked the album first time around, and you'll deduce it correctly - I loved it, and out of its 12 tracks how do you pick the absolute best, when for example the opening tracks are (in running order) "Roses in December", "Sing Me A Song Mr Bloom" and "Beats of the Heart", all of which are astoundingly good, as are others such as "Hawks and Eagles" and "Some Hae Meat". Is it all coming back now? For those not familiar with the original, many of the material has been covered by other singers, whilst some commented on controversies of the time, yet still remain thoroughly relevant today, and yet others are sung in schools, "Some Hae Meat" for example being widely sung around Robert Burn's birthday.
 
Ian sings with such straightforwardness and honesty, the themes are diverse and interesting, the tunes strong, and, and and - ach I just love it! A great record, which richly deserved its win as the outright favourite of The Music Retailers Association in 1988. Welcome back.
 
Archie Fisher
"His apprenticeship had carried him through a series of development stages beginning with the early imprint of Pete Seeger's forceful simplicity, which put a banjo in his hands, and the direct contact of the unaccompanied ballad singer, which gave him the confidence to put the banjo down."
 
Stirling Observer
"A committed singer with an unpretentious delivery, accompanied by a ready smile, his numbers are often amusing but contain an element of social comment which lifts them out of the ordinary."
 
Gill Bowman, The Scottish Folk Gazette
"Ian's songs speak volumes for him ... he [Ian Walker] has an enviable ability to tackle serious issues and strong emotions without preaching or overdoing the sentiment."

 

"THE GENTLE ENORMITY OF IAN WALKER AND THIS NEW BATCH OF SONGS"
 
Ian Walker is someone who could have summoned any of his high ranking peers to write notes on these songs, if he was one of those kind of blokes. He's so unassuming and I'm so made up that my notes will be some kind of foreword to this powerful collection. We do have a mutual respect and I worry that my words cannot express everything I want them to. It's not as if they need to bully the reader into liking Ian's work or to get him or her ready for some kind of shock.; some kind of warning perhaps! Nope! He has a huge fan base and rightly so. People expect quality from Ian and, once again, they will not be disappointed, You see, once Mr. Walker makes up his mind, you can't stop him. He is a locomotive. A very powerful man who gently propels himself to the top of every chosen sphere with dignity, honesty, concern, humility and "faith".
 
FAITH
I think folks might consider one with so much faith to be some kind of weakling. Somebody who needs a crutch in order to plough through the muck that can be strewn across one's path in this often cruel existence. Someone like Ian has so much faith. Faith in his friends. Faith in his loved ones. Faith in God. Even eventual faith in himself and a certain faith that no matter what the circumstances the light will shine through in the end. He IS a magnificent specimen who needs no crutch. He simply follows trends that he truly trusts. He IS a believer in every good sense of the word.
True to form, he has recently coped quietly with deep personal grief. Unavoidable turmoil which needn't be detailed in a tribute to this Phoenix. Suffice to say, from a spell of purposeful and necessary withdrawal he has bounced back with a unrivaled vigour. He's not just his old self again. Oh no no no! He has amplified somehow. He's massive and it rubs off on those physically, mentally and/or musically close to him. That said, Ian Walker is nobody's fool and he is careful who gets close. His music is the "key". Pick it up and give it a twist. You will be rewarded.
 
As with his older and now classic work, this batch of material projects. From the pathos of "You Raise Me Up" to the darkness of "Still" and onto the thunder of the title track, it is a soundtrack to this massive turnaround and is now on record to bring a raised spirit to all who hear it. To all who are "open" and will listen. You will be moved! You needn't be a believer in anything to enjoy SINGING THE RIVER. That's already been done for you. All you have to do is settle down and enjoy…or…get on your feet and join in. It's here to lift you in any way that you want. Any way that you will allow. Go with it! This package contains so many anthems.
 
BANJO
Of course Ian is well known for his love of banjos. A questionable faith perhaps but he does clang out in a very convincing, communicable and musical manner. As you will hear from Ian's live work, these songs work admirably in that simple setting. However, for this recording we've elected to punctuate and manoeuver the music in a way that we feel you should enjoy. We confess there's a kind of self indulgence going on here and were having such a great time in the studio. The hope is that you will indeed be uplifted by the obvious camaraderie we believe to be captured herein. We have "faith!" 
 
NOW YOU HAVE FAITH.. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!!!
 
IAN BRUCE
 
Folk Michel, Bonn, Germany
"Songs like 'Roses in December' or 'Hawks & Eagles Fly Like Doves' are so perceptive that they are guaranteed to be in the repertoire of singers in the future."
 
Alastair Clark, The Scotsman, Edinburgh
"Walker is at his best when he has a chunky theme to chew over. Songs like 'Hawks & Eagles Fly Like Doves' and 'Don't Turn The Key' are strong enough in word and music to carry them into the folksong mainstream."
 
Dr. Fred Freeman, The Scotsman
"There is less self consciousness in the internationality of Walker's 'Hawks & Eagles', Henderson's 'Freedom Come All Ye', Gaughan's 'Think Again', MacKintosh's 'Prisoner 562', more direct, universal statement in Bruce's 'Gone For The Day' or 'Child On The Green' than in so much of the 'literary' tradition."
 
Janet Foley, The Living Tradition - Review of 'Crossing The Borderlines'
"Ian Walker's songs very much reflect his personal vision, of which tolerance, concern for others, family and friendship all play a distinct part. These memorable songs, sung by Ian, are beautifully arranged and accompanied by Setanta."