Sounds a solo success

Reviewed Fraser Fifieldhonest water (tanar)HHHH broderickcortanze castle (offspring)HHH TO call Fraser Fifield a multi-instrumentalist risks giving altogether too modest an impression. On his debut solo recording the 26-year-old - formerly of Old Blind Dogs, currently with Salsa Celtica - juggles more than a dozen different instruments including three varieties of bagpipes, soprano and alto saxes, whistles, guitar, clarinet, keyboards and an array of percussion implements, with just four tracks featuring guest accompaniment on guitar.

This bedroom-produced, one-man-band methodology recalls Martyn Bennett's first two albums. Its ambition is matched by Fifield's choice of self-penned material. Honest Water's adventurous, sophisticated fusion of traditional and contemporary idioms from Scotland and eastern Europe mixes well with religious, jazz, ambient and dance music influences. Its organic, unregimented feel, belying the level of technological wizardry involved, is similar to Bennett's. Pipes, whistles and sax are Fifield's main tools, the sax supplying a distinctive element in the mix, alternately in contrast and luminous harmony with the rest of the melody frontline.

Repeated spins are required to appreciate the intricacies of these 12 soundscapes, some of which need a clearer sense of direction or overall structure. At its best, however, as in the opening, Arabic- tinged Dark Reel, the effervescent Horo and the brilliantly kaleidoscopic title tune, the album resoundingly endorses his fast- growing reputation as a brilliantly skilled and excitingly original talent.

Young Anglo/Irish outfit Broderick have acquired a double bassist since their impressive debut Kissing Fishes, adding Rick Foot to the line-up of Luke Daniels (accordion/guitar/vocals), Colm Murphy (fiddle), Clare Garrard (fiddle/viola) and Don Oeters (guitar/ percussion). Daniels's singing duties are new, but largely sabotaged by indistinct articulation. Instrumentals predominate, however, with Galician, Swedish, Finnish and Breton tunes interwoven with the Irish traditional majority, the whole broadened by frequent forays towards jazz or chamber/classical territory. This album scores highly for musicianship, invention and taste.

Copyright 2002 SMG Sunday Newspapers Ltd.
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